SPRING 2020 THE LATEST NEWS FROM INSIDE THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC
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UPBEAT
SPRING
2020
THE LATEST NEWS FROM INSIDE
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 1
A SURVIVOR FROM
HIGHLIGHTS
WARSAW WITH
SIR THOMAS ALLEN
In autumn, esteemed baritone and
RCM alumnus Sir Thomas Allen joined
the RCM Symphony Orchestra for
a performance of Schoenberg’s A
Survivor from Warsaw, conducted by
Michael Rosewell.
Photos: Chris Christodoulou
Front cover photo: Adam Ferguson
2 UPBEAT SPRING 2020
WELCOME 4
CONTENTS
TO UPBEAT NEWS
The latest news and activities from
the Royal College of Music
Welcome to the Green Issue. As organisations across the
country increasingly strive towards sustainability, our cover
8
HONOURING WOMEN
Women at the RCM
feature foregrounds the efforts being made by the College
to go green. This magazine, and its packaging, is fully
recyclable.
An historic institution faces unique challenges in updating its infrastructure
10
GOING GREEN
Sustainability at the RCM
and systems to become more ecological, but as our feature on pages
10–11 describes, that challenge is being enthusiastically taken up all over
the RCM campus. Director of Estates Aida Berhamovic tells Upbeat about
the great steps already taken to make the College more environmentally
13
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Facilities Supervisor Abel Tsegaye
friendly, as well as a long-term plan for the years ahead. As we innovate in
14
our technical capacities and expand our educational impact, we need to
build on a cultural shift towards greener practices, too.
We celebrate composers Helen Grime and Errollyn Wallen, RCM alumna SUPPORT US
and professor respectively, in a feature on pages 8–9 honouring the
women who have studied at and shaped the RCM. Both composers
were recognised in The Queen’s New Year Honours list, adding to an
ever-growing history of game-changing women in classical music. The
16
STUDENT UPDATES
RCM has supported and protected gender equality in musical education
since its inception and is proud to see the fruits of that commitment in the
accomplishments of its students, staff and alumni.
Elsewhere, our news items cover a visit from Andrea Bocelli, RCM success
18
STAFF UPDATES
20
at The Ivors Composer Awards and the launch of our Weibo channel.
Do please share your own recent projects and achievements by emailing
news@rcm.ac.uk. The deadline for the summer issue of Upbeat is ALUMNI UPDATES
Monday 4 May.
22
IN MEMORY
Professor Colin Lawson CBE FRCM, Director
UPBEAT ONLINE
Upbeat is available to read online at
www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat
Please help us to reduce our carbon footprint by receiving
Upbeat digitally. Update your preferences via
updateyourdetails@rcm.ac.uk
Director of Communications Talia Hull
Editor Annie Corser
Designer May Yan Man
Design www.splashofpaint.com
Contact news@rcm.ac.uk
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 3
IN THE NEWS
NEWS
Below
RCM JAY MEWS VOCAL SCHOLARSHIP
Andrea Bocelli, LAUNCHED BY
Community Jameel
and Professor Colin A s Spring Term 2020 kicked off, students
and staff moved into RCM Jay Mews, the ANDREA BOCELLI AND
Lawson in the
Entrance Hall at the
latest addition to the RCM Estate. The new
building is home to two large rehearsal studios,
COMMUNITY JAMEEL
RCM a wellness centre, several smaller practice rooms
and a number of staff departments, as well as
Student Services, and a luthier room. A new scholarship for RCM students has
been established by an endowment from
Andrea Bocelli, the celebrated tenor, and
Sitting opposite the Royal College of Art, Jay Mohammed Jameel KBE, founder of Community
Mews was, since the 1970s, the home of Jameel. The donation was marked by a visit
the English National Ballet (ENB). The ballet from Bocelli and Jameel on 23 November
company had its first permanent premises there, 2019, and is a major contribution to the More
over the years expanding and redeveloping the Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music
space to accommodate its growing operation. Campaign.
It was here that Rudolf Nureyev created his
version of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet for The The Andrea Bocelli Foundation–Community
Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Jameel Scholarship is designed to open doors
for emerging singers, allowing them to access
Before the ENB settled there, Jay Mews was all the opportunities the College has to offer. It is
part of Queen Alexandra’s House, originally for full-time students and will be awarded on a
serving as a hostel for 130 female students basis of merit and need, so talented singers can
studying at the RCM. One of the main rehearsal be offered the support they require to access
spaces was originally used as the RCM world-class training.
performance hall, before the Blomfield Building
opened in 1894. Now, Jay Mews has become Bocelli commented that: ‘The Andrea Bocelli
part of the RCM once more. Foundation believes that music education can
become an integral part of the lives of children
This expansion of the campus is part of the and youth … We are thrilled to take a new
More Music: Reimagining the Royal College step in support of our commitment to music
of Music Campaign, and marks an exciting education.’ Fady Jameel, President, International
development in the rollout of impressive new of Community Jameel, said that ‘With our goal
facilities opening for students, staff and visitors. of innovating for a better future, we have found
in the Royal College of Music a global institution
taking a creative approach to delivering
musical education for all … We are committed
to improving access to the best vocal training
for aspiring, talented singers from around
the world.’
RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson
commented: ‘We are extremely grateful to the
Andrea Bocelli Foundation and Community
Jameel for their strong commitment to the Royal
College of Music’s More Music Campaign. This
new scholarship will give young singers each
year the remarkable opportunity to study at the
RCM without financial burden. One of the More
Music Campaign’s key aims is to make music
education available to all; philanthropic partners
such as this are vital to this vision.’
4 UPBEAT SPRING 2020
NYO SUCCESS FOR
RCMJD MUSICIANS
T he RCM Junior Department is sending its
highest-ever number of students to join the
National Youth Orchestra this year. A total of
24 musicians have been selected.
Miranda Francis, Head of Junior Programmes,
said: ‘I am immensely proud of the 24 young
musicians who have secured places in the NYO
and the many other JD students who have been
invited to join the NYO Inspire programme.
I would like to thank all of the inspirational
teachers and orchestral tutors here at the RCMJD
for supporting these talented young musicians
and helping them on their way.’
The talented musicians are: violinists Betania
Johnny, Ignacy Stefanowicz, Clio Harwood,
Gabriella Bavetta, Catherine Alsey, Lottie THE BIG GIVE 2019 Above
Swainston, Bronagh Lee and Ross Ah-Weng;
violist Emily Fraser; cellists James Dew, Kevin
REACHES NEW RCMJD students
selected for the NYO
Zheng and Alex Wong; oboists Antonia HEIGHTS outside the Blomfield
Holloway and Tom Kirby; clarinettists Gisela Building
Chung Halpern, Phoenix Mombru and Iona
Salter; bassoonist Aidan Campbell; horn players
Brendan Connellan, Alice Knight, Anna Le
T he Royal College of Music has raised a net
total of £122,748 in the 2019 Big Give
Christmas Challenge, exceeding its fundraising
Huray and Sarah Pennington; harpist Tatiana
target of £100,000. The campaign ran from 3
Fraser; and composer Chelsea Becker.
to 10 December and raised money towards the
The NYO is entirely made up of young people, RCM Scholarships Fund, which will go towards
and it has garnered a deserved reputation for supporting gifted students in their studies at the
high-energy concerts and innovative orchestral College.
performances. The 164-strong orchestra
changes its line up each year, bringing new
More than 80 donors contributed to the online THE ROYAL
perspectives to its work and welcoming ever-
campaign. The final figure included the matched COLLEGE
funds generously provided by The Reed
more young musicians to its ranks; the NYO
Foundation plus £14,200 in Gift Aid. On top
OF MUSIC
has supported over 5,000 musicians since its
of this, the RCM fundraising goal was achieved MUSEUM
inception in 1948.
24 hours before the closing time. NEEDS YOUR
This year’s success for RCMJD students continues HELP!
a significant legacy; RCMJD alumnae Stephanie
Childress, Elodie Chousmer-Howelles and Leora We’re looking for any
Cohen have all been appointed leader of the objects, photographs and
orchestra in recent years. memories that would help
us to tell the story of the
RCM in our brand new
gallery, which opens later
this year.
Do you have anything you
would like to share? We
would love to hear from
you!
Please email Museum
Research Assistant
Dr Anna Maria Barry at
anna.barry@rcm.ac.uk
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 5
NEWS
Above
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY A SUCCESSFUL
Flautist Amy Gillen FOR RCM SUPPORTERS SOIRÉE D’OR
performs at Soirée d’Or
TO MAKE THEIR WILL
FREE OF CHARGE T hed’OrRCM’s annual fundraising event Soirée
took place at the Victoria and Albert
Musuem on 4 December, raising just over
S
£239,000 for the RCM Scholarship Fund.
upporters of the RCM in England and
Wales now have the opportunity to make Guests enjoyed a champagne reception, dinner
their Will free of charge with the help of a step- and live performances from some of the RCM’s
by-step questionnaire provided by the online most talented musicians and alumni. Flautist Amy
Will-writing service Bequeathed (registered with Gillen gave an exceptional solo performance of
the Fundraising Regulator). Most people who Pièce by Fauré, followed by JS Bach’s Badinerie
use Bequeathed will leave a gift to the RCM, accompanied by a string quartet of RCM
however large or small, although it is by no students. Violinist David Nebel then played
means a condition of using the service. alongside the quartet, and mezzo soprano Emily
Sierra and tenor Zwakele Tshabalala delighted
The RCM has always benefitted enormously
the guests with two solo pieces before closing
from legacy gifts, enabling the institution to
with a striking rendition of ‘Je te veux’ by Satie.
grow and flourish. Regardless of size, every gift
to the RCM left in a supporter’s Will has helped The RCM Chamber Choir performed ‘I Wonder
turn the College into what it is today: one of the As I Wander’ by Rutter, as well as Pierpont’s
world’s greatest conservatoires. ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’,
Legacies have long helped the RCM to achieve arranged by RCM Artistic Director Stephen
what might not otherwise have been possible: Johns.
to provide modern facilities and performance Chairman Lord Black of Brentwood and Director
spaces; undertake research; fund performances, Professor Colin Lawson spoke of some of the
creative projects and fellowships; provide achievements of RCM students over the past
scholarships and career support; and facilitate year as well the success of the More Music:
enriching musical activities for the benefit of Reimagining the Royal College of Music
students as well as the wider public. Campaign. The Soirée d’Or Committee is led
As musical education is becoming rarer in by Lady Carr, and the committee’s tireless efforts
schools, the work of the RCM is vital in ensuring made this event a success and led to significant
that every gifted young musician has the funds being raised to support talented students.
opportunity to study here and that music-making A special tribute was made, at the event and in
continues to reach a wide audience. With the the event programme, to Mary Cosgrave, Senior
help of Bequeathed, you can be guided through Development Manager, Events and Corporate
each step of the Will-writing process at no cost, Partnerships, who worked for the RCM for over
and play an important role in securing the future 22 years before she passed away in 2019.
of music and its life-affirming power. She will be remembered for so many things,
For further information on Bequeathed, please including her very special contribution to the
visit bequeathed.org/royalcollegeofmusic success of Soirée d’Or.
or contact Miriam Thiede, Supporter
Engagement Manager, at miriam.thiede@
rcm.ac.uk or on 020 7591 4761.
6 UPBEAT SPRING 2020
RCM COMPOSERS RCM LAUNCHES Below
RECOGNISED AT THE WEIBO CHANNEL Performance of Convo at
IVORS ACADEMY the Royal Albert Hall
COMPOSER AWARDS T he RCM has launched a dedicated channel
on Weibo, the Chinese micro-blogging site.
One of the largest social media platforms in
T he RCM celebrated impressive success in the China, Weibo has over 400 million active
2019 Ivors Academy Composer Awards. monthly users and is an important source of
Nominees included 11 current and former information and conversation for Chinese
students and staff from the RCM Composition audiences.
Faculty, and four won in their categories. The Weibo is one of China’s most influential social
success at the awards is testament to the media platforms, commonly referred to as the
exceptional quality within the Composition ‘Chinese Twitter’. The RCM’s Weibo channel
Faculty and shines a light on the impressive joins its existing WeChat channel (WeChat ID:
careers of those who have studied under its RCMLondon) in providing valuable avenues for
professors. alumni and prospective and current students
Charlotte Harding, composition and saxophone from Chinese-speaking regions, allowing them
alumna, won in the Community or Education to engage with the College’s activity. The RCM
Project category. Her piece, Convo, was Weibo channel will utilise the platform’s built-in
honoured for its skill in composition as well function for sharing videos, involving Chinese
as for bringing young people together in audiences in the RCM’s extensive roster of
concert. The piece was premiered at the Royal performances.
Albert Hall on 7 March 2019, performed by RCM Deputy Director Kevin Porter says that he
a massed choir and young musicians from is ‘delighted that the Royal College of Music
schools across three London boroughs. Of has launched a Weibo channel, through which
the nomination, Charlotte said that: ‘it was we will be able to engage with more people
wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate in Chinese-speaking regions than ever before.
with RCM Sparks on this very special project’. Many talented musicians from these regions
Charlotte was also nominated in the Stage enrol at the RCM each year, joining a thriving
Works category for her piece Them, composed international community that includes students
for BalletBoyz and performed at Sadler’s Wells. from over 60 different countries.’
In the Chamber Ensemble category, RCM
composition professor Dr Dai Fujikura won for
his Flute Concerto, co-commissioned by the
Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and The Saint
Paul Chamber Orchestra. RCM graduate Gavin
Higgins won in the Orchestral category for
his trombone concerto, The Book of Miracles,
which was commissioned by BBC Radio 3.
Finally, Charlotte Bray won in the Solo or
Duo category; her piece for viola and piano,
Invisible Cities, was commissioned by the
Verbier Festival. The work was recently recorded
for Charlotte’s second CD on the RTF Classical
label.
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 7
HONOURING
FEATURE
WOMEN
‘Fifty scholarships have been established, of which twenty-five confer a free education in
music, and twenty-five provide, not only a free education, but also maintenance for the
scholars. Of these scholarships, half are held by boys and half by girls.’
Extract from speech of HRH The Prince of Wales, at the opening of the Royal College of
Music as reported in The Times, 8 May 1883.
Two women who can testify to the role the
RCM has played in shaping and encouraging
their careers in music are Helen Grime and
Errollyn Wallen. Grime, who studied for her
Master of Music at the College, and Wallen,
a composition professor at the RCM, have
both forged singular paths as composers of
renown, and have been honoured with awards,
high-profile performances of their work and, in
January, an MBE and CBE (respectively) in The
Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Success, or even recognition, as a female
composer is far from guaranteed: the Donne:
Women in Music project, released in 2018,
found that 97.6% of the music (classical and
contemporary) performed in three seasons
across Europe in 2018/19 was written by
men. But Grime and Wallen have belied these
figures in exciting ways: Wallen’s Concerto for
From its inception, the RCM set out with Percussion and Orchestra was the first piece
a mandate of providing quality musical by a black woman ever performed at the BBC
education, with an onus on ensuring access Proms, in 1998, and in 2016 Wigmore Hall
/RCMLondon to all those with the talent and desire to learn. hosted a day of performances of Grime’s music,
Head to the RCM’s This has, from the College’s very first intake, in recognition of her role as the distinguished
YouTube channel to hear deliberately included an equal number of young venue’s Composer in Residence for the
Head of Postgraduate women and young men, and the RCM and the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons. For these
Programmes Dr Natasha classical music scene have been benefitting sorts of opportunities to be available to women
Loges and student ever since. in classical music, there need to be places
ensemble the Eumelia where talent and skill is nurtured, performance
Gender parity in the student body is a key facet and commissioning opportunities offered and
Trio talk about their of life at the College (female students made up
experiences of studying professional knowledge shared, so those
50% of the College according to the 2018–19 venturing into the professional musical world can
and performing music RCM Annual Review), and there have long
by female composers, envision a successful future. The RCM knows the
been efforts to encourage performances of value of being one of those places.
inspired by this year’s work by female composers. But women feeling
International Women’s represented and nurtured in classical music also As well as standalone events such as the
Day events. means a cultural reckoning with how women 2014 RCM Women in Music Festival, and
experience support and encouragement from the College’s annual roster of events for
a young age, and how they see themselves International Women’s Day, an environment of
playing a part in the broader history and mentorship and collaboration at the RCM places
direction of the musical profession. Creating emphasis on students feeling empowered to
ths supportive environment for young women pursue careers in music. Grime agrees. When
is an integral part of what the RCM sets out to asked about being a composer in 21st-century
achieve. Britain, she said that: ‘the musical landscape
8 UPBEAT SPRING 2020
is incredibly rich and varied and I think what Fanny Hensel, and [I] have been very pleased
FEATURE
the RCM offers, in terms of training and to realise there have always been female
opportunities, has a strong role in feeding into composers right through history.’
that.’ Of mentorship, she says that: ‘it can be
Education will always play a vital role in
extremely important and a great way to nurture
enshrining women’s roles in history. This
talent.’ On 8 March, one of the events at the
extends both to the work that students are
RCM on the 2020 International Women’s Day
exposed to and discover for themselves. To
was a ‘Meet the Professionals’ session, at which
that end, an effort is underway at the RCM to
young musicians could interact with some of the
produce a single-source glossary of work by
influential women making an impact in the arts.
female composers, leading to a database that
From the outset, one of the most valuable ways students in every faculty can filter by instrument
to empower young women to enter classical and through which discover works written by
music is for them to hear strong female voices women. Grime notes that: ‘it is so important
in education, and so see themselves in their for young composers to learn that it is actually
examples of succesful women in the industry. nothing new for women to compose and that
It’s important too for young musicians to see is definitely something that could be right for
inspirational figures opening up opportunities them.’ She goes on to touch on a wider point
that haven’t existed before. Belize-born about the role event programming can play in
Wallen has made a career of breaching redressing this gender imbalance in the music
new frontiers, both figuratively and literally; in that gets to be heard. ‘It’s definitely important
2006 she composed a song in collaboration to raise awareness of female composers and
with astronaut Steve Maclean while he was musicians. Eventually it would obviously be Above
aboard space shuttle STS-115. As an example great to have equality in programming so that Errollyn Wallen CBE
for young people in education, she offers a these concerts were not one-off focus events. I
sense of confidence and conviction, crucial in think we all want our music to be programmed Opposite
allowing young women to feel there are spaces for many reasons, not only to group women Helen Grime MBE
for them to occupy in the professional sphere. together as a genre.’ Photo: Benjamin
In an interview in 2019 with music blog I Care Ealovega
This is the type of environment that young female
if You Listen, Wallen said that: ‘music and the
musicians should both experience and be able
making of music belongs to everyone. Talent
to create for themselves. And so from forward-
isn’t about class or wealth.’
looking programming to visits from successful
One of the RCM’s first ever teachers when it female professionals, such as Nicola Benedetti,
opened in 1883 was Arabella Goddard, a Holly Mathieson and Dame Sarah Connolly,
celebrated pianist who had been one of the the RCM will continue to explore what women
first group of recipients of the Gold Medal excelling in their careers can offer young people
of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1871. just beginning in theirs.
As the RCM’s first female teacher, Goddard
was a pioneer, and her legacy can be felt
in today’s Keyboard Faculty, led by Professor
Vanessa Latarche. Young women can also
be inspired towards careers in musical
education by the RCM’s first female director,
Dame Janet Ritterman, who led the College Helen Grime MBE
from 1993–2005 and who remains a Vice- Scottish composer Helen Grime MBE studied for her MMus at the Royal
President. Examples of women in leadership College of Music. She won a British Composer Award for her Oboe
and education are as important to the musical Concerto in 2003. She was Associate Composer to the Hallé Orchestra
community as to any other, and it is with pride from 2011–15, and was nominated in the 2015 Gramophone Awards.
that the RCM is a home for pioneering women. Her work has been premiered at the BBC Proms and at the Barbican,
As well as ensuring that women play a key conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. She is a Professor of Composition at the
role in musical education, both in teaching Royal Academy of Music.
and direction, it is vital that women’s music is
studied, performed and promoted. The exciting Errollyn Wallen CBE
work being done by contemporary composers Composition professor at the RCM, Errollyn Wallen CBE has received
such as Wallen and Grime has a valuable critical acclaim for work across classical and contemporary genres. Born
role to play, in both inspiring young musicians in Belize and raised in London, she has won an Ivor Novello Award and
and ensuring programming is innovative and had work commissioned for the opening of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
modern. Grime says that: ‘there are so many She was included in the BBC 100 Women 2018 list, and she will feature
composers that I had no idea about growing as one of Wigmore Hall’s In Focus artists in the summer 2020 season.
up, other than maybe Clara Schumann and
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 9
GOING GREEN
FEATURE
Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. As momentum around
the globe builds, how is the Royal College of Music rising to the challenge?
How many musicians does it take to change
a light bulb? Well, over the past five years
TOP INITIATIVES
more than 1,000 bulbs have been replaced
with energy-efficient LEDs across the College
campus. Not only do they use less energy, they
also last much longer and can be recycled at
the end of their life. This is just one of a number
More than 1,000 LEDs save of initiatives to minimise the College’s impact
160,000 kWh per year on the environment that Director of Estates
Aida Berhamovic has been championing since
arriving at the RCM three years ago.
New waterless urinals save ‘Replacing the historical infrastructure in a
270,000 litres of water building like ours is time consuming and
per year challenging, but through a process of phased
improvements we’ve made some significant
steps forward’, Aida comments. ‘In 2018
we were awarded a “B” rating on the DEC
25,000 demolished bricks framework, which is such an achievement and
were used to build the demonstrates how successful our programme
foundations of the new has been. It’s amazing how even the smallest of
actions, for example turning the lights off when
More Music development you leave a room or your computer at the end
of the day, can have such a big impact when
we all do them.’
All single-use plastic cutlery
The focus over the past few years has been
has been replaced with transforming the Prince Consort Road campus
metal reusable cutlery with a multi-million-pound More Music:
Reimagining the Royal College of Music
Campaign building development. It will offer
50% of hot drink purchases students and visitors a series of vibrant new
communal and performances spaces alongside
are now made using reusable an interactive museum for our internationally
mugs significant collections.
‘We’re really proud to be have been awarded
a BREEAM rating of “Very Good” for the
All statistics used in this article are correct at time of going to print. redevelopment’, comments Aida. ‘This is the
world’s longest established method for assessing
and rating the sustainability of buildings and it
evaluates how efficient the building is in terms
of energy and water use as well as health
and wellbeing. Given that we will have nearly
doubled the size of our campus as a result of
these works, it’s more important than ever to
ensure our buildings are working as effectively
I’ve noticed a real change in staff and and efficiently as they can.’
student attitudes to sustainability.
One of the aspects of the new spaces that
Aida Berhamovic Aida is particularly excited about is the new
Director of Estates
Atrium and the Courtyard. ‘The whole area will
be flooded with light. Given that we spend
so much of our time indoors, being able to
10 UPBEAT SPRING 2020offer our students, staff and visitors a peaceful
FEATURE
outdoor space to enjoy in the middle of bustling
South Kensington will, I hope, offer them a real
sense of wellbeing.’
Darren Chadwick, the RCM’s consultant from
Brite Green Sustainable Strategy, added:
‘Sustainability was a key consideration during
the construction project. Working closely with
the contractor Gilbert-Ash, we were able to
deliver some great initiatives. We reused
crushed bricks from the demolished building
in the new foundations, reducing our waste
significantly. We also managed the impact
of noise from the construction really closely
and used industry-leading techniques to keep
the College open throughout the construction
process. The completion of the works heralds a
new chapter for the College, and we have set
some challenging targets to reduce our carbon
emissions.’
To make a real impact on the environment there
has to be a cultural shift in an organisation and
according to Aida this is now happening. ‘Since
I’ve been working here, I’ve noticed a real
change in staff and student attitudes, particularly
among the student body. It’s an issue they feel
incredibly strongly about and we are always
keen to hear and support their initiatives.’
One such initiative being spearheaded by
RCMSU President Joel Wilson is Green Week,
which runs 16–20 March. ‘This year’s theme
is the small things you can do, on a day-to-
day basis’, comments Joel. As Upbeat went to
press, plans included park walks, the creation
of an allotment at Prince Consort Village (the
RCM’s halls of residence), a Veggie Week at other initiatives have included replacing single-
the RCM Café and a concert on Friday 20 use plastic knives and forks with metal reusable Above
March to raise funds for the Australia bushfires cutlery, introducing compostable straws and
Student with an RCM
relief efforts. Joel said ‘environmental issues are a reward scheme for anyone who brings their
reusable cup in the
really important to students, and I hope we own Tupperware to purchase hot food.
RCM Café
can use Green Week to start a whole range of
Looking forward to the next decade, Aida aims Photo: Phil Rowley
new initiatives that will help the RCM be more
to embed sustainability across all aspects of
environmentally friendly all year round.’
the RCM. And there’s certainly an appetite for
‘Single-use’ was named Collins Dictionary’s it. There are already experiments with digital
word of the year in 2018. It defines it as ‘a programme notes to reduce the amount of paper
term that describes items whose unchecked used, live-streamed concerts reaching a global
proliferation are blamed for damaging the audience and lessons with professors all over
environment and affecting the food chain’. It’s the world using the innovative LOLA technology
certainly an issue that rings true for many at the which allows for real-time performance and
RCM and one the student body is firmly behind. reduces the need to travel. Aida says: ‘My
Inga Ryan, who manages the catering outlet at ultimate goal is that we are a forward-looking
the College, reports that ‘we have almost halved institution and a role model in terms of our
our reliance on plastic cups thanks to reward sustainable credentials. I want to ensure a
initiatives such as introducing a discount when positive environment that our staff, students and
you purchase a hot drink using a reusable mug. visitors are proud of.’
Last year, that equated to more than 19,000
hot drink purchases.’ The RCM now also sells
a reusable coffee mug at its shop, alongside a
number of other products made from sustainable
and recyclable materials. Over the past year,
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 11COMING SOON
RCM SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA AT
QUEEN ELIZABETH
HALL
This summer, musicians from the Royal College of Music
visit Southbank Centre for two captivating concerts.
Three Concertos:
Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Ireland
7.30pm | Thursday 7 May
Carneiro conducts Mahler 4
7.30pm | Monday 29 June
Tickets: £5, £10, £15, £20
Concessions 25% off (limited availability)
Booking Information
RCM Box Office 020 7591 4314
www.rcm.ac.uk/QEH
Open Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm
Southbank Centre Box Office 020 3879 9555
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Open daily, 9am–8pm
Transaction fees apply
12 UPBEAT SPRING 2020IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
FEATURE
ABEL TSEGAYE
Abel Tsegaye talks to Upbeat about his 18-year association with the RCM and his
journey from part-time security guard to busy Facilities Supervisor.
Abel Tsegaye is not a man who enjoys being
idle. When Upbeat managed to persuade
him to sit down for half an hour to discuss his
pivotal role at the Royal College of Music, he
had been on his feet since 7.30am, working a
busy morning shift. Abel is responsible for the
management of the security rota at the College,
among other things, ensuring that the Reception
and security desks across the South Kensington
campus are fully staffed and operational. It’s
a vital job that ensures the safety and security
of all RCM students, staff and visitors and
requires Abel to coordinate two separate
security agencies.
It’s a good job, then, that Abel relishes
work. ‘I can’t just stand around, I have to be
doing something’, he says. This appetite for
responsibility didn’t go unnoticed when Abel
worked for the RCM as part of a security family changed their surname to Tsegaye, my
agency between 2002 and 2009. ‘I was father’s name, as a mark of respect. At the Above
in charge of guarding the back door of the same time I corrected the Home Office’s mistake Abel Tsegaye in the
College. One member of the RCM Facilities and changed my name to Abel everywhere.’ RCM Entrance Hall
team in particular noticed me and recognised Although he knows the change will take some
my potential. I had the opportunity to join the getting used to for his colleagues, Abel doesn’t
RCM full time in 2009 and in 2010 I became get annoyed if people get it wrong. ‘But it’s
a Facilities Officer.’ The person who noticed Abel now. Any time someone calls me Abel
Abel was Matt Wilfing, who also still works at Tsegaye, I make my dad proud.’
the College as another valued member of the
Abel cites his promotion to Facilities Supervisor
team Abel says he loves and is proud to be
in 2017 and his pivotal role in significant
part of.
changes to the RCM Estate as his proudest
Abel hasn’t always worked in security. When he achievements during his 18-year tenure. ‘I am
first came to the UK in 2002 he initially studied particularly proud of my work on RCM Jay
to be an electrician, before joining the agency Mews. We moved several teams from their
that posted him to the RCM. Originally from existing offices into the new building in fewer
Ethiopia, Abel travels back to his hometown at than two days, so the staff left one office on the
least once a year to visit his mother. When his Friday and returned to a different one on the
father sadly passed away a year and a half Monday that was all set up and ready for them.’
ago, it brought about a change for Abel in the The hard work of Abel and his fellow team
way he is known to his colleagues. ‘My name members has been vital for ensuring the smooth
is spelt A-b-e-l, but when I came to this country running of the College during recent campus
the Home Office made a mistake and spelt it changes, not least enabling students’ music-
A-b-i-e-l. This caused confusion when I joined making to continue unhindered. ‘I’m not good
the agency, and my supervisor there decided with music,’ Abel confesses with a grin, candidly
to call me Sami, because it was the name of admitting that although he enjoys hearing music
a previous employee and easier for him.’ This all around the College, he still chooses an
decision meant that Abel was known as Sami Arsenal football match over a classical concert
for many years, but when his father died he on the rare occasions he takes the weight off his
decided it was time for a change. ‘My whole busy feet.
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 13THANK YOU TO
SUPPORT US
OUR SUPPORTERS
Music has the power to transform lives. Thanks to the generosity of our
SUPPORTING supporters, generations of gifted students from around the world have been
THE FUTURE nurtured and trained at the Royal College of Music (RCM).
OF MUSIC
We would like to thank all those listed below, as well as those who wish to
From becoming an RCM
Friend to leaving a gift in
remain anonymous, who have made donations of £1,000 or more between 1
your Will, there are many January 2019 and 1 January 2020. We would also like to thank those who
ways you can support the
have pledged a gift to the RCM in their Will.
Royal College of Music.
For more information,
please visit More Music The Linbury Trust The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation
www.rcm.ac.uk/ Founding Patrons Philip Loubser Foundation UK
support ABRSM The Estate of William Mealings The Estate of Ivor Charles Treby
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Alternatively, contact the Burgan The Polonsky Foundation Van Cleef & Arpels
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14 UPBEAT SPRING 2020Supporters The Hon Mrs Rita & Jonathan & Belinda Davie RCM Legacy Ensemble
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Awards The Howard & Abby Milstein Douglas & Adele Gardner Elizabeth Blackman
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Dr Linda Beeley Simone Niquesa The Hon. Mrs Gilmour Sir Roger & Lady Carr HonRCM
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Ingbert Blüthner Noswad Charity Margaret Guido’s Charitable Sir Anthony Cleaver FRCM
The Boltini Trust Opperby Stokowski Collection Trust Colin Cree
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Foundation The Charles Peel Charitable Trust Lily Harriss HonRCM & Dr John Donnelly
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Lady Cleaver Russell Race Foundation Catherine James Edwards
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The Manny & Brigitta Davidson Richardson Richard & Susan Jarvis Bryan Kelly
Charitable Foundation Alan Rubin Michael Jefferies ARCM in Nicholas King FRCM
Diane Davies Roland Saam memory of Beryl May Jefferies Matthew Knight
Lord Davies of Abersoch CBE Christopher & Anne Saul (West) Noel Lamont
Douglas & Kyra Downie The Estate of Monika Saunders The James & Lucilla Joll Professor Colin Lawson CBE
The Drapers’ Company Hilda Scarth Charitable Trust FRCM
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Foundation Steinway & Sons Maestro Tour Management Ltd GRSM ARCM
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Dr Chris Gibson-Smith Gordon & Barbara Taylor Marcus McDonald John Nickson & Simon Rew
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The Estate of Jeanne Henbrey Anthony Thornton Ellen Moloney FRCM
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The Honourable Society of the Richard Toeman / Weinberger Peter Neal Dame Janet Ritterman DBE
Knights of the Round Table Opera Scholarship Humphrey Norrington OBE HonDMus
Gillian Humphreys OBE Rhoddy Voremberg FRCM Hilda Scarth
HonRCM & Peter J David Anne Wadsworth OBE & Ofenheim Charitable Trust William & Valerie Shackel
Sir George Iacobescu CBE & Brian Wadsworth Gordon Palmer Charitable Trust Barbara Simmonds
Lady Iacobescu Sir Peter & Lady Walters Kathrine Palmer Robert Sutherland
Independent Opera at Sadler’s Marc Wassermann & Kevin Porter HonRCM Frances Tait
Wells Lisa Osofsky Xenophon & Zoe Protopapas
David James Garry Watts MBE & Thomas Purcell
JMC Carolyn Ward John & Jenny Reid
Karaviotis Foundation Anthony Weldon FRCM & Jack Steinberg Charitable Trust
Ruth Keattch Jane Weldon Sudborough Foundation
David & Mary Laing Professor Lord Winston & Siqi Sun
Lark Music Lady Winston Janis Susskind OBE HonRCM
Professor Colin Lawson CBE Henry Wood Accommodation Craig Terry
FRCM Trust Edmund Truell & Cédriane de
Lee Abbey London The Wyseliot Charitable Trust Boucaud
The Lennox Hannay Charitable Paul Tucker
Trust Core Contributors Rev Lyndon van der Pump FRCM
Dr Mark Levesley & The Abinger Hammer Award & Edward Brooks FRCM
Christina Hoseason Mary Batten Veronica Wadley CBE
Li Tzar Kai Richard John & Halina Bennett Qing Wang
LIBER Foundation Vivian & Alex Bhak Marie Wells
Professor Christopher & The Bliss Trust Lifei Weng
Vivienne Liu Gary & Eleanor Brass Moira Witty
The Loveday Charitable Trust Peter Brooks Juliet Woodman
Mrs Violet M Lucas Lady Buchanan The Worshipful Company of
Lord & Lady Lurgan Trust Roger Chadder HonRCM & Cutlers
The Hon Richard Lyttelton & Rosemary Chadder Wing-Sie Yip
Romilly Lyttelton Jane WY Cheung-Yung
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 15STUDENT UPDATES
STUDENT UPDATES
COMPOSITION
Right
The poster for Alex
CONGRATULATIONS
Ho’s stage work
Composer Owen Ho has jointly won First
Below Prize at the Association of English Singers &
Avi Taler Speakers’ Composers Song Writing Competition
2019 and won the Arcubus Ensemble Call
for Scores 2020. In 2019 he also made his
debut as Music Director of the Goodensemble
Orchestra at Bloomsbury Festival 2019, and
founded Ensemble Matters together with alto
Beth Stone, clarinettist Anna Webster, violist
Lena Segal, cellist Tamaki Sugimoto and pianist
Michaella Livadiotis… The world premiere of
composer Alex Ho’s new stage work, A Story
Untold, took place at the Round Chapel in
Hackney, with Alex co-directing... Composer
Lara Poe has been commissioned by the Santa
Fe Music Festival to write a piece for the Young
Composers String Quartet Project. The piece
will be premiered in August 2020. She has
also been selected to take part in The Sibelius
Festivals’ Nursery Garden project, with the
Lahti Symphony Orchestra set to perform her
orchestral piece... Doctoral composer Liam
CONDUCTING Taylor-West has been commissioned to write an
ACHIEVEMENTS encore for the City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra. Turning Points was performed by the
The Bob and Beryl Harding Bursary for Young CBSO and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla at Symphony
Conductors for the 2019/20 season has been Hall, Birmingham. It has been recorded and will
awarded to Avi Taler. The bursary gives a be broadcast by BBC Radio 3.
young conductor an opportunity to assist with
the Havant Symphony Orchestra.
VOCAL VICTORIES
Soprano Ceferina Penny has won The
Pamela Hart Third Prize in the Junior Ferrier
Bursary Competition… Mezzo sopranos
Annabel Kennedy and Rebecca Leggett have
won Second Prize and the Audience Prize
(respectively) in the Maureen Lehane Vocal
Awards at Wigmore Hall. Ana Manastireanu
won the Accompanist Pianist Prize.
16 UPBEAT SPRING 2020WOODWIND WINS
STUDENT UPDATES
The Nova Caeli Wind Quintet – Layla Baratto
(oboe), Julia Flint (bassoon), Olivia Gandee
(horn), Robbie Marrs (clarinet) and Maria
Sato (flute) – performed Nielsen’s Quintet with
the RCM Wind Ensemble at St Bartholomew’s
Church in January and Croydon Minster in
February, alongside a world premiere by
former RCM composer and bassist Darren
Sng… Clarinetist Carlos Caballero has been
awarded a place in this year’s European Union
Youth Orchestra… Clarinettist Matt Glendening
has played Principal Clarinet with the Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and will soon
play guest Principal with the London Symphony
Orchestra and the Royal Opera House with Sir
Antonio Pappano… Clarinettist Lewis Graham
has performed with the City of London Sinfonia
and with the orchestra of the English National
Opera… Clarinettist Elliot Gresty has been
playing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
– having been a member of its Future Firsts
scheme – conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, and
with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and KEYBOARD ACCOLADES
the orchestra of the Welsh National Opera… Above
Saxophonist and clarinettist Mebrakh Haughton- Victor Maslov has been awarded Third Prize Jobine Siekman
at Società Umanitaria Piano Competition in performs at the
Johnson has played with the Nu Civilisations
Milan… Dmitrii Kalashnikov has won First Prize European Young
Orchestra at the BBC Proms alongside the BBC Soloists Festival in
Concert Orchestra, broadcast on BBC Radio 3. at the final of the Jacques Samuel Intercollegiate
Piano Competition, which was held at Wigmore Venezuela
He will soon be going on tour and producing a
CD with the Chineke! Orchestra. Hall. This is the second year running that the Below
RCM has taken the top prize. Dmitrii also won Daniel Floyd at
First Prize at Les Etoiles du Piano International Alexandra Palace
Competition in France... 2014 BBC Young
Musician of the Year Martin James Bartlett has
been awarded First Prize in the Young Concert
Artists International Auditions in New York City...
Thomas Kelly has won the Beethoven Piano
Society of Europe Senior Intercollegiate Piano
Prize with a performance of the Beethoven’s
Eroica Variations... XueLin Xie has organised
two charity concerts in Foshan and Shenzhen in
China. Both concerts were performed by RCM
students XueLin Xie, Jonathan Ma, Matthew
Leung, John Lee, Angela Lau, Karrie Yip and
Tiffany Cheng... Organist Daniel Floyd has
been appointed as the Bert Allwood Organ
Scholar at Alexandra Palace.
STRING SUCCESSES
Cellist Tamaki Sugimoto has been accepted on
to the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Foyle
Future Firsts scheme… Cellist Jobine Siekman
has travelled to Caracas, Venezuela, to perform
in the European Young Soloists Festival. She
played Schumann’s Cello Concerto with the
Simón Bolívar Orchestra.
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 17STAFF UPDATES
STAFF UPDATES
Right
David Hockings,
Alex Neal and
RCM alumni at the
Barbican
Piano professor Danny Driver recently recorded Chair of Vocal Performance Professor Janis
György Ligeti’s complete Études for Piano Kelly has announced the launch of a film,
for Hyperion Records (scheduled for release made in collaboration with Digital Production
in November 2020). He performed them in Co-ordinator Danny Holland, and supported by
December 2019 in a recital recorded by BBC the RCM, about Robert Sutherland, former RCM
Radio 3. professor and accompanist to Maria Callas on
her final world tour.
Piano professor Norma Fisher gave
masterclasses at the prestigious Jerusalem Music Vocal Repertoire Coach and Collaborative
Centre and the Jerusalem Academy of Music Piano Coordinator Simon Lepper, is to release
and Dance. Her latest CD, Norma Fisher at the a CD for Harmonia Mundi with French baritone
BBC Vol 2, was voted Gramophone Magazine Stéphane Degout. EPIC is an album of ballades
Critics Choice 2019. She discussed the CD on and songs by Schubert, Brahms, Loewe, Wolf
the Gramophone podcast. and Liszt. The record will be toured to Geneva
Opera, La Monnaie, Brussels and Wigmore
Philip Headlam, conductor and coach in the
Hall.
Vocal and Opera Faculty, performed a vocal
recital in the Marienkirche at the prestigious Kurt Natalia Luis-Bassa, undergraduate professor
Weill Festival in Dessau, Germany. The concert of Conducting, has been working with The
featured songs in English by four European Benedetti Foundation on the first Benedetti
composers who were forced to flee persecution Sessions, launched in Glasgow, as part of
after the imposition of the discriminatory Nazi Nicola Benedetti’s initiative to support young
race policies in the 1930s. musicians and music teachers around the UK.
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Brass Catherine Martin, viola d’amore professor and
Instruments, which is edited and authored historical viola professor, is featured as a soloist
by Professor of Music Research Dr Trevor on Odysseus and the Sorceress, a retelling of
Herbert, has been listed as one of the Choice Homer’s Odyssey with words and music from
Outstanding Academic Titles of 2019 by the English composer Rachel Stott.
Association of College and Research Libraries:
Violin professor Madeleine Mitchell has
A Division of the American Libraries Association.
recorded the Grace Williams Violin Concerto
Head of Percussion David Hockings and live in concert with the BBC National Orchestra
percussion professor Alex Neal were joined by of Wales in Cardiff for Nimbus. Her album
RCM alumni Louise Goodwin, Joe Richards, of Grace Williams’ Chamber Music with the
Sam Howes and Olly Lowe in a performance of London Chamber Ensemble, which she directed,
Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances by the BBC was a ‘What a Performance’ 2019 winner. She
Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. has also recorded a new work written for her
18 UPBEAT SPRING 2020by Robert Saxton with pianist Clare Hammond,
STAFF UPDATES
which they premiered at the 2019 Three Choirs
Festival together with the premiere of a forgotten
work by Ivor Gurney.
Head of Composition William Mival has been
invited to the Shanghai International Composers
Workshop at the Shanghai Conservatory, where
the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, under
the baton of Zhang Liang, performed his piece
Pluen. He also gave lectures and masterclasses.
Musicianship teacher Dr Jonathan Pitkin
has given a paper at the 2019 International
Computer Music Conference, held at New York
University in a joint venture with the New York
City Electroacoustic Music Festival. Jonathan
spoke about his QTCheck software, which
assists composers writing for quarter-tone alto
flute. His reviews of NYCEMF concerts have Death and the Maiden Quartets was quickly
also been published in the journal Array. followed by a CD of Beethoven’s Violin Above
Sonatas, released for the Acis label. Natalia Luis-Bassa
Early career researcher Jorge Ramos has won
conducting at the
the Artistic Improvement in Music Scholarship Professor Ashley Solomon, Chair and Head
Benedetti Sessions in
from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He of Historical Performance, has recorded a new
Glasgow
has also released a CD with the Movimento CD for Channel Classics on nine original one-
Patrimonial pela Música Portuguesa label. keyed flutes from the 17th and 18th centuries Below
belonging to a private collector in Frankfurt. The Madeleine Mitchell
Vocal studies professor Patricia Rozario,
Spohr Collection was launched at Florilegium’s
working with the Giving Voice Society, has
Wigmore Hall concert in March, where Ashley
helped to launch the first Art Song Festival
performed on the earliest flute from 1680,
in India, in conjunction with KM Academy
brought by the collector.
of Music in Chennai. The launch saw
performances of Schubert, Liszt, Robert and Polonsky Visiting Professor of Violin Maxim
Clara Schumann, Chausson, Rachmaninov and Vengerov is set to celebrate 40 years on stage
Vaughan Williams. in 2020 with a series of concerts, culminating in
a gala performance at the Royal Albert Hall in
Historical Violin professor Lucy Russell has
June, which will feature students from the RCM.
released three recordings with the Fitzwilliam
He has also signed a deal with classical music
Quartet. A recording by Linn Records of
audio streaming service Idagio to release three
Shostakovich Quartets nos 13, 14 and 15
new recordings this spring.
received excellent reviews. In the USA, the
quartet’s recording of Schubert’s A minor and
UPBEAT SPRING 2020 19ALUMNI UPDATES
ALUMNI UPDATES
The Dionysus Ensemble, including cellist Léonie
SHARE YOUR Adams and violinist Robert Gibbs, has played
an ‘East Meets West’ fusion concert at the Indian
NEWS High Commission’s Nehru Centre in Mayfair,
Tell Upbeat readers about your performing classical, Bollywood and new Indian
recent successes by emailing compositions. The ensemble has also delivered
news@rcm.ac.uk an education outreach project in the Solomon
Islands, as part of its role as Ensemble in
Residence for the Commonwealth Resounds.
Violinist Emmanuel Bach has been awarded
the JS Bach Prize in the 2019 Rodolfo Lipizer
International Violin Competition in Italy.
Composer Mark Bowden’s release, Five Memos,
has been selected for the International Society
for Contemporary Music World Music Days
Festival 2020 in New Zealand. Mark was also
nominated for an Ivors Composer Award for
his saxophone concerto Sapiens, which was
commissioned by the London Sinfonietta.
Pianist Yosuke Chatmaleerat has set a world Composer Connor D’Netto has written a piece
record for flying a helicopter solo through the for the inaugural Queensland Agent-General
48 contiguous US states. He spent a total of 90 Award ceremony, in association with the Tait
hours in the air over 12 days. Memorial Trust.
Pianist Alan Chu has performed with the Pianist Laura Farré Rozada has toured North
Hong Kong New Music Ensemble in the US America, performing the US and Canadian
Below premiere of the trilingual chamber opera Mila premieres of works by Escaich, Djambazov,
Tippett Quartet at in New York and San Francisco. He was also Manoury, Ben-Amots and Järventausta.
Abbey Road Studios invited to serve as an adjudicator for the Asia
Soprano Milly Forrest has won the Czech Song
Opposite Music Competition for Young Artists in Busan,
Prize at the Emmy Destinn Singing Competition,
Thalia Myers South Korea.
with pianist Hamish Brown accompanying.
Singer and composer Denis Coleman’s new
Percussionist Louise Goodwin has been
single ‘All I Wanna Know’ was released in
appointed as Principal Timpanist with the
December. Denis studied violin at the RCM
Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Junior Department.
Guitarist Jack Hancher has been awarded
Second Place in the Antwerpen International
Guitar Competition.
Joseph Horovitz’s Jazz Harpsichord Concerto
has been performed by Mahan Esfahani with
the Prague Philharmonia at the Lobkowicz
Palace in Prague.
The Tippett Quartet, featuring violinists Jeremy
Isaac and John Mills, has performed as the
featured quartet in the recording of the score for
Knives Out, a film by director Rian Johnson. They
recorded composer Nathan Johnson’s score at
Abbey Road Studios.
Melanie Marshall, currently in the musical Only
Fools and Horses at the Haymarket Theatre,
performed a concert of classic poems set to
music by Clement Ishmael at King’s Place
in London. The evening included a special
20 UPBEAT SPRING 2020You can also read
