Strings at the Academy

Autumn 2015
An update from Jo Cole, Head of Strings

Sainsbury Royal Academy

Soloists at Wigmore Hall

I am thrilled to be welcoming a bumper

crop of new string students who join us
this September: totalling 40 (yes, 40!)
strings undergraduates – a record
number – and 50 postgraduates. These
young musicians, who come from all
over the world, will have plenty of
support during Induction to help them
process the data-overload experience of
starting an exciting new chapter of life.

As Autumn appeared on the horizon, Academy strings professors are in strong As Autumn progresses we will see
the Academy’s students started demand to teach and coach in summer them getting to know their Academy
converging on London – returning from schools throughout the world, and often professors, settling in to their new
their Summer activities. A huge range of meet aspiring Academy students during homes, gradually connecting with
summer schools, seminars, orchestral their work abroad. Summer is the time new chamber music colleagues,
and chamber music courses and study when the Strings Department is truly playing great music under impressively
holidays now mean that students internationally spread: everywhere from distinguished conductors/directors,
maintain their playing, as well as enjoying Mull to Melbourne. such as Robin Ticciati, Yan Pascal
different environments and making new Tortelier, Edward Gardner,
friends during the long break from more Closer to home, the London BBC Proms Trevor Pinnock, John Adams
formal study. included performances by the Halcyon and, very importantly, starting the
Quartet (BMus 3 and 4)and Mathilde lasting friendships that survive not
Academy string players have been Milwidsky (BMus 2 violin) in the Hugh only studentships but provide the
performing in the Pacific Music Festival Wood Proms Composer Portrait – and camaraderie and support that will
Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Orchestra, Houcheng Kian (BMus 2 violin) playing make their waiting musical careers
EUYO, the East-West Divan Orchestra, the music for the eponymous solo role so rewarding. Our highly beneficial
Prague Summer Nights, in the USA, in the Fiddler on the Roof, all broadcast collaborative schemes with the
Brazil, Canada, Eastern Europe, in China, on Radio 3. London Symphony Orchestra (String
and Australia and in chamber music Experience) and Britten Sinfonia
events all over the British Isles from the Amongst all the activity I hope there has (Apprenticeship) will continue next year,
Lake District to Cambridge, Dartington been chance for students and professors with the internal orchestral auditions as
to Aldeburgh, as well as further afield. to relax and recharge the batteries as the starting point for their selections.
These are just some of the ones I know 2015–16 is another jam-packed year for
about! the Academy Strings Department!
Chamber Music

We are proud to announce that the

Doric Quartet will be the Teaching
Quartet in Association at the Academy
in 2015–16 – thanks to generous We asked the ‘Dorics’ some Do you laugh in rehearsals?
support from the Frost Trust. Their questions to start to get to
role will be slightly different to know them better: Our rehearsals are a real mix between
a ‘standard’ residency: they are intense work, broken up with
tasked with focusing especially on Why are you called The Doric silliness. There are a lot of in-jokes
developing continuity and stability String Quartet? that we are sure nobody else would
through the second and third years of find funny.

undergraduate string chamber music It was important to us when
performance, assisting with repertoire choosing a name that we would Why does chamber music matter
choice, rehearsal techniques, trouble not be associated with a particular to a student?
shooting, and long term planning. composer or person. We took a
The Doric Quartet has an incredibly look at classical architecture with We think playing chamber music is
impressive profile as a performing beauty, structure and form, and vital to becoming a good musician.
quartet of considerable stature, but were taken with the word Doric When working together you learn
they are also enthusiastic, dedicated from the sets of columns found on to share and develop your musical
and successful teachers. It is going to ancient Greek buildings. perceptions and work on some of the
be a great association and I am thrilled most intimate and personal aspects
that they have responded with such How do you choose repertoire? of music.

commitment and flair to this plan.
Crucially, their remit extends beyond We often make a wish list of all the Do you share other interests?
the string quartet to all chamber music pieces we want to play, which can What else do you like doing?
for strings – including strings and turn out quite long! We then try and
piano/wind. create balanced programmes out of We all love good food and drink!
it. Our recording projects also have When you’re away from home it’s
The Academy’s love of ensemble an impact on our programmes as great fun to go off together and find
playing also benefits again next year we like to perform the pieces many great restaurants and bars. Some of
from the continued inspiration provided times before committing them to us are avid runners and we all like to
by Chamber Musician in Residence: disc. 
 take long walks if we are in beautiful
Levon Chilingirian: his classes on places.
duo sonata playing will start with a
well-timed session on Brahms ahead
of the Wilfred Parry Prize (for the
performance of a Brahms Duo sonata),
alongside his supportive work with
established trios and quartets which
will feature throughout the year. The
Davey Posnanski Quartet Scheme
enters its fifth year: auditions for the
coveted spots on this prestigious
course take place in October. The
scheme runs through the academic
year and provides additional performing
and study opportunities, a dedicated
mentor and career guidance for serious
quartets.

The CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust

is again generously supporting a
Fellowship this year and the recipients
are the Jørgensen Piano Trio, who
received the Elias Fawcett Trust in the
Intercollegiate Piano Trio Competition
in May, and recently also won first
prize in the Malta International Music
Competition in July. This outstandingly
versatile trio will be engaged in
performing and supporting roles,
with special responsibility for helping
first year piano trios.The CAVATINA
Intercollegiate String Quartet
Competition will take place at the
Academy in May.

Doric String Quartet

 Academy Soloists with Clio Gould
Building news

The Academy’s purpose remains

unwaveringly dedicated and devoted
to the development of musicians –
as it has ever since its foundation
– but it is also an institution that
moves with the times and in 2015–
16 there is considerable change
afoot: the Academy is replacing its
out-dated theatre with a state-of-
the art spectacular new one, and is
adding a concert hall to the top of
the building with extra facilities for
recording and stunning new roof
access. This inevitably entails some
re-jigging of teaching space so that
lessons can continue undisturbed
by construction (and destruction!)
noise.

The Academy management has

tested its creative resources to the
max. to find ways to make this all
work and to have minimal effect Focus on the violin
on student life. In some cases
this has had the serendipitous There will be two Barbirolli lectures
outcome of discovering some this Autumn: Jonathan Freeman
nearby outstanding venues for Attwood will be interviewing Maxim
classes and rehearsals.This will Vengerov on 30th September about
make the activities (even more) of a his extraordinary career and on
preparation for life in the profession 23rd October, the Academy’s Ede
– which is usually spent travelling a Zathureczky Professor of Violin, and
great deal and playing and working much-loved György Pauk will be
in different environments. Some interviewed about his life as one of the
of the venues are very much on world’s greatest violinists and teachers.
the professional circuit of musician
workplaces and Academy students In April, celebrating Menuhin’s
are going to get to know their 100th birthday year, the Academy
way to, and around them before is hosting the Yehudi Menuhin
they actually are employed to be International Violin Competition.
there. The Strings Administration www.menuhincompetition.org/
headquarters – Emily Good’s competition-2016/
office – is temporarily rising to the More violin action: On 9th October
5th floor –a good test of the leg We are delighted that many of the major an unusual event featuring violin
muscles if you take the stairs to go events including the Jury master classes professor Jack Liebeck and eminent
and visit her! and the Junior Finals will take place at broadcaster and physicist Brian Cox
the Academy, Academy professors will will present an evening exploring
be contributing in the chamber music the concept of time, with a student
element rounds, and the Academy ensemble performing Messiaen’s
Symphony Orchestra will accompany Quartet for the End of Time. In the
the Senior Finals at the Royal Festival spring term, Jack is back: curating
Staff news Hall. Attending Academy students a day dedicated to celebrating the
will experience the positive and music of Fritz Kreisler.This will
This year we welcome two extremely vibrant flavour of this highly respected
distinguished new staff members: include a significant number of student
competition, as well as being amongst performances including an account of
violinist Rodney Friend www.ram. terrific young violinists under the age of
ac.uk/about-us/news/rodney-friend- the rarely heard, but very appealing,
22 as they present themselves to the string quartet.
joins-strings-staff and viola soloist eminent jury.
and chamber musician Roger Chase
www.ram.ac.uk/about-us/staff/chase,
who has recently returned to the
UK from the States, where he has
taught for several years at Roosevelt Before he heads East, Paul will be leading
University in Chicago. Roger has very Academy viola students in a firework-
generously agreed to join the staff at filled Viola Ensemble performance on 5th
the Academy following the departure November including works by Boulez and
of Paul Silverthorne, who is to become George Benjamin. We are sorry to see
professor of viola at Soo Chow Paul go, but delighted to have Roger and
University School of Music in China. Rodney join our magnificent staff!
 Garth Knox teaching

This year, owing to the record Strings at home

intake of undergraduates, there
will be two Strings One-Year In accordance with our philosophy of
Internships, held by violinist giving students access to some of the
Michael Foyle and cellist Nadege greatest artists performing today, the There’s never a dull moment in
Rochat. They will offer support current list of master classes – public the Strings Department – there
and practical advice to complement and internal – for just the first part of is always something interesting
professorial tuition and chamber the year includes: going on.Come in and find out
music activity, and will assist in Levon Chilingirian, James Ehnes, more!
coordinating such a large group of Tasmin Little, Maxim Vengerov,
younger students. Ensuring that Roger Chase, Garth Knox,
the individual pathway of each Tatyana Masurenko, Lawrence
student is carefully monitored and Power, Hartmut Rohde, Mario
tailored to help where necessary Brunello, Colin Carr, Daniel
and to encourage independence Müller-Schott, Sungwon Yang,
without isolation is absolutely key. Bozo Paradic, Gunars Upatnieks
and the Fine Arts Quartet.