Lines & Spaces Issue 9 Nov 2023

LINES & SPACES A St Mary’s Muscic School Publication

"I’ve never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down."

Virgil Thomson

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ABLE OF CONTENTS 1

DR KENNETH TAYLOR A word from the Headteacher

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SCHOOL NEWS Instrument Library Lower Brass Day Composition Competition Achievements Annual Friends Event Saturday Music Classes

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INTRODUCING John Cameron Robert Baxter

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50thANNIVERSARY

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SCHOOL LIFE

9 & 10 & 11 ALUMNI STORIES Ian Sankey

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SUPPORT US An exciting future

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WORD FROM OUR HEADTEACHER

Welcome to the Winter ’23 edition of Lines and Spaces. Even by the normally busy standards of the School, much has happened since we published the previous special edition, which looked back on fifty years of instrumental teaching at St Mary’s Music School. To be able to celebrate our 50th Anniversary in The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh was a fitting end to a wonderful academic session. Over a year of planning resulted in a memorable occasion, where around forty former pupils joined the 2022/2023 cohort in a rich and varied concert, which included two world premieres. I know that many readers will have been at the concert and some pictures from that very special occasion are included in this publication.

Over the course of last year, the school set about the process of recruiting a new Director of Music. I am delighted that John Cameron, our former Assistant Director of Music and Head of Keyboard, has been appointed as our new Director of Music and that working alongside him will be our new Artistic Director, Robert Baxter. Will Conway will continue his work with us as Artistic Adviser. Through these appointments we believe the School now has the capacity to offer more musical opportunities to young people beyond our school, and we are looking forward to engaging with young musicians, their teachers, schools and other music organisations. Profiles of John and Robert are included on pages 4 & 5.

With the news over the Summer that spiralling costs have ruled out the School’s proposed move to the former Royal High School, we have commenced an energetic options analysis which has already determined that our future lies here at Coates Hall, but with enhanced and expanded facilities. We will keep you updated of these plans as they develop.

In this edition we interview former pupil, trombonist and former Head of School Ian Sankey and we have asked the current Head of School and her Deputes to share ‘A Day in the Life’ here at the School. News too of two exciting projects: Lower Brass Days for the Lothians and Moray in February ’24 and our emerging Instrument Library programme. Finally, we look forward to our Christmas Concert in the Parish Church of St Cuthbert, Lothian Road on Monday 18 December.

I look forward to seeing you there in a few weeks time.

Dr. Kenneth Taylor PAGE 1

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CHOOL NEWS

As many of you will already know, due to an unprecedented escalation in the projected costs of the School's planned move to the former Royal High School site, we shall no longer be making our new home on Calton Hill. The Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT) and Dunard Fund will continue to develop the RHS site with plans focussed around performance spaces and public access.

The School is now actively exploring how we can develop our current Coates Hall site and look forward to sharing plans with you in due course. We are excited to be staying in Edinburgh's vibrant West End and pleased to be able to strengthen our links with St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. It is heartening to note that the RHSPT and Dunard Fund continue to offer their support for our aspirations, irrespective of the new direction we embark upon.

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NSTRUMENT LIBRARY

Launched earlier this year, our Instrument Library programme aims to provide musical instruments to young musicians from across Scotland. We're still in the early stages, with a small number of instruments distributed, but our goal is clear – to eliminate barriers to musical exploration, ensuring that financial constraints don't hinder young musicians. Our Library started with a small collection of woodwind instruments, and we're excited to share that we're currently engaged in Phase 2. This will see us expanding the programme to include lower brass instruments. To mark this progress we've planned Lower Brass Day events.

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OWER BRASS DAY

In partnership with leading UK brass players, the school will be hosting two Lower Brass Day events in February 2024. The aim of these events will be to celebrate and raise the profile of trombone, euphonium, tenor and baritone horn, and tuba playing. A day of activities, masterclasses, ensemble work and concerts will be free to attend for all school age pupils and teachers and will be held in Edinburgh and Elgin. Buffet Crampon (wind instrument manufacturer) will supply instruments for ‘Taster’ sessions and performers and presenters include Jonathan Gawn, John Kenny, Arlene Macfarlane, Oren Marshall (Trinity Laban), Danielle Price, Mark Reynolds (Royal Conservatoire Scotland), Martin Thomson (Dopey Monkey) and Emily White (British Trombone Society).

OMPOSITION COMPETITION

As well as celebrating and raising the profile of trombone, euphonium, tenor and baritone horn, and tuba playing, St Mary’s Music School is running a Composition Competition for school age composers, with the winning ‘Fanfare’ performed on both days by leading performers. We are inviting young people (ages 10-18) across Scotland to enter our Composition Competition by composing a three-minute fanfare for lower brass. The winner and four runners up will be invited to have their compositions ‘workshopped’, and the shortlisted entries will all receive feedback. Scan the QR Code for the resource pack or follow this link if you’re reading a digital copy.

SCAN ME

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SCHOOL NEWS

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CHIEVEMENTS

As a long standing pinnacle of musical achievement for many young classical musicians, we are pleased to announce that four of our pupils have auditioned successfully for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. India Reilly (S6, Violin), Alexander Kwon (S6, Piano), Michelle Huang (S4, Piano) and William Guo (S4, Violin) will be joining close to 160 other teenagers from across to United Kingdom to make up the orchestra.

The NYO is celebrated internationally as the ‘world’s greatest orchestra for teenagers’ and runs an 11 month programme from October to August which can include residencies, performances and mentoring.

S5 pupil Viktor Seifert has been awarded the Bundespreis (federal prize) in the Jeunesses Musicales Germany Composition Competition. The prize awarded includes a summer residency at Palace Weikersheim, a professional recording and a concert at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main.

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S2 pupil Shionka Kamikaji-Inkster has been awarded the Sir Philip Christison Trophy and a Gold Badge for the Clàrsach Recital Class Grade 6 and above at this year's Royal National Mòd.

NNUAL FRIENDS EVENT

On Tuesday 31st October we were delighted to welcome some of the Friends of St Mary’s Music School to our Annual Friends Event. We enjoyed refreshments in the School's Chapel followed by an insightful talk from Headteacher Dr Kenneth Taylor on the history of the School and our relationship with St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. We then enjoyed a beautiful Evensong service at the Cathedral, with our young Choristers in fine voice. Many thanks to all those who attended the event we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and we look forward to welcoming you to the next one!

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ATURDAY MUSIC CLASSES

For every child who’d like to start learning an instrument at SMC, we’ve launched an exciting new combined-class programme: a morning of musical activities including an instrument lesson plus ensemble, choir and Kodály musicianship classes, all at a great value price. The programme develops a wide range of musical skills, providing an outstanding and well-rounded musical education for young learners, and is a great opportunity for children who love music to learn and grow as musicians together in a fun, friendly and nurturing environment. For more information, email us on smc@smms.uk or call 0131 538 7766.

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NTRODUCING

St Mary’s Music School is delighted to announce the appointment of our new Director of Music, John Cameron and Artistic Director, Robert Baxter. Will Conway, our former Artistic Director, takes up the role of Artistic Adviser.

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OHN CAMERON DIRECTOR OF MUSIC As an accompanist, John has performed all over the UK and abroad. He has given concerts at the Wigmore Hall, St John's Smith Square, the Barbican Hall and at the Edinburgh and Cheltenham International Music Festivals. Among others, he has worked with singers Sarah Walker, Gweneth-Ann Rand, Stefan Loges and Sophie Karthauser and a recording of songs by Ronald Stevenson, with the soprano Susan Hamilton was released on Delphian Records. He has performed on BBC Radio 3, BBC 4 and, as a repetiteur has worked with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Scottish Opera, Grange Park Opera, Phillipe Hereweghe, Donald Runnicles and Sir Roger Norrington.

Since joining the staff at St Mary's Music School he has been active as a recitalist, accompanying string players, singers and wind players in concert and masterclasses as well as teaching piano and chamber music. Whilst in Edinburgh, he has worked with MrMcFall's Chamber, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus. John was appointed Director of Music at St Mary’s Music School in July 2023.

What is your vision for SMMS over the next few years?

To build on 50 years of specialist music education to create a wide-ranging programme that continues to inspire pupils to excel.

If you HAD to choose: Best performance you’ve seen?

There have been so many performances over the years, from international superstars to the youngest pupils that have remained in the memory - it is impossible to single any out. Tristan at the EIF in the late eighties, Yannick Nezet-Seguin’s Beethoven Eroica with the CoE, Steven Osborne’s Vingt Regards at The Queen’s Hall, James Taylor at the NEC, Lydia Mordkovich playing Prokofiev Sonatas at the RNCM and I always try to catch Netherlands Dance Theatre (NDT 1 & 2) if they are in town.

Favourite piece of music?

Where to start? Beethoven Symphony no.3, Goldberg Variations, Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances, Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto, anything by Rameau, Bach St John, Adams Chairman Dances, Poulenc Bleuet and Tel jour, telle nuit, Enesco Sept Chansons, Winterreise, D958, D959, D960, Sibelius 5, Hindemith Mathis der Maler, Strauss Sonatinas, Stravinky Duo Concertante, Rite of Spring, Faure La Bonne Chanson, Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit, Mozart 41 and C Minor Mass - the list is endless. At the moment I am listening to the Weeknd and enjoying Yogev Gabay and Alon Tamir.

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INTRODUCING

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OBERT BAXTER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Robert Baxter frequently collaborates as a guest conductor with Scottish Ballet, overseeing numerous productions across theaters in the UK.

His RSNO debut involved leading the British premiere of Gavin Bryars’ viola concerto, featuring Morgan Goff at Glasgow’s Tramway. Baxter has guided the RSNO through various film sessions, including scoring the latest Netflix series 'Life On Our Planet' and orchestrating sold-out 'John Williams at The Oscars' concerts in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow last season.

Jessica Cowley, RSNO

Beyond the RSNO, Robert has led the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and served as Musical Director for diverse groups, including Colours Classical and Belle and Sebastian. Notably, he conducted a Celtic Connections BBC TV broadcast concert featuring The Chieftains, Kris Kristofferson, and Eddie Reader. Since graduating as a trumpet player from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Robert has performed, toured, and recorded extensively with all the orchestra in Scotland. Further afield he has performed with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Singapore Symphony, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Tenerife Symphony and the New London Consort. Robert has led on hundreds of youth and community music projects, and is currently the creative lead for the RSNO’s All Together Now.

He has been course director for NYOS Spring Academy and conducted the Gadfly Project with Dance House. In 2021 he was delighted to receive the award from Making Music for the Best Instrumental Music Director in recognition for his pioneering work involving online music making during the pandemic which included commissioning a new work for online orchestra, composed by Peter Longworth. Robert is Artistic Director and founder of Kessington Hall, a rehearsal and performance venue in the North of Glasgow and is currently chair of the trustees of the Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust.

What is your vision for SMMS over the next few years?

To help develop the wonderful musicians at the School to be broad thinkers and to rise to individual and collective challenges that they or the music industry throws at them. For the pupils to absolutely love what they do and for them to share that passion by understanding the importance of music in people’s lives and how it can seriously alter things for the positive. Also, to shout about the incredible depth of talent at the School and to gain even more recognition of the pupil’s achievements whilst supporting and encouraging those who need our help in achieving their own goals.

If you HAD to choose!?

Best performance you’ve seen?

World Orchestra for Peace, Mahler 4 and 5 at the Royal Albert Hall Favourite piece of music?

Too difficult for one –Strauss Four Last Songs, Stravinsky Rite of Spring

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Steven Osborne

Aaron Akugbo

ST MARY’S MUSIC SCHOOL 50 ANNIVERSARY CONCERT th

Brìghde Chaimbeul

Just a few months ago St Mary’s Music School marked a significant milestone, our 50th Anniversary. The stage was set for an evening of performances by our pupils and alumni as our guests eagerly gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.

With more than a year of meticulous planning led by John Cameron and his dedicated team, The Queen's Hall in Edinburgh served as the backdrop for this unforgettable evening. On the stage, talented instrumentalists and choristers performed compositions by legendary composers such as Copland, Beethoven, Sir James MacMillan, Judith Weir, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

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Philip Higham

We extend our sincere thanks to Aaron Akugbo, Katherine Bryer, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Philip Higham, Steven Osborne and Colin Scobie, as well as all the alumni whom travelled from far and wide to join us for such an important milestone in the School’s history. Thank you to our pupils and staff for their hard work and dedication. Without you none of this would be possible. And finally, thank you to our donors and guests who came to enjoy the music.

We hope the concert was a testament to the School's enduring commitment to nurturing musical talent and fostering a deep appreciation for the arts.

Colin Scobie

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CHOOL LIFE

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FROM OUR PUPIL HEADS OF SCHOOL

UNCHTIME ACTIVITIES

Our School has a diverse range of activities taking place during the lunchtime break in a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. These include regular lunchtime concerts held in the chapel which provide a platform for pupils to showcase their musical talents to their peers. The outdoor spaces are available for recreational outdoor games, and a dedicated common room is available for senior students.

Notably, St Mary’s Music School implements a Buddy System, where each primary pupil is paired with an S6 or S6 extension ‘buddy’ promoting a sense of unity across age groups within the school. This session’s buddy activities have included dodgeball, Halloween crafts, and the new buddy lunchtime concert series.

ONCERT TRIPS

Located in the centre of Edinburgh, we are fortunate to be in close proximity to some of Scotland’s most highly regarded concert venues. Mr John Cameron, our Director of Music, alongside our Music Department Manager, Miss Kate Aitken, schedule many concert trips each term. It is a great experience and also contributes to our pupils’ musical education and development.

Recent highlights include Ray Chen, Ein Heldenleben, and the Bach B minor Mass.

S2 pupil Sandy Reilly has created his own podcast, and as part of this, he reviews every concert he goes to. He has an international following and interacts with orchestras, conductors, and soloists worldwide. To listen, visit PerfectScore.fm or scan the QR code.

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UMMER ACTIVITIES

Once again our School hosted another successful International Piano Summer School which was attended by ten young pianists from across the world. Many of our own pupils participated in a range of music activities over the Summer. In Scotland, the Young Chamber Music course facilitated the formation of chamber groups, culminating in a performance at St Giles Cathedral during the Edinburgh Fringe.

Senior pupils attended international piano summer schools at Chethams School of Music, featuring acclaimed pianists Joanna MacGregor and Noriko Ogawa, and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As well as attending summer courses with NYOS, EYO and NYO, the NYO Inspire course included visiting primary schools across Newcastle to introduce younger pupils to classical music, often for thefirst time. Another notable event was the NYO summer residency, bringing together young instrumentalists from across the UK for a performance supporting Soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto at the Royal Albert Hall during the Proms.

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A Ian Sankey LUMNI STORIES

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an Sankey

2013

“I have been very fortunate to have teachers and friends who have cared for me on a personal level as well as a musical one” Ian Sankey is a musician and trombone player based in the North East of England.

Ian works predominantly across the classical, contemporary and early music scenes both at home in the UK, and throughout Europe. Ian performs with numerous award-winning ensembles and orchestras, including Sacred Bones, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Aeris Brass, Northumberland Radical Fun Group and Elysium Brass. He currently also tours throughout Europe with new music ensemble Stargaze, working with pop giants including Dirty Projectors frontman David Longstreth.

Ian was a pupil at St Mary’s Music School from 2007 to 2013.

Favourite piece of music?

I feel like this is changing all the time, but at the moment I think I would say Steve Martland, Danceworks played by Orkest De Volharding. It’s just so rhythmically interesting and they play so tight!

Best performance you’ve seen?

So many to choose from, and for so many reasons, but this performance comes to mind as one that made me smile uncontrollably. It was a performance of Elite Syncopations, which is a ragtime ballet by Kenneth MacMillan. There is a lot of neon Lycra, an onstage ragtime band and all the dancers are in pairs and get their moment in the spotlight. The music is great, the characterisation of the dancers was impeccable and I couldn’t help but smile!

Favourite performance experience?

Performing with Surge theatre company as part of Beautiful Bones - a street theatre project on an amazing scale with fantastic community involvement and performed across a city space to the general public. It’s a real spectacle with make up and costumes all round that goes from the apocalypse to an amazing street death disco. I cannot do the project justice in words, you’d have to see it to believe it!

What would be your advice for an aspiring trombone player? For example, when is a good age to start?

I would say that number one advice for an aspiring trombone player would be to listen to some trombone - we are so lucky that the internet has made so much music more accessible to everyone, however, it’s also really important to try to hear things live as well, find out if there are any local concerts or opportunities to hear some brass live, whatever the genre! In terms of when is a good age to start, it depends on a few things. The trombone is a heavy instrument and it is quite long, if you start too young, it’s very easy to develop problems because of the weight and size. However, if you have a teacher who is able to start you on an alto trombone, then that can help as it’s a much smaller instrument, alternatively the P-Bone, the plastic trombone is great as it is so much lighter (they even make an alto P-Bone), there are also Bb/c trombones that are metal student instruments, they have a very small valve, so they aren’t too heavy, but you have the benefit of having the valve to save you from stretching to the far positions while you are growing. Whoops, got a bit geeky there. Personally, I started on the euphonium/baritone aged eight and moved to trombone aged eleven when my arms PAGE 10 were a bit longer, that’s also a tried and tested route!

When did you start playing your instrument, and what or who were your early passions or influences?

I started aged eight on the baritone/euphonium because someone came to demonstrate brass instruments in a school assembly. Despite wanting to play the trombone, I was told my arms weren’t long enough. Aged eleven I got the chance to start the trombone. Going through from then to my early teenage years I listened to a lot of trombone music, the first classical solo piece I fell in love with was the Sulek. It was a bit beyond me at the time and my teacher had suggested that we shouldn’t run before we could walk. I wanted to play that piece so much that I was playing and playing every day. It was the desire to play that music that gave me the motivation to do the practice. I listened to so much music around those years 12-15, the entire Christian Lindberg CD catalogue, just because he had recorded so much and of course listened to the CDs of my teacher John Kenny. All of this listening helped me to understand what was out there and also what was possible.

What were some of your main artistic challenges when starting out as an artist and in which way have they changed over the years?

The transitioning from amateur to professional has definitely been a challenge in my life. An amateur, in the root of the word does things for the love and a professional does things for a living. The realities of earning money and career development wasn’t something that I thought about when I was younger and just in love with music and playing. It was definitely hard at first, some of the things I’ve done to earn a living haven’t always been the things I love the most, and have sometimes felt like they got in the way of artistic development. But really it has all been important for my development not just as a musician but also as a person.

What genre of music isn’t necessarily your breadwinner but you love to play when you get the chance?

Well it’s not really a genre, but, a lot of what I do as a performer is seated, looking at a music stand. But I also love to work in settings where the performer can be a bit more theatrical or a bit more mobile in a space. I find it very freeing as a performer to be away from a stand and away from a designated “stage space”, but I have also found it very engaging for audiences who get to interact in a very different and often much closer, more personal way. Extending from this, I think it is very important to talk to audiences, both as part of the performance, but also times after/before the performance. There is a part of me that finds it extremely awkward when a performer walks on stage without a word, performs without a word and then disappears - though of course I do this too in the situations where it’s required. Performers are people and so are audiences, let’s not be awkward!

Who are some of the musicians who have had the most influence on you as a trombonist?

The musicians who have had the most influence on me have to be my teachers and friends who have been, and continue to be close. It sounds like a simple one, but having those people around me through school and college, seeing them daily/weekly and getting to know them personally has been very important. I have been very fortunate to have teachers and friends who have cared for me on a personal level as well as a musical one. Simply being with them and playing with them has shaped me gradually over a number of years, and it really does take years and beyond. My friends and colleagues now are still shaping me. https://www.isankey.co.uk

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UPPORT US

AN EXCITING FUTURE The School is at an exciting juncture in its history, as we look to the future and explore how we can improve and develop our Coates Hall site and continue to provide a world-class music and academic education to our talented young pupils. We will keep you updated as our plans develop over the coming months and we start to gauge the fundraising challenges ahead.

We are enormously grateful to every one of the School’s supporters and we hope you will all continue to be part of the St Mary’s Music School family as our future unfolds.

For those of you interested in supporting our young musicians - there are a number of ways in which you can play your part; by making a donation to the School, by becoming a Friend, by getting your business involved by sponsoring a concert or advertising in one of our programmes, or by leaving a gift in your will. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Development Manager, Caroline Libberton, for a chat about how you can support our work.

You can reach Caroline at clibberton@smms.uk or on 0131 538 7766 or find out more on our website at www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/support-us/

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Coates Hall 25 Grosvenor Crescent Edinburgh EH12 5EL www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk info@smms.uk +44 (0) 131 538 7766

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Canongate Kirk

Stockbridge Parish Church

Rush Hour Concert

Lord Clyde Concerto Competition

Monday, January 22nd, 2024

Friday, February 9th, 2024

The Parish Church of St Cuthbert, Edinburgh

Elgin Academy, Elgin

Lower Brass Day

Lower Brass Day

Saturday, February 24th, 2024

Sunday, February 25th, 2024

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh

RSNO Showcase

Spring Concert

Friday, March 15th, 2024

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024

Perth Concert Hall

St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh

Chamber Concert

Directors' Recital Prize

Monday, June 3rd, 2024

Tuesday, June 11th, 2024

The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

City Halls, Glasgow

Summer Concert

Summer Concert

Thursday, June 20th, 2024

Monday, June 24th, 2024

Facebook: @stmarysmusicschool X: @stmarys_music Instagram: @stmarys_music LinkedIn: St Marys Music School St Mary's Music School Trust Ltd, Registered No: 54504 St Mary's Music School Trust Limited is a charity No. SC014611 All images by Nicola Dove unless otherwise stated All images and text © of St Mary’s Music School 2023