With the arrival of Rebecca Miller, the music department has seen a great many changes and the forthcoming term is no exception.
To start the term we have the second in our celebrity masterclass series, a flute masterclass with Juliette Bausor. Principal flautist of the London Mozart Players and of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Juliette will be giving a masterclass to some of Royal Holloway’s flautists. This is generously supported by the Alumni Fund and is free to students.
After their first term as Ensemble in Residence, the Badke Quartet are returning in a variety of events. They will be doing two masterclasses, one an open event to the public, coaching student chamber ensembles. Any group can take part and it is a wonderful opportunity to be coached by professional musicians. The Badke Quartet will also be performing in their second concert of the year, and will performing repertoire including some of the popular string quartets of the 20th Century. Music will include Stravinsky’s 3 Pieces and Schubert’s String Quartet in A minor. In a culmination of this year’s exciting chamber music programme, and to end the term, the Badke Quartet will be hosting a Chamber Music competition. Open to all chamber ensembles, these groups will be competing for a prize of £200 and a platform recital as part of the last mini-festival of the year, Play! Festival.
February is a very busy month for musicians! Following NovemberFest, the second of this year’s mini festivals is called BachFest! Held between the 17th and 20th of February, there is something for everyone.
To start off the festival, renowned cellist Steven Isserlis will be giving a masterclass to some of Royal Holloway’s top cellists. The musicians will be playing some of Bach’s works in the masterclass and will receive coaching and advice as part of the event. The final part of the year’s Celebrity Masterclass Series, this is an event not to be missed! Following this, RHULCO will be playing a programme from the Bach family, with works from J.S., C.P.E., and J.C. Bach. The concert will also include performances from two of Royal Holloway’s concerto winners, Jessica Kinney and Ralph Williams – who will be performing two of Handel’s arias. In the culmination of this festival’s events on campus, we will see the debate between the Iranian Mahan Esfahani and the British Danny Driver of the pros and cons of performing the same work on either the piano or the harpsichord. Having recently both recorded the same work by C.P.E. Bach but both on different instruments, these two musicians will give an eye-opening view into this long debated subject. To end the week, the Chapel Choir will be accompanied in music of Bach by the Early Music Ensemble. Taking place in St Paul’s Church in Egham Hythe, this concert will surely be an enjoyable event, and will end the festival in style.
The UK’s first Chamber Ensemble, the London Mozart Players will be joined by members of the Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra in an afternoon concert on the 1st March. A very exciting event, early booking is essential for this unique concert.
To end the year with a bang, RHULSO will be performing a programme consisting of Russian music. Featuring Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, this will be performed by one of Royal Holloway’s concerto winners Carwyn Jones. Pieces also being performed are Mussorgsky/Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture.
This term is going to be one of the most exciting terms with regards to music, and it can not be stressed enough at how this is all down to the hard work of the students and staff of Royal Holloway. We hope to see you all there at as many events as possible!
Dates for your diary:
3rd February 2015 – Chamber Music Coaching with the Badke Quartet
BACHFEST – 17-20th March 2015
17th February 2015 – Masterclass with Steven Isserlis
18th February 2015 – Royal Holloway Chamber Orchestra
19th February 2015 – The Playoffs: Mahan Esfahani and Danny Driver
20th February 2015 – Chapel Choir and Royal Holloway’s Early Music Ensemble
1st March 2015 – London Mozart Players
3rd March 2015 – Open Masterclass with the Badke Quartet
12th March 2015 – Badke Quartet
18th March 2015 – Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra
27th March 2015 – Chamber Music Competition