Encore Winter 2015

/ ENCORE

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC & DANCE

photo: Lidia Crisafulli

Alumni newsletter Winter 2015

Reunited after 40 years Alumni Reunion brings back fond memories

We had a fabulous day in the summer welcoming back REUNIONS music alumni who had studied here in 1975, many

had travelled from far and wide including Australia and Canada. There was lots of catching up as some people hadn’t seen each other since they had graduated and it was great to hear their anecdotes from their days at Mandeville Place. A big thank you to alumnus Paul Packwood who helped organise the event and got in touch with so many alumni from that period.

To receive information about future reunions and events make sure you share your email address with us. If you are planning a reunion get in touch with us to discuss how we can support you. photo: Lidia Crisafulli

photo: Hugo Glendinning

OUR PROUD ASSOCIATION WITH CANDOCO DANCE COMPANY Candoco Dance Company was the first professional dance company in the UK focused on the integration of disabled and non-disabled artists. Founded in 1991 the company tours commissions by world-class choreographers nationally and internationally and performed at the Beijing Olympics and the London Paralympic Closing Ceremony. Trinity Laban has a long and important relationship with Candoco and many alumni have been associated with the company. read more inside >

trinitylaban.ac.uk/alumni

OUR PROUD ASSOCIATION WITH CANDOCO DANCE COMPANY continued from overleaf >

Since 2012 we have been working in partnership to achieve improved progression routes and greater access for disabled people into the dance profession, and to advocate for the importance of inclusive practice in enhancing creative endeavour.

photo copyright: BBC, photographer Guy Levy

Most recently Trinity Laban co-commissioned a new work, Beheld, for the company. The piece which was choreographed by Alexander Whitely premiered in a double bill at the Laban Theatre in October.

TRINITY LABAN AT THE BBC PROMS Music and dance students and alumni from Trinity Laban performed at the opening weekend of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. They performed in Connect It a body percussion piece composed by Anna Meredith with choreography by alumnus David Ogle.

The piece was commissioned in 2014 as part of BBC Music’s Ten Pieces initiative which aims to open up the world of classical music to children. It launched with a week of free film screenings for primary schools which featured ten pieces of classical music performed by the National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. The children were encouraged to develop their own creative responses to the ten pieces through composition, digital art and dance.

We are very proud of the long history of alumni involvement with the company. Co-artistic Directors, Stine Nilsen and Pedro Machado are both alumni, as is Joanne Lyons the General Manager. Many alumni have performed with the company over the years and we are extremely pleased that this summer Megan Armishaw joined fellow alumni Adam Gain and Andrew Graham as a company member.

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS In the last edition of Encore we shared with you news about our impressive results in the annual HESA Destination of Leavers from Higher Educations survey.

The results for 2014 undergraduates were published in the summer and yet again Trinity Laban is one of the best performing higher education institutions in this nationwide survey.

It showed that 99.1% of our undergraduates were in employment or in further study six months after graduating. This figure was the second highest among all 158 UK-based universities that participated in the survey and the third consecutive year in which we have featured in the top three places.

The finale of the first year of the project were the Ten Pieces concerts performed at the BBC Proms which Connect It featured in. Writing in The Times, music critic Richard Morrison wrote “The highlight of an ebullient night? Dancers from Trinity Laban Conservatoire interpreting Anna Meredith’s Connect It, then the audience joining in. They should encore it on the Last Night.” The performance was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and was brought back for Proms in the Park in Hyde Park which was part of the Last Night of the Proms.

Saara Hurme who graduated from Transitions Dance Company in 2015 has just joined Protein Dance for their next tour. Photo Chris Nash 2

ALUMNUS SUPPORTS MASTERCLASS PROGRAMME Trinity Laban is very grateful to the generous support of alumnus and benefactor Byram Jeejeebhoy whose support through an endowment has enabled the expansion of our masterclass programme. Renowned violinist Tasmin Little presented the inaugural Byram Jeejeebhoy Materclass for Violin in April.

Byram, who is a qualified barrister and director of several property development companies in India, the UK and Dubai, studied violin at Trinity College of Music under the late Nicholas Roth. Since graduating he has made significant gifts in support of Trinity Laban and in recognition of his former teacher, including the Byram Jeejeebhoy Prize for Violin and Piano and the Nick Roth Prize for String Ensemble playing.

photo courtesy Deniz Gelenbe

Victoria Jericó Francés and Manuel López Jorge who won The Byram Jeejeebhoy Prize for violin and piano 2014. Photo courtesy Victoria Jericó Francés

DENIZ GELENBE STEPS DOWN

Trinity Laban’s Head of Piano and Keyboard Instruments, Deniz Gelenbe, has stepped down after eight years in the role. Deniz who is an esteemed international pianist is considered one of the best chamber musicians of our time with a repertoire ranging from Bach to contemporary composers.

She will concentrate on performing and teaching and will continue to teach students at Trinity Laban.

We are delighted to welcome renowned Irish pianist and pedagogue Peter Tuite as the new Head of Piano and Keyboard Instruments. Peter has won considerable international acclaim for his recital and concerto appearances and was Head of the Keyboard Faculty at the Royal Irish Academy of Music before becoming the first Senior Dean of the Academy.

IN MEMORY

We are very sad to announce the following deaths and our condolences go to their families and friends.

Charles Cleall (1 Jan 1927 – 11 Jan 2015) who was a leading figure in UK choral music studied at the former Trinity College of Music. He created his first choir at the age of 15 when he established a 40 voice choir in Ashford. He held many posts in music education including at the Froebel Institute College of Education, Music Adviser to the London Borough of Harrow as well as teaching at Trinity College of Music for many years. He was conductor of the Glasgow Choral Union and wrote several books about choral technique and training choirs.

James Patten (1937 – Feb 2015) studied with Richard Arnell at the former Trinity College of Music and in 1962 was awarded a Royal Philharmonic Society prize for young composers. He worked for many years on BBC radio, presenting music programmes for schools. He also composed work, many of which were for percussion. From 1965 to 1970 he was Professor of Composition at Trinity College of Music.

Dr Merlin Channon (14 Sep 1924 – 15 Mar 2015) studied trumpet at the former Trinity College of Music in the 1950s with William Lovelock. He taught for many years and was Director of Music at Woolverstone Hall School before becoming an HMI inspector in the Midlands. He set up the Eye Bach Choir in the 1970s which he conducted for many years and conducted the Ipswich Bach Choir becoming their President in 2008. His PhD was on Judas Maccabaeus by Handel.

Diego Ghymers (24 Dec 1974 – 21 Sep 2015) was a pianist, composer and conductor. He performed with 4 hands and 4 feet piano before coming to Trinity Laban to study a MMus in piano and composition graduating in 2011. He founded and led the London SoundPainting Orchestra and was an active chamber musician. If you would like to share a message of condolence with Diego’s family please email alumni@ trinitylaban.ac.uk

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FROM MUSIC ALUMNI

NEWS Susanna Fairbairn (MMus voice, 2013) performed in The Dragon of Wantley at the Handel Festival.

Maria Marchant (BMus piano, 2007) was pianist in residence at the Shipley Arts Festival 2015 in Sussex and also performed at the Southbank Centre alongside Christopher Guild (Richard Carne Junior Fellow, 2013). photo:Steven Peskett

Soumik Datta (MMus composition, 2009) composed the soundtrack for the 1969 film Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen which was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Will Dutta (BMus piano, 2008) who is a current PhD student was appointed Researcher in Residence at the ICA. Nardus Williams (BMus voice, 2014) was made a Samling Scholar and a Park Lane Artist for 2016. photo: jk-photography

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Alice Thompson (BMus flute, 2012) was chosen as the flautist for the 2015 European Youth Orchestra.

A huge number of alumni took part in The Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival 2015 including Edward Henderson (MMus composition, 2014), Timothy Cape (BMus composition, 2013), Josh Spear (MMus composition, 2014), CN Lester, Ayanna WitterJohnson (BMus composition, 2008), Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour (BMus composition, 2003), Maya Sapone (BMus voice, 2004), Steven East (Postgraduate Artist Diploma voice, 2013), Jack Cherry (MMus double bass, 2014) and Litha Efthymiou (MMus composition, 2013).

Duo Rebecca Cohen (MMus piano, 2014) and Grace Carter (PGAD voice, 2013) were selected to participate in the Oxford Lieder Masterclass series and soprano Katarina Karnéus (DIP voice, 1992) performed a recital at the festival.

Many alumni appeared with South Downs Opera in Aida including Iwona Januszajtis (LTCL 1975), Alex Pidgen (BMus voice, 2007), Edwin Pitt Mansfield (BMus voice, 2007), Aurore Lacabe (Postgraduate Advance Diploma voice, 2008), Melanie Sanders (Postgraduate Advance Diploma voice, 2008), Louisa Tee (BMus voice, 2009), Caroline Foulkes (Postgraduate Diploma 2008), Alex Ellar (BMus voice, 2005), Spiro Fernando (voice 2003) and Felicity Hayward (BMus voice, 2003) who also appeared in the Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival 2015.

Chi-Ling Lok (MMus piano, 2012) and Effy Efthymiou (MMus composition, 2013), collaborated on a Chinese-Western music project which premiered at Bridgewater Hall.

Elliot Lyte (BMus violin, 2015) performed in the new musical The White Feather at the Unicorn Theatre.

Christina McMaster (PGA piano, 2012) launched her new album Pinks & blues.

Manu Delago (PGA composition, 2011) was interviewed by Dame Evelyn Glennie for a BBC Radio 4 programme about the hang drum.

He also performed with Björk on her international tour. photo courtesy Manu Delago

Emily Saunders (MMus jazz voice, 2014) released her debut album Outsiders Insiders.

Ayanna Witter Johnson (BMus composition, 2008) was commissioned to compose a piece for the LSO Brass Ensemble which was performed at The Barbican.

Timothy Connor (BMus voice, 2010) performed in the French Grand Opera and Melodie Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme.

CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC LOOK OUT FOR MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

James Darch (FDA musical theatre, 2009) is currently starring as Sky in Mama Mia! Solenn Grand (MMus harp, 2015) was appointed Principal Harpist of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro.

Catherine Carter (MMus voice, 2011) performed in 16 Singers part of Dance Umbrella.

Zoë Robertson (BMus 2009) collaborated with jewellery artist Zoe Robertson on a video installation screened at JQ Festival.

Tony Small (FTCL 1964), founder and Musical Director of Penclawdd Brass Band, was awarded a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Phil Meadows (MMus jazz saxophone, 2013) won the rising star award at London Music Awards in the Jazz category. Engines Orchestra which he founded won Jazz Ensemble of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Congratulations to our alumni for the many awards and prizes they have won.

Sarah Denbee (MMus voice, 2012) was a semi-finalist in the Handel Singing Competition.

David Jones (MMus voice, 2014) received 3rd prize in The Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition 2015.

Kate Howden (BMus voice, 2011) gained a place at the National Opera Studio and was a semi-finalist at the Wigmore Hall Song Prize.

photo courtesy Phil Meadows

Ralitsa Naydenova (Postgraduate Artist Diploma violin, 2014) has been selected as the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Foyle Future Firsts artists for 2015/16.

AWARDS, HONOURS AND COMPETITIONS

Simon Dyer (BMus voice, 2013) was selected to compete in the preliminary round of the Wigmore Hall Song Prize 2015.

photo courtesy Kate Howden

Martin Gaughan (Dip TCL, 1992) was accepted on the St Magnus Festival 2015 composers’ course.

Laura Jurd (BMus jazz trumpet, 2013) won Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and she was also selected for BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme.

Del Newman (GTCL 1967) was honoured with a BASCA Gold Badge Award for his contribution to British music. photo: Mark Allan

Peter Edwards (MMus jazz piano, 2009) won Jazz Newcomer of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards he also performed in Jamie Cullum’s BBC Introducing Showcase at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Dai Fujikura (BMus composition, 2000) received the Otaka Prize for his work Rare Gravity he also premiered his first opera Solaris in Paris.

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FROM DANCE ALUMNI

NEWS Several alumni showed work at the Elefeet Dance Festival including Rachel Johnson (MA Choreography 2013) whose work Bridging the Void featured Eleanor Palmer (MA Choreography 2013). Justyna Sochaj (PGDip in Community Dance, 2011) choreographed a piece with music by music alumnus Martina Schwartz. Masha Gurina (MA Creative Practice 2013) directed In Memoriam which featured Laura Heywood (BA Hons, 2012).

Fernanda Lippi (Diploma in Dance 2000) received critical acclaim for her latest film Sea Without Shore, her work Kama Sutra with the BalletBoyz was also featured on Sky Arts in August. photo courtesy Fernanda Lippi

MA Creative Practice 2012), Alice Mackenzie (BA 2007), Vanessa Abreu (BA 2006, MA 2007), Stella Papi (BA 2012), Luke Birch (BA 2008), Elisa Vassena (BA 2012) and Christopher Hutchings (MA Choreography 2010).

Onna Doherty (PGDP 2011) presented work in the Dublin Dance Festival.

Janine Harrington (BA 2006) presented her work The Performing Book at the Brighton Festival which featured a host of alumni, including Lena Kimming (BA 2006,

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photo courtesy Charlotte Tomlinson

Victoria Oruwari (PGDip 2007) collaborated with installation artist and sculptor Tabatha Andrews to create ROOMARTSPACE. Jayne Elizabeth Peake (PDCD 2014) in collaboration with two other community artists, designed and carried out a parade as part of Kentish Town Community Centre’s annual Street Festival.

Dr Natalie Garrett Brown (MA Dance Studies 1996) and Amy Voris (MA Dance Studies 2002) collaborated with jewellery artist Zoe Robertson on her exhibition FlockOmania at the Lanchester Gallery.

Cathy Waller’s (BA 2010) company performed Louder than Words a co-commissioned piece with the Brighton Festival.

Edel Quin (MSc Dance Science 2005) and Sonia Rafferty (BA 1983, Transitions 1984, MSc Dance Science 2004) and Charlotte Tomlinson (MSc Dance Science 2006) co-authored Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective, published this summer.

Lucy Glover (BA 2009) joined Michael Clark Company as Touring and Administrative Manager.

Abigail Hammond’s (BA 1985) costume design on RIOT Offspring, a Sadler’s Wells Creative Learning project was selected to be part of the UK Prague Quadrennial 2015 Theatre Design exhibit.

Marina Collard (BA 1991, MA Dance Studies 2002), and Stephanie Schober (BA 2000) were both commissioned to create work for BA3 students.

Jemima Hoadley (BA Hons Dance Theatre, 1997) was Movement Director for an innovative dance music video for band The Fish Police.

Charlotte Pook (BA 2011, Transitions 2012) was guest choreographer at the 8th Seychelles Dance Bienniale and is currently rehearsal director for Balletboyz.

Saara Hurme (Transitions 2015) joined Protein Dance for their next tour.

Adam Rutherford (BA 2002, Transitions 2003) premiered his new work Never Going Home Again he also created a new piece for BA3 students.

CATCH UP WITH YOUR PEERS IN THE WORLD OF DANCE LOOK OUT FOR MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

Matthias Sperling (Transitions 1998) continues his collaborative work with Siobhan Davies Dance including a residency at the Barbican. He also took part in a talk hosted by Sadler’s Wells and choreographed commissioned work for BA3 students.

Backspace collective which includes Lorea Burge (BA 2014), Rachel Blomberg (BA 2015), Mathilde Lepage Bagatta (BA 2014), Maria Lothe (BA 2015) and Hannah Parsons (BA 2014) presented their first evening of work in the Spring.

photo: courtesy Matthias Sperling

Daisy Farris’ (Transitions 2013) commissioned work for IN-SITE Public Realm won a Medway Culture, Design and Tourism Award 2015. The work featured Hannah Cameron (DDS 2011, Transitions 2013), Glynn Egerton-Read (BA 2012, Transitions 2013), Laura Heywood (BA 2012, Transitions 2013), Holly Preece (BA 2012, Transitions 2013) and Sarah Gaul (Transitions 2013)

Leila McMillan (BA 2004, Transitions 2006) premiered her new work Family Portrait which is also being presented by Sadler’s Wells.

Lea Anderson (BA 1984), new work Ladies and Gentlemen premiered at The Place. She also choreographed commissioned work for our final year students.

Megan Armishaw (BA 2011, Transitions 2012) has joined Candoco Dance Company.

Rosie Heafford (BA 2009) choreographed 16 Singers which featured in Dance Umbrella 2015.

Joss Arnott’s (BA 2009, Transitions 2010) new production 5|0 is a collaboration with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

AWARDS, HONOURS AND COMPETITIONS Congratulations to our alumni for the many awards and prizes they have won.

Natasha Gilmore (BA 1996) is the Artistic Director of Barrlowland Ballet who were nominated for a Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland. The company also presented work at the Dublin Dance Festival.

Tara D’arquian (BA 2012) was selected for the New Adventures Choreographer Award Shortlist for 2015/16. She was also cast in The Seagull, performed at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. photo: Chris Nash

Matthew Bourne (BA 1985, Transitions 1986) was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre at the UK Theatre Awards.

Candoco Dance Company whose Co-artistic Directors are Stine Nilsen (BA 1986, Transitions 1987) and Pedro Machado (BA 1996) received the Achievement in Dance award at the UK theatre Awards for The show must go on.

Maciej Kuźmiński (BA 2007, MA choreography 2012) has won several prizes for his latest solo-work Dominique including 1st Place at the Warsaw Dance Platform.

Eleni Edipidi (MA European Dance Theatre 2005) is co-artistic director of Levantes Dance Theatre which was selected by Dep Arts as one of their incubate artists for 2015.

Robbie Synge (PGDD 2008) was nominated for the Total Theatre Awards 2015 in the best Physical / Visual Theatre category for Douglas.

He also presented work at the Dublin Dance Festival.

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ALUMNI BENEFITS

We offer alumni a range of benefits and are continually looking at how to develop these. For example did you know that you can use the Laban and Jerwood libraries including online resources as well as access career services?

If you are a graduate from the last three years you will also continue to receive the weekly careers and opportunities e-bulletin.

Alumni are entitled to a discount on treatments at Trinity Laban Health and for dance alumni this includes a reduction on the cost of screenings. Dance alumni are entitled to a special rate for studio hire at the Laban building and music alumni receive a discount on hiring the fully equipped recording studio at King Charles Court.

Don’t miss the discounts for alumni on some of our professional development courses like the Dance Specialist Training Days and The Teaching Musician.

photo: jk-photography

PERFORMANCES AT TRINITY LABAN Trinity Laban has a vibrant programme of inspiring and thought-provoking performances throughout the year so why not come and visit us and see one of them.

Our programme of music, dance and musical theatre includes hundreds of performances by students as well as visiting artists, international companies and from the local community. These include a series of regular concerts, masterclasses and workshops where our students have the opportunity to work with leading professionals to hone and develop their skills, music competitions and prizes and a rich programme of contemporary dance.

Our performance calendar for the spring term is packed. Don’t miss the Gold Medal in January when six outstanding young artists compete for Trinity Laban’s most prestigious prize. The ever-popular Side by Side series returns with highly experienced orchestral musicians playing alongside Trinity Laban students.

Co-lab takes over from 8 to 19 February. Don’t miss this two-week festival which showcases original work developed by music and dance students and staff in a spirit of experimentation and collaboration. Another opportunity to see original work is at our student choreography shows in February and April. Whilst alumnus Andreas Constantinou brings his award winning solo ReDoing Gender to the Laban Theatre in February as part of a double bill with his new work The Womanhouse. We hope you can join us for some of these exciting performances. Find out more and book tickets trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on

More information about all these benefits is available on our website trinitylaban.ac.uk/alumni or if you prefer get in touch with the alumni office (details below).

Don’t forget if you share your email address with us you will receive the latest information about offers and discounts.

SHARE YOUR NEWS Email alumni@trinitylaban.ac.uk

photo: jk-photography

KEEP UP TO DATE We love to hear what you have been doing since you graduated so get in touch and let us know.

N.B. Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and we reserve the right to edit submissions.

Email alumni@trinitylaban.ac.uk Call + 44 (0)20 8305 9420 Post: Alumni Relations, King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London SE10 9JF Like facebook.com/trinitylabanalumni

FACULTY OF DANCE: LABAN BUILDING, CREEKSIDE, LONDON SE8 3DZ, TEL: +44 (0)20 8305 9400 FACULTY OF MUSIC: KING CHARLES COURT, OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE, GREENWICH, LONDON SE10 9JF, TEL: +44 (0)20 8305 4444 INFO@TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK | TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK | FOLLOW US ON: /TRINITYLABAN PATRON HRH THE DUKE OF KENT KG | CHAIRMAN LORD LIPSEY | PRINCIPAL PROF. ANTHONY BOWNE Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. Company No: 51090 Registered. Charity No: 309998. King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9JF.

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