Obituaries and births Obituaries World renowned conductor and composer Lorin Maazel died on 13 July in Virginia from complications following pneumonia. He had been at his home, Castleton Farms, rehearsing and preparing for his annual Castleton Festival, which he founded in 2009 to support young artists. RCM Artistic Director Stephen Johns commented: ‘For a number of years our students have been invited to take part in Lorin Maazel’s festival in Castleton, Virginia, and have experienced at first hand his generosity, warmth and inspirational conducting. At his last visit to the Royal College of Music, when he conducted Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, we were again reminded of his unique skills. He was a good friend of the RCM, and we are deeply saddened to hear of his passing.’ Mr Maazel had long associations with many of the world’s leading classical music institutions, including the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, Munich Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera. He was the former Associate Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia, with whom the RCM regularly works. Christopher Hogwood CBE died on 24 September. Universally acknowledged as one of the most influential exponents of the historically informed early music movement, Christopher founded the Academy of Ancient Music in 1973. He was also a founder member of the Early Music Consort; keyboard player and soloist with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Artistic Director of the King’s Lynn Festival; Artistic Director of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston; a tutor at Harvard University; Principal Guest Conductor of the Kammerorchester Basel; Professor of Music at Gresham College, London; Honorary Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge; and Andrew D White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University in the USA. He remained a close supporter of the RCM, and Director Colin Lawson reflected: ‘He was such a brilliant man, and a real inspiration across theory and practice. It was always a pleasure to make music with him in the studio and concert hall.’ The RCM was delighted to see him awarded an honorary doctorate from HRH The Prince of Wales in 2013. Alumnus David Leeke has died aged 57. David studied at the RCM from 1977–8 and went on to become a highly regarded church musician with a long association with the Royal School of Church Music. He was Organist of Shrewsbury Abbey 22
and Director of The Linden Singers. He was given the honorary award of Associate of the RSCM in recognition of his contribution to the work of the school and to church music in Britain and Europe. He was also a Senior Examiner for ABRSM. He remained a great supporter of the RCM throughout his life and had been an RCM Friend for many years. RCM alumnus, former violin professor and Fellow Jack Steadman, has died. Jack came to the RCM first as a member of the Junior Department, then studied the violin under Albert Sammons, and later went on to become a professor for many years, taking responsibility for the Strings faculty, and was awarded the FRCM in 1972. Jack was a remarkable violinist; he played with the LSO for 34 years, later becoming their Chairman from 1968–70. He was also an excellent and inspirational teacher, who is very fondly remembered by his students. RCM alumnus and former oboe professor, Roger Lord, has died. After being a chorister at Durham Cathedral, he studied oboe as a Foundation Scholar at the RCM in 1942, interrupting his studies in 1944–5 to serve in the RAF. After leaving the RCM he played with the BBC Midland Orchestra and then the LPO. He was also a member of the Prometheus Ensemble and Musica de Camera. He joined the LSO as Principal Oboe in 1953, a post he held until his retirement in 1986. He was a much-loved oboe professor at the RCM and taught here from 1978–91. Yuriko Murakami, RCM alumna and Junior Department teacher, has died. Born in Japan, Yuriko’s talent brought her at the age of seven to England to study the piano with Vera Yelverton. She returned to Japan four years later to continue her studies, going on to win the All Japan Piano Contest, but was invited back to England to play with the National Youth Orchestra. In 1969, when she was 15, Yuriko applied to the RCM, where she studied under professors Kendall Taylor and Cyril Smith, winning many competitions, including the Chappell Gold Medal in 1972. She won the Croydon Symphony Orchestra Soloist Award in 1974 and her Wigmore Hall debut was in November 1976. Throughout her life she strove to be an ambassador for Japan. She joined the RCM Junior Department in 1982, and received her MMus from the RCM in 1989. She was a much-loved piano teacher with a truly holistic and caring approach.
RCM alumna and former Junior Department teacher, Rhuna Martin, has died aged 82. Rhuna was educated at the Holy Rosary Convent, Dundee, Zululand, where she took her first cello lessons. At the age of 20, she won a scholarship to study cello at the RCM. She graduated in 1956 and soon after joined the RCMJD. She spent time as co-principal cellist at Sadler’s Wells Opera and was one of the founder members of the Northern Sinfonia before returning to teaching. RCM alumna Miriam Doreen Cannell MBE (nee Cranswick), has died aged 97. After studying singing at the RCM, Miriam brought classical music to Norfolk for 44 years, in her role as Secretary and Programme Organiser of the Norfolk and Norwich Music Club. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1991 for services to music. Josie Susanne Nankivell Tute (nee Aylett) has died aged 82. Josie studied at the RCM and in London, gaining an LRAM, ARCM and a Dalcroze Certificate. She subsequently taught at Maria Assumpta College in Kensington. Between 1963–8 she taught music, movement and dance at a convent in Malaysia and even sponsored one of her pupils to study at the RCM. On her return to England Josie continued teaching and playing viola in local orchestras but following an accident turned her hand to flower arranging. Former Junior Department student, Belinda Verity Rawlings has died aged 40. Belinda studied in the RCMJD from 1985–92 before going on to study at Birmingham Conservatoire. She ran a flourishing teaching practice in Marlow.
Births
Violin professors Natalia Lomeiko and Yuri Zhislin welcomed their first child Anya in June.