Encore / Trinity Laban's Alumni Newsletter / Winter 2018

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TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC & DANCE

Alumni newsletter Winter 2018

TRINITY LABAN IN NEW YORK In November last year we hosted a wonderful reception in New York City for alumni and other friends of Trinity Laban. We were joined by many alumni, some of whom hadn’t seen each other for many years and others who had travelled to New York from other states. It was really fantastic to hear about all the different things everyone has been doing since they graduated.

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photos: Michael Priest Photography

We were also very privileged to have alumnus Sir Matthew Bourne as guest of honour. Sir Matthew was in New York with his company New Adventures who were performing their latest work The Red Shoes at the New York City Centre. In his speech, he spoke of his time studying at the former Laban Centre, saying: “The experience I had touring with Transitions Dance Company led directly to me setting up my own company.

I never would have dreamed the career I have today was possible – and it’s thanks to my experience and training at what’s now Trinity Laban.”

From left: Sir Matthew Bourne, Richard Gaddes, Professor Anthony Bowne.

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At the reception Sir Matthew presented music alumnus Richard Gaddes with an Honorary Fellowship of Trinity Laban. Richard received the award in recognition of his remarkable 50 year career in opera in the USA which included positions as the General Director of both Santa Fe Opera and Opera Theater of St Louis. On accepting his award Richard said, “Life takes strange twists and turns, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Trinity College of Music was directly responsible for my career in opera, and for my coming to America in the first place. But more important, it was the four years studying that equipped me with the musical background I needed, and fine-tuned my ear for what lay ahead in my career.”

As well as the Honorary Fellowship presentation, the reception also celebrated Trinity Laban’s increasing presence and importance in the USA. As part of this, we plan to have more opportunities to meet alumni there. So if you know any fellow alumni who are based in the USA please do ask them to get in touch if they don’t already hear from us.

ALUMNUS GIVES VALUABLE SUPPORT TO BASS STUDENT

Development Board, chaired by business leader John Crompton. The Development Board, which is a volunteer Board, has a diverse membership, including alumni, donors and representatives of different interest groups.

It is responsible for advising on Trinity Laban’s fundraising strategy and driving forward the Transform Trinity Laban campaign.

As part of our Transform Trinity Laban campaign we are undertaking extensive works to update our facilities and estates across both faculties, for the benefit of our students. This will include a series of exciting improvement works by the end of 2018 to Blackheath Halls, our main concert venue, which will benefit both future audiences and performers.

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can support Trinity Laban please contact Bernadette Benati b.benati@trinitylaban.ac.uk or 020 8305 4461.

NEW HONORARY FELLOW AWARDS Every year, Trinity Laban awards a number of Honorary Fellowships to individuals who have made a significant contribution in the fields of the performing arts and education. As well as the recent award given to alumnus Richard Gaddes, we were very pleased to present awards to Jude Kelly CBE, Dr Timothy Reynish and Richard Alston CBE. Jude Kelly has directed over 100 theatrical and operatic productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Châtelet in Paris. She founded the Battersea Arts Centre and Solent People's Theatre, and was the founding director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse. For the last ten years she has been Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre in London.

We are always enormously grateful to those alumni who generously contribute vital funds to support our students. One recent kind donation was from alumnus Ken May (LTCL Voice 1970 and FTCL Conducting 1973) who has provided a scholarship to support MA double bass student, Nia Costantino.

Ken has a long association with Trinity Laban and talks fondly about the opportunities given to him by the college. His career included working as a music organiser and Chief Officer in local government before he set up his own business and management consultancy. As an adviser he was closely involved in the move of the Laban Centre from New Cross to its current building in Deptford.

As part of our fundraising efforts, we are also very pleased to announce the formation of Trinity Laban’s first 2

Richard Alston is recognised as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary dance and has been Artistic Director of The Place since 1994. He was previously Artistic Director of Ballet Rambert before forming his own company, The Richard Alston Dance Company, which tours nationally and internationally.

photo: jk-photography

photos: Tas Kyprianou

Dr Timothy Reynish was Head of the School of Wind and Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music for 21 years, building the RNCM Wind Orchestra as one of the leading ensembles of its kind. Outside of education, he has commissioned and premiered many works, and performed and toured on an international stage.

BOARD APPOINTS NEW CHAIR

STAFF NEWS Hans Koller has been appointed the new Head of Jazz taking over from Simon Purcell who stepped down at the end of the last academic year but who continues to teach at Trinity Laban. Hans is a pianist, trombonist, composer and arranger. He emerged as a major force in the UK jazz scene with his 2002 album New Memories.

Since then he has pursued twin careers as performer – collaborating with many of the world’s leading jazz musicians – and educator, as Senior Lecturer in Jazz at Birmingham Conservatoire.

The unpaid position of Chair of the Board is a key role, as the Trinity Laban Board is the governing body for the institution, responsible for ensuring effective management and determining the future direction of the organisation.

Harriet, who is an avid opera-goer and dance enthusiast, was first elected MP for Peckham (now Camberwell and Peckham) in 1982 and has represented this constituency for 35 years. She has held numerous offices of state – Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Equalities, Minister for Women and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. She also served as Deputy Leader and Chair of the Labour Party.

Harriet said of her new role: “Trinity Laban is at the heart of a vibrant and diverse community, and is determined to reach out and engage with all aspects of the modern world. It's vital that talented performers, in the UK and internationally, get their chance to achieve their full potential…Trinity Laban has constantly innovated, whether in sacred music, dance science, musical theatre or jazz, and is at the cutting edge of artistic development.

To be a musician or a dancer demands superhuman commitment from young people and Trinity Laban is there to back them up by providing world-leading teaching, support and performance opportunities.”

WERE YOU A STUDENT AT TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC IN THE 1980S? On Sunday 1 July we will be hosting a reunion for music alumni who studied at Trinity College of Music in the 1980s. This is a chance to see old friends and meet new ones whilst visiting us at the Faculty of Music in the historic Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich. As part of the day you will be able to see the facilities and find out how Trinity Laban has grown from its days at Mandeville Place. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us for this reunion so please save the date and we will send more details soon.

photos: jk-photography

In July last year, Harriet Harman MP officially took up the post of Chair of the Board of Governors, taking over from Lord David Lipsey.

Dr Claire Mera-Nelson is stepping down as Director of Music to take up the post of Director, Music and London for Arts Council England. Claire has worked at Trinity Laban for more than 18 years and in this time has held a number of important roles, including Head of Postgraduate Studies, Head of Research, Dean of Studies and Director of Creative Futures, before becoming Director of Music in 2010. Professor Anthony Bowne, Principal of Trinity Laban, paid tribute to her, saying: “Claire has been an exceptional leader and ambassador for Trinity Laban, and an unparalleled creative and strategic thinker who has helped us develop and thrive…Among many other things, she introduced new Musical Theatre programmes and our CoLab festival of collaboration, brokered numerous key partnerships (most recently with the Open University and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra), increased our international profile (notably through her involvement with the Association of European Conservatoires) and helped us introduce a range of innovative distance learning programmes…I thank Claire for all that she has done for us, and I wish her the greatest success in her new role.”

We shared news in the last edition of Encore that Teresa Kelsey, affectionately known as TK, retired after 38 years. We were very pleased that she joined us in October for an evening to celebrate her time as ballet teacher at Laban Centre and Trinity Laban and to wish her a fond farewell. Following a reception guests attended a performances dedicated to TK, Tomorrow’s Stars Today, which featured five new commissioned pieces performed by final year BA students – a fitting tribute to a teacher who has inspired so many students.

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FROM MUSIC ALUMNI

NEWS Simon Dyer (BMus voice, 2013) has been chosen as one of Florida Grand Opera’s young artists for 2017/18.

Elliot Coombe (BA musical theatre, 2017) is performing in the national tour of Teletubbies Live UK.

James Darch (FDA musical theatre, 2009) played the role of Prince Charming in Cinderella at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh.

Maria Marchant (BMus piano, 2007) released her debut CD Echoes of Land & Sea and was featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune.

Tom Hewson (MMus piano, 2009) released his album Essence.

Morgan Wilcox (BA musical theatre, 2017) performed in Cinderella at Lighthouse Poole.

Tom Self (BA musical theatre, 2014) appeared in Salad Days opening at The Union Theatre.

Julian Costello’s (Postgraduate Certificate saxophone, 1994) Quartet launched their new album, Transitions followed by a UK tour.

Lori-Jane McLare (BA musical theatre, 2017) played Liza in Peter Pan at the Winter Gardens Blackpool.

Photo: Claire Newman-Williams

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Ben Andrew (BMus piano, 2006) has developed an innovative new app, ScaleTracks, for practicing scales and arpeggios.

Jillian Bain Christie (Postgraduate Diploma 2013, MFA Creative Practice 2014, voice) exhibited her art work at the Barbican Centre Library in London.

Leo Richardson’s (BMus jazz saxophone, 2013) debut album The Chase, has received five star reviews.

John Savournin (BMus voice, 2007) directed Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury at Opera North and received great reviews.

Nadia Wilson (Postgraduate diploma clarinet, 2005) released her debut CD Clarinet Fantasies, with Martin Butler.

Photo: Steven Peskett

Jack McNeill (BA musical theatre, 2017) appeared in The Night Pirates at the Rose Theatre Kingston.

Nardus Williams (BMus voice, 2014) performed the part of Maggie/Marjana in the world premiere of youth opera Belongings at Glyndebourne.

Ben Corrigan (BMUS composition, 2014) was one of three shortlisted composers for the Britten Sinfonia OPUS2017.

Haydn Cox (BA musical theatre, 2016) played the role of Alan in Sleeping Beauty at Buxton Opera House.

John Powell (composition, 1986) has been announced as the composer for the new Han Solo Movie due for release in 2018.

Alice Dennis BEM (LTCL 1982, GTCL 1983, piano) has been appointed Musical Director of the University of Plymouth Choral Society.

Jay Phelps (BMus Jazz trumpet, 2009) released his new album, Free as the Birds.

Kieran Leonard (BMus drumkit 2014, Postgraduate Diploma percussion 2015) has been touring the US with Irish band The Recollective.

Photo courtesy John Powell

Theo Jamieson (BMus composition, 2012) is the Musical Director for the smash new musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

Samuel Eagles (BMus jazz saxophone, 2011) received great reviews for his new album Ask Seek Knock.

Tom Gamble (BMus guitar, 2014) released his new solo guitar album Groove & Reflection.

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

Sophie Webber (BMus cello, 2001) released Escape a CD featuring the Six Solo Cello Suites by J.S. Bach.

Thomas Spencer (BMus voice, 2005) released his new album The Journey.

Lucy Elson (BA musical theatre, 2017) performed in Tiger Bay The Musical at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Photo: A P Wilding

Olly Muxworthy (BMus composition, 2016) was selected to compose a piece for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to mark the 25th anniversary of Classic FM. Ned Bigham (Postgraduate certificate 1998, Postgraduate diploma 1999, composition) released his second orchestral CD Staffa, with concerts by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

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

Moses Boyd (BMus jazz drum kit, 2016) won a 2017 MOBO award for Best Jazz Act.

Ezra Collective which includes alumni Femi Koleoso (BMus jazz drum kit, 2017) and Joe Armon Jones (BMus jazz piano, 2016) won Best Jazz Act at this year’s Urban Music Awards.

Gen Li (MMus 2014, Postgraduate Artist Diploma 2015, piano) was awarded joint first prize in the 2017 Brant International Piano Competition in Birmingham.

Hannah Ely (Postgraduate Diploma piano, 2013) and the Fieri Consort were awarded the Cambridge Early Music Prize at York Early Music Festival's International Young Artists Competition. They have also been touring Australia.

Laura Jurd’s (BMus jazz trumpet, 2013) ensemble Dinosaur was named Album of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The ensemble includes fellow alumni Elliot Galvin (BMus jazz piano, 2013, MMus composition, 2014), Corrie Dick (BMus jazz drums, 2014) and Conor Chaplin (BMus jazz double bass, 2014). It was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

Robert Parton (BMus trumpet, 2007) won Primary Music Teacher of the Year at Classic FM's Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2017.

Urska Horvat (Postgraduate artist diploma 2016, ISP 2017, cello) was awarded the first prize at MCL Young Musician of the Year competition.

Photo courtesy Gen Li

Septet Nérija, which features alumni Nubya Garcia (BMus jazz saxophone, 2016), Sheila Maurice Grey (Postgraduate Diploma jazz trumpet, 2016), Lizzy Exell (BMus jazz drums, 2013), Cassie Kinoshi (BMus composition, 2015) and Rosie Turton (BMus jazz trombone, 2015) won Newcomer of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Amos Chia (composition, 2012) was named Associate Conductor of the Karaganda Symphony Orchestra in Kazakhstan he was also awarded Laureate of the First Prize of the 2nd International St. Petersburg Open Competition for Conductors.

James Newby (BMus voice, 2016) was the 2017 recipient of Glyndebourne's John Christie Award. He was also selected by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment for its latest Rising Stars cohort.

Serafina Steer (BMus harp, 2004) was announced as one of the recipients of The Paul Hamlyn Foundation Awards for Artists 2017.

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FROM DANCE ALUMNI

NEWS Robert Clark (BA 2003) has been selected as one of the artists to receive a Compass Commission, The Greenwich Dance & Trinity Laban Partnership’s flagship commissioning scheme.

Joss Arnott (BA 2009, Transitions 2010) toured a triple bill of work in the autumn. It featured Madison Capel-Bird (BA 2015).

Ryan O'Neill (Transitions 2009) toured with Maiden Voyage Dance in Pause and Effect.

Greta Gauhe (BA 2015) performed at the Emerge Festival, London as part of the Follow Through Collective.

Yu Tamura (PDCD 2015) has received support and recognition from The Japan Foundation Asia Center for her community dance project Moving Resilience: Community Dance Exploring Resilience Amidst Disaster.

Photo courtesy Joss Arnott

Jesse Kovarsky (Study abroad programme 2009, Transitions 2011) is Associate Choreographer for the Broadway musical The Band’s Visit.

Oona Doherty (Postgraduate diploma 2010) presented Hard To Be Soft: A Belfast Prayer at the Belfast International Arts Festival.

Rekha Tandon’s (PhD 2005) new book Dance as Yoga exploring the connections between dance and yoga was published.

Michael Boucherie (MFA Creative Practice, 2014) directed horror film Where the skin lies which premiered in August.

Sivan Rubinstein (DDS 2010, BA 2013) showed her work at The Place in London as part of Pivot Dance.

Sarah Kenny (MSc 2004) will lead the first combined dance and kinesiology degree program in Canada in her new position as assistant professor for the faculties of kinesiology and arts at University of Calgary.

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Lea Anderson (BA 1984) presented You've changed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which featured Sean Murray (Transitions 2017).

She also toured her earlier work Ladies & Gentlemen.

Dr Henry Daniels (MA dance studies, 1995) presented nómadas at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts in Vancouver. This piece come out of larger, long term Contemporary Nomads research project.

Photo courtesy Dr Henry Daniels

Liv Lorent (BA 1993) opened her new work, Rumpelstiltskin, in collaboration with poet Dame Carol Ann Duffy.

Orley Quick (DDS 2010) showed As We Like It at Camden People’s Theatre as part of the Come As You Are Festival.

Photo courtesy Michael Boucherie

Preeti Vasudevan (MA dance studies 2002) premiered her autobiographical solo Stories by Hand at New York Live Arts. She was also named as one of Lincoln Center's 2018 Emerging Artists.

Hester Montgomery Campbell (BA 2008) has opened a dedicated CircusFit studio in London.

Photo courtesy Sarah Kenny

Gianluca Vincentini (Transitions 2003) presented work at Sadler’s Wells as part of the Wild Card Series. It also featured Stefania Pinato (BA 2015).

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

Yolanda Mercy (BA 2011) presented her one woman show Quarter Life Crisis at the Edinburgh Festival.

Kathleya Afanador (MA choreography 2009) co-founded Marquee a new video on demand platform that launched in the UK, USA and Canada, featuring dance, opera, music, theatre and arts/culture documentaries.

Malik Nashad Sharpe (Study abroad programme 2013) performance work $elfie$ toured the UK. Maurice Kelliher (BA 2007) received funding from Dance On The Radio for his latest work Lost Broadcasts, which will be presented in 2018.

Teet Kask (MA choreography 2005) re-imagined Swan Lake for Balletto di Milano.

Bridgette Wilson (MA choreography 2017) has been appointed principal of the Caribbean School of Dancing in Trinidad and Tobago.

Lauren Holstein (MA the body in performance 2010) presented her work at The Barbican.

Aaron Chaplin (BA 2017) has joined Phoenix Dance Theatre as their new apprentice dancer.

Tara Brandel (BA 1990) presented her work at the Firkin Crane in Ireland.

Mary Ellen Beaudreau (MA Choreography, 2015) choreographed work for Festival Ballet Providence’s Up Close On Hope series.

Maria Lothe (BA 2015) and Hannah Parsons (BA 2014) presented their work Sewn Seeds, a contemporary dance and visual arts exhibition exploring permaculture.

Carol Wallman (BA 1976) choreographed Iolanthe for the Stewartby Operatic Society.

Multidisciplinary arts collective WAUHAUS was awarded the prestigious annual Finnish State Award for Performing Arts.

Jarkko Partanen (BA 2008) is a founding member of the collective.

Matthew Bourne (BA 1985, Transitions 1986) has been nominated for Best Modern Choreography for The Red Shoes at The National Dance Awards 2017.

Charlotte Tomlinson (MSc 2006) received the Inspirational Community Dance Practitioner Award at the One Dance UK Dance Teaching Awards.

Robbie Synge (PDCD 2008) choreographed Declining Solo which showed at the Lowry, Salford.

Alison Curtis-Jones (BA 1991, MA European dance theatre practice 2004) wrote a chapter on re-imagining as contemporary creative practice in Transmissions in Dance - Contemporary Staging Practices. Her chapter looks at how she re-imagined Rudolf Laban’s Drumstick. She was also commissioned to make a site-sensitive work in Monte Verita, Switzerland.

Photo courtesy Charlotte Tomlinson

Emma Redding (BA 1993) was awarded the Dance Educator Award 2017 at the 27th Annual Conference of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.

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

Photo courtesy Aaron Chaplin

Veronica Jobbins (MA 1984) received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural One Dance UK Dance Teaching Awards 2017.

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IN MEMORY

Salah Dawson Miller (22 Aug 1950 – 25 Aug 2017) was a long standing percussion teacher at Trinity Laban. He was a founding member of 3 Mustaphas 3, performed with the Justin Adams Trio and Les Triaboliques.

He was instrumental in establishing the world music scene and inspired many of today’s leading percussionists.

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

Dolores Josey (1929 – 28 Aug 2017) graduated in 1988 with an MA Dance Studies.

She returned to the USA in 1990 where she worked as an artist and ceramicist and raised her family. Her work was always very influenced by her movement studies and two weeks after her death, her first novel, Crossing Boundaries, was published.

Geraldine Stephenson (4 Dec 1925 – 24 Dec 2017) was one of the first students on the three year course at Rudolf Laban’s Art of Movement Studio in Manchester in 1946.

Alongside teaching at the Art of Movement Studio she had a remarkable career as a choreographer and movement director working in theatre, film and television. Her credits include The Two Ronnies, Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and television series like War and Peace and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She also worked regularly with theatres including the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Regents Park Open Air Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre.

She was an expert on period dance and movement and also developed Laban’s idea of movement choirs. Paying tribute to Geraldine, Dr Valerie Preston-Dunlop, said “Geraldine Stephenson was a charismatic teacher and director of dance dramas, especially of works for large community groups including the wellknown York Mystery Plays. Geraldine was an invaluable assistant to Rudolf Laban in the last years of his creative life.”

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Ameral Gunson (25 Oct 1948 – 4 Aug 2017) started her career with the BBC singers before establishing a successful and varied solo career. She sang many operatic roles and appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Alter Oper Frankfurt and the Turin and Helsinki opera houses. She was a vocal teacher at Trinity Laban.

LOOK OUT FOR Trinity Laban has developed a new one-year programme in partnership with the Open University. Called The Certificate: The Practice of Music Making it offers adults with a passion for music the opportunity to develop their practical music making and performance skills.

It is delivered through distance learning plus a residential learning week at our Faculty of Music in Greenwich, working alongside our world-renowned tutor team.

The Certificate is available as a stand-alone programme, and can also count towards degree study with the Open University. If you know anyone who might be interested in this programme please do share with them. More information is on the website trinitylaban.ac.uk/study/ music/certificate-the-practice-of-music-making

SHARE YOUR NEWS

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

Email alumni@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Post: Alumni Relations, King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London SE10 9JF Call: + 44 (0)20 8305 9420 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 /TRINITYLABAN INFO@TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK | TRINITYLABAN.AC.UK | FOLLOW US ON: 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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