News from our members

We welcome your brief news (max. 150 words) and high res images. Please email mj@ism.org. The next deadline for copy is 1 April for the May/June issue.

Robert Ponsonby CBE Robert Ponsonby CBE, who was an Honorary ISM Member for 25 years, has died aged 92. As reported in the Guardian, Robert was a highly influential figure in music administration. He started his tenure in the music sector, joining Glyndebourne as an assistant in 1951. He then directed the Edinburgh Festival from 1955 to 1960 and the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (now the BBC Proms) from 1974 to 1986, during which period he also served as the controller of BBC Radio 3. He also served as the general administrator of the Scottish National Orchestra (1964-72). After the BBC, he served as artistic director of the Canterbury Festival (1987-88) and in later years he served a number of musical institutions including the Musicians Benevolent Fund, the Young Concert Artists Trust, the Michael Tippett Musical Foundation and the Purcell school. A full tribute to Robert can be found at theguardian.com/culture/2019/ nov/20/robert-ponsonby-obituary.

Master Music Festival The Master Music Festival, developed last year by ISM member Benjamin Williams , returns to Watford’s Clarendon Muse in March. Headlining the festival is legendary Brazilian concert pianist Artur Cimirro, who will be making his long-awaited UK debut with a recital on March 28th at 7pm. Alongside much-loved classics, Artur will showcase his own compositions and arrangements. The festival is bringing back the hugely successful educational Children’s Concert, this year featuring flautist Daniela Mars, who will introduce young audiences to the world of

classical music with a range of flutes. Chart-topping Steinway Artist Ji Liu will return to adjudicate the festival’s piano competitions. The competitions cater for all ages and levels of ability, providing local talent with a superb platform to showcase their achievements. The winner of each age group in the advanced category wins the additional prize of an invitation to London’s Steinway Halls for a master class with a Steinway Artist. A musical life journey with John Bunyan The Evanghelic Choir and Orchestra together with Emanuel University Chamber Choir from Romania, conducted by Elisei Stefanescu, will perform A Romanian Pilgrim’s Progress Cantata by Emanuel Balaceanu at Bunyan Meeting in Bedford on 14 March and at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) on 16 March, as part of a UK tour. The cantata brings to life one of the most significant works of English literature. Composed in 2003 for narrator, soloists, choir and orchestra and first performed at the Lutheran Church in Bucharest, it consists of a musical version of John Bunyan’s famous allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, drawing on hymns and themes from the Romanian Evangelical Church repertory. In 2018 the cantata was orchestrally revised and some of the narrative sections were given an orchestral accompaniment. The Pilgrim’s Progress Cantata will be performed in Romanian, while the narrative part will be in English. There will be subtitles and programmes in both languages. Tickets: £10 Full Price; £8 Over 60s/ under 16s; £5 Students and RBC Staff via Eventbrite For more information see the Facebook page @PilgrimsProgressCantata

Right: Anne Brontê Photo: Courtesy of Pamela Nash

Below: Ian Mitchell

Double success for Ian Mitchell across the Pond Clarinettist Ian Mitchell’s CD isn’t this a time has been awarded joint second place in the ‘solo artists’ category of The American Prize 2018/19. The disc is of American music for clarinet by John Cage, Barney Childs, Tom Johnson, Eric Mandat, William O Smith and Christian Wolff. Throughout the disc Ian is variously required to narrate, play a variety of other instruments and play two clarinets simultaneously. Ian is director of the chamber ensemble Gemini, and the group’s latest CD Homage, chamber music by Philip Grange, Professor of Composition at the University of Manchester, has been selected as a winner by The Art Lounge, USA, in its ‘What a Performance!’ awards for the best classical and jazz CDs of 2019. Gemini has given over 30 performances of Grange’s compositions, working closely with him for almost 30 years, recording, performing and touring together. This is the third Gemini disc of his music. Both previous recordings were Critic’s Choice in the annual Gramophone listings. Isn’t this a time and Homage are both released on the Divine Art/Metier label. From Harvest to Advent and beyond! Dr Robert Howard’s latest choral composition was premiered by the Choir of Prescot Parish Church during a Sung Eucharist for Harvest in October 2019. ‘Glory, Love, and Praise, and Honour’ (a setting for SATB choir and organ or piano of a text by Charles Wesley) is an exuberant, celebratory, march-like hymn, with three verses and a coda. October also saw one of Rob’s sacred vocal works sung by an Oxbridge choir for the first time, when Jubilate Deo (SATB choir and organ/piano) was included in Choral Evensong at Selwyn College Chapel, conducted by Music Director Sarah MacDonald. Earlier in autumn, Rob’s hymn ‘Bread of the World’ had its second performance at Prescot Parish Church during a concert celebrating Tim Hall’s 40th anniversary as Parish Organist. Among other vocal and instrumental items on the programme were three of Rob’s piano miniatures as well as his 2018 setting of ‘For Mary, Mother of Our Lord’. During Advent and Christmas, Prescot Parish Church Choir sang Rob’s carol ‘A Babe Is Born,’ on four separate occasions. It was heard at the Mayor of Prescot’s Charity Christmas Concert on Thursday 12 December by an audience of nearly 500. The choir repeated the work at the church’s own Festival of Lessons & Carols on Sunday 22 December and at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Also on Christmas Eve, at the family-oriented Crib Service, the trebles of the choir sang Robert’s unison arrangement of the carol. On top of these choral occasions and his regular conducting engagements with St Edwards’ College, South Liverpool Orchestra and Phoenix Concert Orchestra, on Sunday 8 December Rob gave his concert-conducting debut with Liverpool Mozart Orchestra in ‘A Seasonal Selection of Christmas and Viennese Classics’ at Liverpool’s Capstone Theatre. Further details of all Robert’s musical activities can be seen on his website: roberthowardmusic.co.uk A musical tribute to Anne Brontë Pamela Nash, supported by Arts Council England and the Ida Carroll Trust, directs a major initiative for 2020 to mark 200 years since the birth of Anne Brontë, culminating in a showcase concert at Manchester’s Cross Street Chapel on Saturday 28 March. Despite striking musical affinities in her writing, Anne Brontë has been largely overlooked by composers, but the event places the neglected third sister of the famous family firmly centre stage, with world premiere choral settings and new commemorative poetry. Lucy Pankhurst, who was commissioned by the BBC to write ‘The Pankhurst Anthem’ celebrating the centenary of women’s suffrage, headlines the event with ‘A Fine and Subtle Spirit’, a setting of Anne Brontë’s poem ‘The Bluebell’ for children’s and adult voices. Another world first is a setting by Paul Vowles for children’s choir of Anne’s poem ‘Home’, and there are UK premieres by American composers Judith Herrington, Cristi Cary Miller and Dale Trumbore as well as John Joubert’s setting of six poems by Emily Brontë, sung by Lesley-Jane Rogers. The junior choir of Queens School, Chester is joined by Manchester Musicians’ Choir, and by poets Liliana Pasterska, Philip Watts and Edwin Stockdale and Brontë scholar Nick Holland. For more information about Anne Brontë 200: A Celebration in Words and Music visit: facebook.com/ events/352206298785212