Now in its 13th year, Chetham’s International Summer ...

Issue 22 | Summer 13

NEWSLETTER

CHETHAM’S MAKES
WIGMORE HALL DEBUT

Chetham’s has given its first ever concert at London’s Wigmore Hall with guest
alumni – the first time that the School has been invited to perform at the
prestigious Chamber music venue.

Outstanding students past and present – including
international soloists Leon McCawley, piano and Mikhail
Nemtsov, cello, and BBC Young Musician winner and finalists
Peter Moore, Yuanfan Yang, Callum Smart and Alex Kelly –
came together for an eclectic programme of solo and
chamber works from the 18th century to the present day.

Wigmore Hall, London The concert opened with the world première of Lloyd
Coleman’s uplifting Spirals for trombone quartet, performed
by Chetham’s students Peter Moore, Alex Kelly, Elliot Pooley
and Christopher Ford, and continued with a sublime perfor-
mance of Hindemith’s Kleine Kammermusik for Wind Quintet,
performed by the La Mortella Quintet: Oliver Roberts, Eleanor
Doddford, Elliot Gresty, Benjamin Hulme and Fergus
McAlpine.

Leon McCawley Mikhail Nemtsov Callum Smart, Yuanfan Yang and Peter Moore then took turns
to showcase their talents with performances of solo works
including Chausson’ s Poème, Liszt’s La Campanella and
Debussy’s Romance and Beau Soir, with staff accompanists
Hilary Suckling and Nick Oliver. In a finale to the concert,
Leon McCawley and Mikhail Nemtsov joined current students
Gabriella Jones, Leon Keuffer and Jacqueline Martens for a
stunning performance of Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E flat
major, Op. 44.

Prior to the main evening concert, Stephen Threlfall intro-
duced alumni Gabriella Swallow, Ruby Hughes and Lloyd
Coleman who gave a real insight into their times at
Chetham’s and the positive effect that their education had on
their musical careers so far. Gabriella and Ruby performed
together for the first time since leaving the School.

Commenting on this special occasion, Stephen Threlfall said

“This has been a very exciting opportunity for Chetham’s and

Gabriella Swallow Ruby Hughes Lloyd Coleman a real chance to showcase the extraordinary talent and
achievements of our past and present students. The

programme reflected the diversity and calibre of our music-making at the school with everything from core classical

repertoire for piano to the world premiere of Spirals for trombone quartet written by emerging composer and alumni

Lloyd Coleman. I am proud to say that it was a truly fantastic concert with an uplifting atmosphere, and we hope to

appear at Wigmore Hall again in the near future.”

Details of the concert and profiles of some of some of the performers can be found at:
www.chethamsmusic.wordpress.com
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Summer Season New Appointment Piano Summer School

Issue 22 | Summer 13

HWEELLLOCOME CHETHAM’S SPECTACULAR

Hello everyone and welcome to our

EVERYONE! SUMMER SEASON!SummerNewsletter.

As (unusually) we continue at this Chetham’s concludes its extensive Britten centenary celebrations in style
time to bask in our glorious weather
and to glory also in recent sporting The music course this summer was packed full of events including a three-date Chetham’s
successes on the national scene, it is Symphony Orchestra UK tour, a world premiere choreographed performance of Benjamin
a good time to reflect at the end of Britten’s Plymouth Town and a further two performances of Noye’s Fludde at Shaldon and
the Summer Term and take stock on Ryedale Festivals.
all the recent successes for our
students. I hope you enjoy reading Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra classical teacher, Jane Elliott. Britten wrote the
accounts of our Music Course and Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra pulled out all work in 1931 when he was just 17 at the end of
individual stories of student the stops once more this summer for a his first year at the Royal College of Music. He
achievements. spectacular three-date tour, performing to sent the original score to the Camargo Society,
great acclaim at Lichfeld Festival (4 July), The then the foremost promoter of ballet in the UK,
As I write, the former classrooms of Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (5 July) and but was unsuccessful and never revised the
the Nicholls Building are nearing the Cheltenham Festival (6 July). work.
end of their total refurbishment so
we can re-launch Victoria House in The first half of the programme was an The concert also included Bottesini’s Double
its new home this Autumn, and we
continue to make preparations for all-Britten affair. In Lichfield and Cheltenham Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor, first movement
the demolition of the Palatine
Building and the subsequent launch Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the performed by student Freddie Jensen, and
of our Medieval Manchester Visitor
Experience. Numbers of students Orchestra was performed and in Manchester Bernstein’s On The Town.
are well up for September and we
are hoping for a really positive start the orchestra joined forces with tenor soloist
to the new academic year 2013/14.
Richard Dowling, members of local choir St Noye’s Fludde - Shaldon and Ryedale
I would like to finish by reiterating
my open invitation to all readers of George’s Singers and Chetham’s Chorus for his Following successful performances of Britten’s
this publication to make contact
with the School if they have not Ballad of Heroes. Chetham’s student Callum Noye’s Fludde at Manchester Cathedral in
been on a tour of our wonderful
New School Building which has Smart, gave outstanding and confident February, another 150 school children were
recently won several awards from
the Royal Institute of British performances of Britten’s Violin Concerto. A given the opportunity to join professional
Architects.
review in the Gloucestershire Echo following musicians and students from Chetham’s for
I hope you and your families have a
relaxing summer break and I send the performance at Cheltenham Festival said: two further performances at Shaldon Festival
you my very best wishes.
“perfect intonation on all strings in every in Devon (20 June) and Ryedale Festival in
Mrs Claire Moreland, Head
position, fantastic double stopping and Yorkshire (12 July).
Callum Smart and CSO
harmonics, thoughtful dynamics and a

breathtaking cadenza. No wonder his playing Stephen Threlfall commented: “We performed

drew more enthusiastic audience response for Noye’s Fludde at Manchester Cathedral with

a soloist than has been heard in the Town Hall around 300 young musicians and a 100-strong

for some time.” audience, so it was a delight to bring the opera

to Shaldon and Ryedale Festivals this summer.

In a fitting finale to each of the concerts, Paul It is an extraordinary work, one of a kind, and

Mann conducted Shostakovich’s Fifth this was undoubtedly the year to perform it, to

Symphony once again, with energy and mark the centenary of Britten’s birth”.

passion. A four-star review of the concert in

Lichfield for the Birmingham Post included: The show in Shaldon opened the festival and

“Their emotional involvement with the music was directed by Tony Lidington and involved

was unmistakable – both in shattering children from Shaldon Primary School, Stokein-

climaxes, and hushed, beautifully-articulated teignhead Primary CShool, Dawlish Commu-

string phrases: at times in the Largo, we could nity College and Teignmouth Community

have been listening to an actual Russian School. The show also opened this year’s

orchestra. A magnificent achievement: again, Ryedale Festival where it was directed by Em

never underestimate the young.” Whitfield Brooks, and included children from

Norton Community Primary School and

Chetham’s Sinfonia and The Hammond Leavening Primary School.

Chetham’s Sinfonia gave the first ever

choreographed performance and realisation of Some comments from the children involved

Britten’s ballet, Plymouth Town in collaboration included:

with dancers from The Hammond (fellow “to have that opportunity to put on a brilliant

members of the Music and Dance Schools play...I loved every second of it”,

scheme) at the Royal Northern College of “I thought it was lovely because it was local

Music on 1 July. and public and loads of us made new friends”

and “I enjoyed being part of a professional

The ballet had never been performed until now orchestra”.

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SOUNDBITES NEW APPOINTMENT

MORE COMPETITION SUCCESS Owen Cox joins Chetham’s as the new Assistant Head of Strings

Congratulations to Yuanfan Yang who came third Owen Cox has been appointed as Assistant Head of Strings after Cathy
in the prestigious Minnesota Piano-e-Competition Perkins’ retirement this summer.
after performing a concerto with the Musicians of
Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Mark Russell Owen was a student at Chetham’s between 1997 and 1999 before going on to
Smith in the final on Friday 12 July. study at Cambridge University, the Royal Northern College of Music and
Northern Illinois University with legendary violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi. He has
Albert Cano-Smit reached the semifinals and played with many of the UK’s top orchestras, including holding positions with
won the Special Prize for the best Spanish the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and as sub-principal in the BBC
contestant of the distinguished 19th Ricard Viñes National Orchestra of Wales. A keen chamber musician, Owen has performed
International Piano Competition. The competition with many quartets, most recently the Galitzin Quartet. Latterly, he found his
took place at Auditori Municipal Enric Granados true passion to be teaching, and took positions at the junior department of
in Lleida, Spain on 2nd July and is open to Trinity Laban Conservatoire and as Head of Strings at Ibstock Place School in
pianists born on or after 1 January 1985. London, whilst also teaching pedagogy at the Royal College of Music. He is
also writing a PhD on performance style in several recordings of Late
Yamaha Piano Competition Beethoven String Quartets and is an Honorary Lecturer in Performance at the
Congratulations go to all the students who took University of Nottingham. Commenting on his appointment, Owen said: “I am
part in the Yamaha Piano Competition on 24 delighted to be returning to Chetham’s School of Music as a member of staff
June. The final results were: and I am particularly looking forward to working in the School’s fantastic new
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Upper School:
1st Dominic Degavino 2nd Wyn Chan, COMPOSITION NEWS
3rd Adam Boeker and Luke Jones.
Highly Commended - Isabelle Cochrane and Congratulations to the following students for their success in the EPTA young
Maria Luc composers' competition - a national competition run by the European Piano
Teachers' Association for new works that feature the piano.
Middle School:
1st Toby Hession 2nd Thanat Vijitthanasarn Tom Gibbs, 1st prize (18 & under) and overall winner
3rd Susanna Braun Jordan Clarke, 3rd prize (18 & under)
Highly Commended - Richard Gough and Callum Kieran Timbrell, Highly commended (18 & under)
McLachlan Alex Dakin, 1st prize (15 & under)
George Herbert, 1st prize (12 & under)
Lower School: Mark Englander, 3rd Prize (12 & under)
1st Geordie Campbell 2nd Faye Evans Leo Strelle, Highly commended (12 & under)
3rd Mariam Loladze-Meredith
Highly Commended - Michael Korzeniewski This follows the outstanding success of Tom Gibbs (joint winner), Tom Brown
(joint winner) and Alex Dakin (highly commended) in the BBC Young
Peter Moore, accompanied by Nick Oliver, took Composers' competition. The BBC winners and highly commended entries will
part in the final of the 61st ROSL Annual Music all have their music performed in a BBC Proms Plus concert at the Royal College
Competition at Southbank Centre on Monday 3 of Music on 7 August, held as part of the Proms series and broadcast on BBC
June. He was awarded the Dyers Company Radio 3 on 9th August. EPTA winners and highly commended entries all get the
Award for Wind and Percussion after Morgan chance to have their works performed during the EPTA annual conference in
Pearse, a baritone singer studying at Royal Canterbury in late August.
College of Music, won the overall competition. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Chetham’s alumni, Tempest Flute Trio (Holly ALUMNI REUNION 2013
Melia, Sarah Bennett and Helen Wilson), also
performed at the competition as winners of the The 2nd annual Alumni Reunion took
ROSL Wind and Percussion Ensemble Award, place on 23 June. Attendees enjoyed a
and alumnus Simon Minshall won the Philip Jones relaxed afternoon catching up with old
Memorial Prize for outstanding brass player. friends and remembering their time at
Chetham's. One special highlight of the
Amy Jayne Milton won the Harrogate Festival day was the unveiling of a portrait of Gerry
Concerto Competition and will perform Nielsen's Littlewood by his widow, Mrs Audrey
Flute Concerto with the Harrogate Philharmonic Littlewood. Remembered as “The Man
orchestra next year. Who Brought Music to Chets”, Gerry was
one of the driving forces behind
Silvija Scerbaviciute, flute, reached the semi-final Chetham’s conversion to a specialist music school, and is remembered with
of the Bromsgrove International Young Musicians great affection by the students he taught and the staff he worked with. His
Competition. Silvija was the youngest finalist and portrait now has pride-of-place in the new School Building. Further highlights of
the only one currently in secondary school study. the day included a performance by then-student, now-alumna Hayley Parkes
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www.chethams.com

Issue 22 | Summer 13

ALUMNI NEWS ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... CHETHAM’S BUSIEST EVER
PIANO SUMMER SCHOOL!
WEDDING BELLS!
Congratulations to Chets alumni Now in its 13th year, Chetham’s International Summer School and Festival for
Holly Melia and Lewis Musson on
their upcoming marriage! Holly Pianists is busier this August than ever before in its history.
and Lewis are getting married on
7 December, nine years to the Although there is still room for observers to the course including past winners of the Van
day since they started going out
at the Chets Christmas Party. attend the evening concerts, the 2013 course is Cliburn, Leeds, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein

GLYNDEBOURNE DEBUTS now full for active participants on the course Competitions. A new dimension to the festival
Sara Owen and James Platt
made their operatic debuts this with over 240 pianists of all ages on each week is included on 23 August in an evening devoted
summer at the Glyndebourne
Opera Festival. Both were vocal of the course from 27 countries! to Messiaen. This features internationally
students (Sara from 2004-6 and
James from 2005- 7). renowned award winning actress Dame Harriet

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE The summer school is linked with the Walter who will perform with Guy Paul in
In 1963, Martin Spurrier and a
team of Chetham's students set Manchester International Concerto competition Jessica Duchen's moving play based on
the school boy record for the
Three Peaks Challenge. 50 years for Young Pianists, which has attracted 34 ‘Quartet for the end of time'. The play is
later, he repeated the experience
with his son, Jack, raising money entrants, including pianists from the USA, presented alongside a performance of the
for Chetham's in the process
Congratulations and thank you Japan, China and Europe. The competition Messiaen from Kathryn Page, (piano) Ben
Martin!
features Manchester Camerata under Stephen Holland, (violin) Fiona Cross (clarinet) and Rod
BEST BUILDING
Threlfall and provides a unique opportunity for Skip (‘cello). There is also a pre-concert talk
The architects of the new
School Building, stephenson: young pianists to perform with one of Europe’s from Jessica Duchen about her critically
ISA STUDIO ltd, scooped four
awards at the Manchester most distinguished professional orchestras. acclaimed play and the connection with
Society of Architects Design
Awards, including the top prize Messiaen’s music.
“Best Building 2013”.
Highlights of the two-week festival from 14-26
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED August include recitals by members of the For further details, please visit:

Do you love music? international faculty. There are nearly sixty www.pianosummerschool.com
Do you love Chetham's?
If the answer is yes to both of Performer-Teachers of international stature on
these questions and you have .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
some free time on weekday
lunchtimes or evenings, then why FORTHCOMING EVENTS
not sign up to become a concert
volunteer! Please call 0161 834 Thursday 17 October, 7.30pm Thursday 13 February, 7.30pm
9644 for more details. Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra
Great Hall, Lancaster University The Bach Choir, Chetham’s Chamber Choir
KEEP IN TOUCH www.liveatlica.org / 01524 594 151 Royal Festival Hall, London
Admission: £19, £16, Concessions available www.southbankcentre.co.uk / 0844 875 0073
To keep up-to-date with our Admission: £38, £32, £27, £22, £16, £9
news and busy diary of events, Friday 18 October, 7.30pm Concessions 50% off (limited availability)
please subscribe to our monthly Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra
e-bulletins via our website. Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester Strauss Death and Transfiguration
You can also follow us on twitter www.rncm.ac.uk / 0161 907 5555 Elgar The Dream of Gerontius
(@chethams) or facebook Admission: £18, £14 Concessions £6
(ChethamsSchoolofMusic). Conductor David Hill
We look forward to seeing you at Barber Essay No. 1 for Orchestra, Op. 12
one of our events soon! Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major Mezzo-Soprano Jennifer Johnston
Walton Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario
Tenor Andrew Staples

Baritone Roderick Williams
............................................................................................................................

Conductor Stephen Threlfall Thursday 13 March, 7.30pm

Piano Wyn Chan Chamber Music

Narrator David Threlfall* St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London

*subject to availability www.eatonsquareconcerts.org.uk

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Thursday 28 November, 7.30pm Friday 4 July, 7.30pm

Chetham’s Showcase Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra

The Carole Nash Hall, Chetham’s Chetham’s Chorus

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Outstanding student soloists from across the www.bridgewater-hall.org.uk

departments perform in a special concert that

profiles the next generation of classical Saturday 5 July, 7.30pm

musicians. You saw them here first! Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra and

Chetham’s Chorus

www.chethams.com / 0161 838 7244 Lichfield Festival, Staffordshire

Admission: £5 www.lichfieldfestival.org
....................................................................................................................................................................................
www.chethams.com
Reg. charity no: 526702