SPARTAN BATH SPA ALUMNI AND FRIENDS MAGAZINE ISSUE SEVEN SUMMER 2016
04 ANTHONY GREGORY Insights into the Opera World
12 IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVIDE ROSSI
08 DAN PHELPS A Musician’s Journey
16 BRIDGET STERLING A Gallerist in Bath
Hello W
elcome to the Summer 2016 issue of SPARTAN, the magazine for Alumni and Friends of Bath Spa University.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate everyone who graduated this summer and to welcome you to the alumni community. You must feel very proud of your efforts and I hope you also feel excited about your future prospects. Your time at University will remain with you throughout your life; you will often look back at it and draw upon all you’ve learnt and experienced. And you will have many lifelong friends. But it doesn’t end here. Bath Spa will be part of your ongoing journey, as we share news of the University and fellow alumni, invite you to a diverse range of events, and other ongoing support and guidance. Not only will you have access to the University careers service, you are also joining an international network of over 70,000 other talented graduates who can share their experiences and knowledge. In this issue of SPARTAN we explore a number of interesting journeys taken by fellow alumni. Music graduate Anthony Gregory has toured the world as a renowned tenor. Alumni Davide Rossi and Dan Phelps had remarkable success in different fields of music – Davide as a member of the touring band for Goldfrapp, among others, and Dan as founder of his own company Phelps Music. This issue also includes the story of Bridget Sterling, a fine art graduate who runs a successful art gallery, Bath Contemporary. I always enjoy hearing stories from my fellow alumni and I hope you will too. If you have an experience to share, please let us know. We are a vibrant and interesting group, connected by our experience at Bath Spa University or one of its predecessor colleges. I am delighted to be part of University’s life and its achievements.
Mary Berry, CBE Bath Spa University Alumni President 2 SPARTAN
CONTACT US Development and Alumni Relations Office Bath Spa University Newton Park Newton St Loe Bath BA2 9BN
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Or you can contact us at alumni@bathspa.ac.uk Anthony Gregory, photo by Natalie J Watts, Royal College of Music The opinions expressed in editorial are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of Bath Spa University. Cover Figurehead, Rick Kirby. Stainless steel (unique), height 190 cm Photo: Paola Bassindale
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The telethon team, photo by Ben Jones
Bath Contemporary gallery, photo by Paola Bassindale
in this issue ... 04 ANTHONY GREGORY Insights into the Opera World
16 BRIDGET STERLING A Gallerist in Bath
26 NEWS University news and events
08 DAN PHELPS A Musician’s Journey
20 TELETHON Experiences of a Student Caller
28 OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY
12 IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVIDE ROSSI
24 PRESS AND SUCCESS Alumni stories
30 FINAL NOTE From the Vice-Chancellor
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Anthony Gregory INSIGHTS into the opera world A
nthony Gregory (BA (Hons) Music 2006) is becoming a big name in the world of opera. An award-winning tenor, in 2015 he won the ‘Breakthrough Artist’ award by WhatsonStage Opera Poll for his performances in Thebans at the English National Opera, and in the Glyndebourne touring production of The Turn of the Screw. His impressive repertoire includes works by Berlioz, Handel, Mozart, and Verdi, to name a few. He has performed in a variety of countries including Spain, United States, France and Portugal. Music has always been part of Anthony’s life. From the age of seven he sang as a treble in the Hereford Cathedral Choir. His interest in music brought him to Bath Spa, where he studied for a BA (Hons) in Music . “I did my A levels in Economics and Music, and came to Bath Spa as a clarinettist; then I developed as a singer,” he commented. On asking what made him choose Bath Spa he answered, “It was a wonderful atmosphere and the pressure is so different; you can make music in a relaxed environment. The campus really appealed to me - it is so beautiful as is the city of Bath, of course.” After graduating from University, he went on to study at the Royal College of Music where he encountered a very different culture: “The Conservatoire was more competitive and people are more focused,” he explained. “We are talking about six to eight people in a classroom, all of whom are exceptionally good -
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all auditioning for the same part. This forces you to develop to your highest potential.” Comparing his time at both institutions, he reflects “Bath Spa was a good balance. It is better to go to University when you are 18 or 19 - and you enjoy singing. Conservatoire study is wonderful and very driven - at a young age it can be a struggle.” It was at the Royal College of Music that Anthony’s career began to take off. In 2009 he received the Ian Fleming Award, followed by the prestigious Lies Askonas Prize in 2011. Anthony was also part of the Jerwood Young Artists - a scheme that provides training opportunities for soloists at Glyndebourne - one of the most renowned opera houses in the world. He then became a trainee at the National Opera Studio, whose programme provides professional training and coaching for leading artists. He was later chosen by the English National Opera to join the Harewood Artists, which allows gifted singers to develop their talent through a series of activities that range from workshops and mentoring, to recitals and staged performances.
Anthony Gregory: Success in the Opera World
His early roles included his appeareance as a young sailor in Julietta with the English National Opera, in Cosi fan tutte as Ferrando for the English Touring Opera and in 2015, he debuted at the Royal Opera as the first pastor in Orfeo at the Round House. Adding to his impressive list of performances, is his role as Tamino in The Magic Flute, Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, and Borsa in Rigoletto but to name a few. He also has an extensive concert repertoire, including Messiah, Samson and Israel in Egypt by Handel, St John Passion and Magnificat by Bach, and Mozart’s Requiem.
Anthony Gregory, photo by Natalie J Watts, Royal College of Music
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The world of opera Opera can be a very demanding profession. It requires performance skills, musicality, hours of training - and a beautiful voice which needs practice and first class teaching to develop a solid technique. Anthony explains that the tenor voice is defined by its range and timbre: “Most voices are baritone but for a tenor you have to train and practice in order to be precise and to achieve the higher register.” Other characteristics of the voice, such as colour and richness, tend to define the roles a singer might perform. “Some tenors have the vocal range to sing certain roles,” Anthony commented. “A heavier voice is more suited to sing Verdi and Puccini but if it is lighter Handel or Mozart might be more appropiate. And it’s important not having too much too soon.”
“You have to be really driven and get used to rejection. The more you do, the easier it gets.”
Anthony Gregory, photo by Natalie J Watts, Royal College of Music
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Anthony’s voice has been described in the media as more Italianate, rather than typically English due of its timbre, vibrancy and lightness. Another element singers need to consider is the language of the piece. “To become a good tenor, learning languages as early as you can is an advantage - and also to know the role musically, in order to interpret it.” Performing in a new theatre or starting a new role can be challenging for a young tenor. “Singing in a prestigious opera house like Glyndebourne for the first time is half excitement and half apprehension. I recently did The Mikado, a huge 25-year old production alongside a wonderful tenor. There is a degree of responsibility, anxiety and nervousness but I really enjoyed it.” No production is the same. “In Madrid, I shared the role of Oronte, and we had to wear a huge gorilla suit; the music was very fast, there was a lot of jumping and singing,” Anthony said.
Anthony Gregory: Success in the Opera World
Apart from all the glamour and artistry, opera can also be very demanding in terms of a singer’s personal life. “Opera sounds like a very glamorous world, as you go to places like Madrid for six weeks, but it’s not because you’re spending a lot of time on your own either in a hotel room, in airports or practising,” he said. “You don’t get to spend lots of time with your family and children.” On asking him if he had any advice for students aspiring to be singers, he offers: “Be sure that you know what the job entails; singing is only one part of it . You have to be really driven and get used to rejection. The more you do, the easier it gets. I’ve been lucky enough to sing great roles as part of great companies, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
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A musician’s journey D
an Phelps graduated from Bath Spa University in 2003 with a BA (Hons) in Music. Since then he has made a successful career for himself in South Wales, working as a composer, pianist and music tutor under the banner of his own company - Phelps Music. He has also performed in several bands, and has recorded and released two albums on his own music label. Dan told us that “Music has been my only interest for as long as I can remember,” and he certainly seems to have turned his lifelong passion into a creative livelihood.
Dan Phelps, photo by Nick Treharne
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Dan decided to come to Bath Spa because he knew he wanted to study music, and the course content and facilities were appealing, covering a wide range of subjects and elements which he felt he could really benefit from, both personally and professionally. “I don’t think I had really imagined anything specific for my future while at Bath Spa, except that I knew I always wanted to be composing and to be creative,” Dan said. “I did always want a career in music though, which I am now lucky enough to have.” After graduating from Bath Spa, Dan went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He also worked at the Wales Millennium Centre leading African drumming workshops for children (which later inspired him to set up something similar within his own company) and also teaching in a music school. These “stepping stones,” as Dan calls them, helped him to develop his musical career which culminated in him starting Phelps Music in 2008.
Dan Phelps: A Musician’s Journey
“It was a really big thing for me!”
Album Shadows by Dan Phelps
Phelps Music is like a multifaceted one-man show, offering one-on-one tutoring in piano, music theory and composition, as well as the aforementioned African drumming workshops. Dan also performs as a pianist for corporate events, weddings and other functions. Meanwhile he has worked with Simon Rees, a librettist with the Welsh National Opera, and his compositions have been performed by several ensembles including the Gjylaci Duo, Ensemble Cymru, and as part of the Bangor Music Festival.
production himself, as he couldn’t afford to hire a recording studio or sessional musicians at the time. “And because I’m such a perfectionist, it took months of post-production before I was finally happy with it.”
Alongside Phelps Music, Dan has spent a few years on a “rollercoaster of productivity” composing and recording two original albums: Reflections released in 2010 and Shadows in 2013, setting up his own record label so he could self-release the albums.
Shadows was much less of a struggle, as this time round he was able to hire a professional recording studio and additional performers. “With the exception of a set of three miniatures, it was all brand new music and written specifically for the album,” Dan said. The album was written for violin, cello and piano, which was a combination he had always wanted to write for.
Dan told us that Reflections was a culmination of many years of aspiration and took nearly a decade to come to fruition; some of the music featured on the album was composed whilst he was studying at Bath Spa. “I always wanted to release my own work, but I wasn’t brave enough to take the leap - until 2010,” he said. The process was stressful, with Dan doing all of the performing, recording and
All the hard work was worth it in the end, as Dan was invited to perform some of the songs from Reflections at St David’s Hall, as part of the 2012 Welsh Proms. “It was a really big thing for me!” Dan commented.
“It still had its own challenges though; being too adventurous with the deadlines I set myself, problems with the CD artwork, and sometimes finding it difficult to have the confidence to communicate my ideas properly with the musicians who were performing this brand new music.”
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Dan Phelps: A Musician’s Journey
In addition to his normal repertoire, Dan is currently keeping himself busy with new creative endeavours, including a third album for cello and piano in the pipeline, and a collaborative project with film students at Cardiff University. “Composing, collaborating and working on new projects with new people is what I enjoy most, so every time I get the chance to write something new, it instantly becomes a highlight as I find it to be extremely exciting and rewarding in equal measures,” Dan explained. “Generally though, it’s knowing that something I have created could have such a positive impact on people that I find most inspiring.” The collaboration with Cardiff University is still in the preliminary stages, so Dan can’t go into too much detail yet but it is shaping up into something quite exciting. “I’m pretty enthused about some of the ideas and concepts that have been presented to me,” he told us. The project centres around creating a film to accompany the music from Dan’s second album, Shadows. “I’ve always loved film and music,” Dan continued. “Most of my inspiration has come from film music and film composers, so this seemed like a very natural route for me.” Dan feels that music and images compliment each other very well, and together are more powerful than the sum of their parts.
“Generally though, it’s knowing that something I have created could have such a positive impact on people that I find most inspiring.”
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Album Reflections by Dan Phelps
Looking back over all that he has accomplished, Dan credits his time at Bath Spa with helping him to become more self-assured, expanding his own skills and talents. Even now he still draws upon the many pieces of advice and knowledge passed on to him by his teachers. “My independence grew enormously,” he reflected. “I became more confident and, all in all my time [at Bath Spa] gave me the building blocks to what I’ve achieved now.” Dan also said that even though university life had undoubtedly changed in the time since he studied here, some things remained the same the space to develop and find your own path. “Do as much as you possibly can - cram it all in,” he said. “I remember one of my professors telling me that I’d never have as much free time as I did then. Regretfully, I took that comment with a pinch of salt!”
GREEN PARK HOUSE ACCOMMODATION Come stay at our new city centre accommodation next time you visit Bath Finding us on booking.com, search for “Green Park House Accommodation” E: greenparkhouse@bathspa.ac.uk T: +44(0)1225 876700
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in conversation with Davide Rossi D
avide Rossi is originally from Italy and graduated from Bath Spa University in 1999 with a BA (Hons) in Music. Over the past 17 years he has carved out an innovative and genre-spanning career as a violinist (though he can play all string instruments) and a string/ orchestral arranger and composer. He may be best known as a member of the band for Goldfrapp, performing with them from 2000 until 2013, when he decided to focus on composing and other solo projects.
Davide Rossi BA (Hons) Music 1999
“I worked hard and kept making myself interested in my work, which luckily I love so much”
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In 2006 Davide began what would become an ongoing collaboration with Coldplay, contributing and recording string arrangements for several songs on their Viva la Vida album, released in 2008, and has since collaborated with them on subsequent records. Most recently, in February, Davide arranged the music for the band’s halftime performance during the 2016 Super Bowl in America, which took place in San Francisco. Davide’s work can also be heard on records from various other artists such as Siouxie Sioux, The Verve, Dido, Röyksopp, Alicia Keys, One Direction, Recoil, Moby, Jon Hopkins, and Rihanna. Davide made some room in his very busy schedule to speak with us about his time at Bath Spa, how it influenced him, and what he’s been up to over the course of his impressive career.
In Conversation with Davide Rossi
Why did you choose to study at Bath Spa University? It was a friendly environment and the facilities were exactly what I was looking for.
Why did you choose your course? Being a musician, I wanted to deepen my understanding of composition and music writing in general.
What was the best thing about your course? Pretty much everything was great, from musicology to performance, from composition to theory.
What advice would you give new students coming to the University to help them make the most of their time here? Just work hard, show interest and be communicative with professors.
What did you enjoy most about your time as a student? The various challenges and tasks that the course provided.
Davide Rossi
Tell us about any particularly memorable student experiences. Do you have any particular memories of Bath or a favourite place you used to visit in the area? The campus is located in a beautiful area. I used to drive there everyday from Warminster and I had the most spectacular trips throughout the Wiltshire/Somerset Countryside.
Since graduating how has your career developed? How did you get where you are? Is this where you imagined you would be when you graduated? My career flourished quite nicely and now I’m doing what I always wanted to do and still pushing myself to new horizons hopefully. I worked hard and kept making myself interested in my work, which luckily I love so much. I thought I would get there eventually, so I guess I could say I imagined more or less being where I am now.
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Do you have an unusual or funny story that happened when you were at Bath Spa? Not really funny, but rather amazing: performing Akhnaten by Philip Glass with the University orchestra and choir.
You’ve worked with many artists and on various albums over the course of your career. Are there any projects you’re particularly proud of or you consider career defining? Do you have a favourite? Obviously my work with Coldplay is very relevant to me and it’s a source of great pride. But also other artists like Goldfrapp, The Verve and Röyksopp have been important stepping stones in my career. Now I work with such diversity of talent: from Neil Diamond to Jake Bugg, from Alicia Keys to Foxes and so on. I’m fortunate to be able to experiment with a huge variety of music: classical, pop, rock, etc, which I find very exciting and which always keeps things fresh and inspiring.
Davide Rossi has performed along renowned artists such as Goldfrapp, Dido, Neil Diamond, and others
“Obviously my work with Coldplay is very relevant to me and it’s a source of great pride.”
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You recently arranged the music for Coldplay’s performance during the Super Bowl halftime show. How did that come about? What was it like working on such a huge project? The band comes to me for anything related with orchestra arrangement. This time it was not just for strings but also for a marching band: a 220 piece ensemble from UC Berkeley. I also supervised and mentored the kids from YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) for the performance, and working with conductor Gustavo Dudamel was another amazing experience.
In Conversation with Davide Rossi
Davide Rossi at a concert with Chris Martin
It was very much a case of being flexible as the music kept changing and I needed to be able to modify scores ‘on the fly’ constantly. It was a commitment of about two and half months and I was on location [in America] until the performance, to supervise rehearsals and such.
You’ve also released solo work and have a band, Black Submarine. Are you currently working on anything? I’m so busy with my collaboration that I often don’t have enough time for my own work, but I’m making myself do that in between projects, as I think it’s such an important part of making music. I’m currently working on some music which will hopefully see the light in my own album and with the band we are slowly progressing into some future releases.
Do you have any other upcoming events or projects that you can tell us about? Most things are private I’m afraid. What has already been set in stone is work I did with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, Bat For Lashes and Regina Spektor.
Davide Rossi performing
Recently I conducted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne for a re-orchestration of the album of Australian electronica band Flight Facilities. The live CD just came out.
Tell us something you learnt at Bath Spa University that you still draw on regularly in your professional life. What I learnt was how to communicate with professors and students in order to achieve my goals quickly and in the best possible way. Time is of the essence in what I do and it is vital to be able to deliver deadlines against all possible odds, no matter how busy I am.
Please share the top three tips that you think are most important for our current students or recent graduates and that will help them when starting out on their career paths. Take your time seriously, always ask questions to get further to where you need to go, no matter how reticent you feel about it, and follow your instinct.
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A gallerist in Bath Alumna Bridget Sterling (MA Fine Art 2009) tells us about her journey as an artist and gallerist, and the importance of supporting students so they can develop a career in art and achieve their full potential.
Now Gallery Director at Bath Contemporary, Bridget reflects on her career and how she came to be where she is now. “Sometimes if you are lucky in your life, things come together, and I’ve been very fortunate that it happened to me,” she says. Artist turned gallerist
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ourneys are not usually straightforward; many twists and turns take place, sometimes resulting in unexpected and happy outcomes. Bridget studied her undergraduate degree in Fine Art at Kingston University, became an artist and also worked in public relations for a number of years.
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Bridget describes herself as both an artist and a gallerist. In her artistic practice she has an interest in print and paint. She recalls, “I was doing my undergraduate degree and a sculpture professor told us that we were already artists, but that it was up to us when we gave ourselves permission to be so. I felt he was giving me permission to say that I am an artist, I am creating art,” she explains, “That is a powerful moment, when you give yourself permission to call yourself an artist.”
Bridget Sterling: A Gallerist in Bath
Bridget’s background as an artist has supported her more recent role as a gallerist. She has an understanding of artists, their work and processes and, crucially what they are going through. Her skills are particularly useful when she curates work for the gallery: “I suppose a gallerist is a bit like being a juggler,” she explains, “We get about two or three submissions a day from artists, and as the gallery has become more known, we receive more of them. We can’t take everything. We reply to everyone and those which we think are interesting will be asked to come into the gallery to show their work. We never take anything without seeing it.” On the other hand, if Bridget finds a very established artist who interests her she will go to visit them at their studio. “That’s just the way it works, I suppose it is called etiquette,” she says.
The selection of work and artists starts with an initial discussion between Bridget and her assistant, Oliver Adams. They consider the quality of the work, its commercial viability, and whether it fits with the style of the gallery. In Bridget’s case, with her curatorial eye she looks for work that has a narrative, is exploratory, curious and intelligent. She looks for something that distinguishes the work: “If one of our ceramicists throws a variety of pots, I might be struck by the quality of the glaze in each. It might be that the pot is really the vehicle for the glaze,” she explained. Bridget looks for artists who have a deep understanding of what they are doing, the methods they are using and their research. “It’s all about how the work reveals the mind of the artist, how he or she thinks and how the work physically emerges,” she reflects.
Bath Contemporary gallery, photo by Paola Bassindale
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“Sadly I see artists who are very good, whose work is loved, but they just don’t sell. It is very frustrating. It is a fine line we walk - because at the end of the day we’ve got to pay bills in order to trade tomorrow.” Becoming a gallerist wasn’t originally part of Bridget’s plan. It began when she was introduced to Heather LeFort, who at the time ran Gallery LeFort in Margaret’s Buildings in Bath, and she invited Bridget to work for her part time. “It was a happy accident,” Bridget recalls, “I always had a flair at university for curating and had good marks for that, and I’ve got a very administrative-wired brain. When I started the job I realised that I could be really good at this, and found that other experiences I’ve done in the past has helped enormously, including my time in public relations.”
“Sometimes if you are lucky in your life, all of the things come together in one, and I’ve been very fortunate that it happened to me”
Bath Contemporary gallery, photo by Paola Bassindale
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Supporting students Bridget is passionate about helping students work out how they can make a living either as artists or within the world of fine art. In partnership with Bath Spa University, Bath Contemporary offers work experience to Fine Art students as part of their Professional Practice Module, and the gallery also works with The Holburne Museum, under their volunteering programme, for those students looking for a commercial career. “I feel passionate about trying to give students an idea of how they can use their degree to earn a living. As an artist, it takes a long time to become established, and it can take a long time too before a gallery will notice work and offer to sell it. Very few graduates will have work good enough to show immediately in a commercial gallery,” she explains. “Maybe it is something to do with the maturity of the individual. I want to try to help students to find employment in something related to art whilst they continue to develop their practice.” Work in a gallery like Bath Contemporary involves developing a range of skills, from the design of catalogues and invitations to the handling of submissions, with all the
Bridget Sterling: A Gallerist in Bath
communications arising, the assessment of work submitted and the maintenance of a sophisticated website. A strict timetable is essential for Bridget and her assistant Oliver to ensure the gallery is kept open six days a week. At the moment, Oliver is being trained to manage the gallery, a process which will take about two years. In the programme with Bath Spa, Bridget supports students in a similar way, “We mentor the students carefully in the two months they are
with us. At the end, we give them feedback to help them consolidate their thinking,” she says. “We have just finished our work experience programme for the year 2015/16. We had three very talented students this year, Charlotte Penfold, Isabelle Hogarth and Emily Hatton. Emily surprised us all by being the first student to sell a painting of some value at a private view and we rewarded her with a voucher. All of our students can use us as referees on their CVs once they leave us, which can be valuable when you are just starting out in the workplace.”
Bath Contemporary gallery, photo by Paola Bassindale
Weddings, functions, conferences, and meetings www.bathspavenues.com | contact@bathspavenues.com | 01225 876700 SPARTAN 19
Experiences of a student caller Alicia Oke is a second-year BA (Hons) Creative Writing student who tells us about her experience as a student caller in her second telethon.
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hroughout February, the Development and Alumni Relations Office ran Bath Spa University’s second annual telethon. I was among 20 student callers manning the phones, and we managed to call an astonishing total of 1,450 alumni over a month. I participated as a student caller in the first telethon during March 2015, and found the experience so rewarding that I happily put back on my handy headset for this year’s campaign. Working as a student caller is a demanding job, however I had some really fantastic conversations with some inspirational alumni. A lovely lady I spoke with had been a teacher since graduating, and was just beginning to teach the grandchildren of the pupils she had in her very first class. Another brilliantly determined man I spoke with had won some prestigious awards for the business he founded after graduating. These conversations really motivated me to go to the library and study, fulfil my potential and follow in their footsteps, hopefully to add another success story to the growing list of amazing alumni. The advice they offered me was invaluable. A music teacher that I spoke with was so passionate about her subject, inspiring her
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Experiences of a Student Caller
pupils to play an instrument. I found myself picking up the dusty violin that I had neglected for three years. Hobbies were a very common point of conversation. Student caller Kelsey Sideris (Business and Management with Media Communications, 3rd year) said, “I spoke with someone who was in the Bath Spa women’s football team a few years before me. She knew all the same people as I did, so we could chat about the team and she understood how much hard work and dedication is required to run and be a part of it.”
The Development Office, the student callers and I formed quite a team throughout the campaign. Even though other student callers were from completely different courses and campuses than me, we formed a really tightly knit community - an essential element that helped towards the roaring success of this year’s telethon. It also gave me the opportunity to meet fellow students that I simply would not have met otherwise, and I’m so glad I did, as they are all kind-hearted supportive individuals who have inspired me both personally and academically.
The telethon team, photo by Ben Jones
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“The best part of the campaign for me was speaking with alumni who attended one of Bath Spa’s predecessor colleges, which gave me a window into how Bath Spa has changed and developed over the years. ” Student caller Alicia Oke, photo by Ben Jones
A successful campaign Senior caller Charlotte Claydon (Drama and Creative Writing, 2nd year) who also worked as a student caller last year said, “It was great to watch the success of the telethon grow and grow each week. I enjoyed being able to use my previous experience to help me with the role of senior caller, and to impart my knowledge to this year’s callers to help them have successful conversations.” The donations went towards a variety of causes, such as The Greatest Need Fund, The Student Hardship Fund, and Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships. The remarkable support of our alumni will provide Bath Spa students who are in desperate need of monetary relief the opportunity for funding. Not only were we blown away by their support, but alumni were blown away with us. Student caller Oliver Robison-Sivyer (English Literature and Creative Writing, 1st year) said, “I actually received a card of thanks back from one of the alums I spoke with. I was really humbled and it just shows how lovely Bath Spa alumni are.”
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In fact, many of them offered their time to act as mentors to current students, give a guest lecture on how they achieved their desired career, and provide work experience or placements to those interested in their specific field of work. These contributions are invaluable as it gives students a practical outlet to explore their career options post-graduation, and provides them with the helping hand and friendly nudge they need to aim for the job that they’ve always wanted. Student caller Jessica McKenzie (History, 1st year) said, “I really enjoyed the telethon; getting to speak to fascinating people and hearing about their journeys from their time at Bath Spa to where they are now. It was great to be able to talk to them and find out about the different career paths that people have taken. I loved the interesting conversations I had with everyone.” The best part of the campaign for me was speaking with alumni who attended one of Bath Spa’s predecessor colleges, which gave me a window into how Bath Spa has changed
Experiences of a Student Caller
Students at Newton Park campus, photo by Peter Amey
and developed over the years. I loved hearing about its rich history and the people I spoke with gave a very vivid account of what life was like before I was even born! Writing essays without the internet and having to use phone boxes to keep in contact with family and friends seems like another world to me, yet it all happened where I study today. This made me feel part of something much bigger. Now I feel I belong to a whole Bath Spa community. With assorted biscuits, tea and coffee at break time, each evening or weekend of calling went smoothly, and I walked into the calling room eager to pick up the phone. Although, due to the unpredictable winter weather, the calling
room experienced a power cut one eveningsomething I definitely did not expect! Luckily, our systems rebooted almost instantly and the alumni we rang back were in good spirits and laughed about it with us. On behalf of myself, the 20 other student callers and the Development and Alumni Relations Office, I’d like to thank all the alumni who participated in Bath Spa University’s 2016 telethon and supported students. Our gratitude to you is endless and we hope you stay in contact with the University in years to come. Here’s looking forward to the telethon campaign 2017, I will unquestionably don my headset for another year!
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Press and success Find out what some fellow alumni are up to...
Cressida Bullock
Shaun Brill
BA (Hons) Biology and Psychology 2013
BA (Hons) Creative Writing 2008
Alumna Cressida Bullock won the Women in Business Award, Home-Based category, for her business Fun Science Ltd which runs sciencethemed parties for children. She started organising these events while studying at Bath Spa, set up Fun Science Ltd after graduating in 2013 and now has seven other franchises across England with five full and part time employees.
Last December, Shaun was announced as one of the winning writers of the Millarworld Annual Comic Book Contest, which saw hundreds of international writers and artists competing for the opportunity to appear in a Comic Book Annual published by Image Comics, and edited by Mark Millar (writer of the Kick Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service comics). His story features the Chrononauts characters and the book will be released in July.
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Ann Ellison (née Deacon) Teaching Training 1970 Alumna Ann Ellison has been awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for her involvement with theatre and drama in Bath. She founded Next Stage in 2004 and is now the Artistic Director. She has also been running The Mission Theatre in Bath for the last 10 years.
Press and Success
Ben Franks
Davina Kemble
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English Literature 2015
BA (Hons) Applied Art and Design 2013, MA Fine Art 2014
Alumnus Ben wrote to us: “Finding my passion for wine in 2015, a few months before I graduated, I set up Ben Franks Wine, a specialist consultancy operating in the Bath area. I now advise on wine retail, hospitality (including wine lists) and events, as well as hosting my own private and public tastings.”
Davina has launched Pebblewood, which makes pebble-shaped urns and coffins, made from wood and they are individually-crafted. She aimed to emulate the cycle of life. Her project started as part of her MA and won the Business Plan Merit Award. She recently received a very positive review by Charles Cowling from The Good Funeral Guide Blog. For more information please visit her webpage http://pebblewoodurns.com/
Alexandra Kolaczkowski (née Scobie) BEd Teacher Training 1975 Alexandra has published her book Riot and Retribution, written under her pseudonym Alex E Robertson (www. alexrobertson.com), which takes place in 1831 against the backdrop of the Reform Bill riots in Bristol and Bath, and the lead up to the Opium Wars with China. She is now busy working on her second book which moves between the Basque country during the Napoleonic Wars and Paris in the late 1820s, before returning to the West Country in 1833. She taught in Bristol, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire and Somerset, finishing her career at the Royal High School in Bath. SPARTAN 25
Let us know your news! We love to hear from our alumni and what you have been up to. If you would like to share your story with the wider alumni community, please send them to: alumni@ bathspa.ac.uk
Or find us in: Bath Spa University Alumni BathSpaAlumni Bath Spa University Students and Alumni Bath Spa University Alumni
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Lotte Lubach at the SELECT SHOWCASE
Lotte Lubach and
Jeffrey Palmer
Katie Whittaker
BA (Hons) Music 2009
BA (Hons) Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors 2015 Alumnae Lotte Lubach and Katie Whittaker won awards at SELECT SHOWCASE in Cheltenham in October last year. Lotte won the Most Outstanding Graduate award at the Stroud International Textiles showcase, while Katie won the Highly Commended Emerging Maker award and a written piece in craft&design magazine. http://thatswhatiwanttodo.com/.
Jeffrey was recently interviewed by Greenroom Conversation, a podcast which features various performers in the music industry discussing their career. If you would like to listen to the conversation go to www.greenroomconversations. com/?p=687.
Press and Success
Sarah-Jane
Peter Smith
Neil Spalding
Shepherd
BA (Hons) History 2015
Teaching Certificate 1964
PGCE Professional Practice 2008 Sarah-Jane won in the novelty cake category at the Cake International event at Alexandra Palace in London, the world’s largest cake decorating show. The theme of her cake was a mad scientist’s lab and one of the requirements was that everything had to be edible - including the cake board. She was also awarded silver at the Cake International in Birmingham last November. She set up her own business, Minky Kitten Cakes. Prior to that, she was deputy head at St Mary’s Primary School in Writhlington for nearly 10 years.
Since graduation, Peter has been busy focusing his career in the drinks industry. He started as an intern at the Cotswolds Distillery, where he learned to make gin, whisky and other liqueurs commercially. At the same time, he started to make his own concoctions and recipes. He got a job in Norwich where he helped with the launch of the launch of a new gin. He develop the recipe, distillation and bottling of Bullards Norwich Dry gin. He controls its production from start to finish, and has further plans to expand into rum.
Margaret Baines Teaching Certificate 1962 Neil wrote to us about meeting his partner: “I met Meg on the first day of the course in 1961. We’re still going strong. We were part of the committee who set up the first college magazine. I spent 26 years school teaching and Meg went on until she was 60. She went to Birmingham University in 1984, got a degree and also qualified as a teacher of the deaf. I still teach pottery one day a week and we both do craft fairs: me pottery and Meg textiles.”
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News Plans for the Herman Miller building on Locksbrook Industrial Estate
Major step forward for the Herman Miller building proposal In March, the Bath and North East Somerset Council approved Bath Spa University’s plans to regenerate the former Herman Miller building. The proposal includes a change of use for the premises so it can be used by the Bath School of Art and Design, which
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currently teaches a range of disciplines such as fine art, painting, textile design, graphic design, printmaking, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and curation, among others. The Grade II Listed building, which is situated in the Locksbrook Road Industrial
Estate in Bath, has been empty since the furniture manufacturers left the building in 2015. Bath Spa’s vision is to transform this space into an academic incubator for the creative industries.
News
Old Boys hockey reunion
Choir plays Carnegie Hall In January, members of the Bath Spa choir performed at one of the most renowned and prestigious concert venues in the world - Carnegie Hall in New York. They were among 14 choirs to have been chosen to perform The Music of Karl Jenkins: A Concert for Peace. After one of the choir’s performances was uploaded to YouTube, it caught the attention of the organisers of the event, Distinguished Concerts International New York, who invited members along to perform.
Charles Wiffen, Assistant Dean: Learning, Teaching and Quality, said: “We’re delighted that students from Music and Performing Arts had the opportunity to perform at the Carnegie Hall. It’s a renowned venue and the students were great ambassadors for the University. “We encourage creativity throughout the University and we strive to ensure that our graduates are internationally networked - this concert epitomises these aspirations.”
Richard Bidgood (BA (Hons) Business and Management 2010), former BSU Hockey Club President (2009-2010) and SU President (2010-2012), organised an Old Boys Hockey reunion which took place at Beechen Cliff School in June. Around 34 old Bath Spa hockey players, both male and female, attended the event including a graduate from 2008. Richard said: “The current hockey team had an impressive turn out, considering the Summer Ball, was the night before but there was no advantage to the Old Boys team as we all met up in Bath on Friday for catch up drinks in town”. The day was a success keeping up old traditions unique to Bath Spa’s Hockey Club and we all enjoyed catching up and networking with new and old friends.” He is now starting to plan next year’s Old Boys game, so if you are interested to come get in touch with rjbidgood@gmail.com.
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Alumni Art Show Supports Students Over the Easter Holiday, the Alumni Office teamed up with 44AD Art Gallery to present Corsham52 - an exhibition and auction to raise funds for current students at the Bath School of Art and Design. The idea for the show first came about last year, when Bath Academy of Art alumnus Jon Willcocks (Dip Art and Design 1967) suggested an art show and auction to highlight the breadth of talent from Corsham alumni whilst helping to raise funds for current and future students. Participating artists studied at the Bath Academy of Art at Corsham Court (which later became the Bath School of Art and Design) between 1964 - 1967, and were contacted in November to ask if they’d like to contribute. 30 SPARTAN
There was a great response - nearly 30 artists in total with some artists contributing pieces from as far away as California. The show was curated by alumna Katie O’Brien (BA (Hons) Fine Art 2012) at 44AD along with the help of several art student volunteers. Publicity materials and a website were also created by two design students. The exhibit featured a variety of works including paintings, sculpture, ceramics and photography. The exhibit ran from 23 to 27 March. The Private View and an auction were held on 24 March at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, with artists donating at least 50% of the
proceeds from sales of their work to students. The event, which was also generously supported by Santander Universities, was well attended and a great success, with £3200 raised to go towards awards, scholarships, and students’ materials and travel costs. Naomi Box, Development Manager at Bath Spa University said: “The Corsham52 event was a very special evening. We had a huge variety of unique artworks available from a group of extremely talented artists, and we were delighted to raise thousands of pounds for our art and design students.”
News
Ofsted “Outstanding” Teacher Education programmes The Institute for Education at Bath Spa University has obtained an “outstanding” provision for its primary and secondary teacher education programmes from Ofsted, the quality regulator. This is the second time an Ofsted inspection resulted in an outstanding grade, the highest grade that can be given. This builds on a longestablished history of teacher training at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as exceptional education research. The report followed a twostage inspection in June during which all aspects of the University’s teacher education programmes were examined, along with follow-up visits to newly qualified Bath Spa teachers in their first year of teaching in schools.
New Bath Spa student accommodation at Green park Bath Spa University’s new student accommodation was unveiled in June. The development is situated where one of Jane Austen’s homes used to stand, at Number 3 Green Park Buildings East, where she lived between 1804-05. The new accommodation, developed by Berkeley and supported by Santander UK plc, was built using classic Bath Stone and includes characteristics of a typical Georgian building.
Green Park House will provide 461 bed spaces which will enable the University to accommodate all of its first year students, who can choose to continue living there into their second and third years of study, with the hope that this will alleviate the pressure on private housing in Bath. To find out more about Bath Spa University’s Green Park House accommodation visit www.bathspa.ac.uk/accom
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Our Global Community You are part of a 70,000 strong global community and we are here to help you with your professional development, celebrate your success, expand your networks and stay connected with the University and fellow alumni. As part of the alumni community, you will receive regular information via email about Bath Spa news and events you might enjoy attending. You’ll receive our annual magazine and you’ll get more information on careers, networking, mentoring and other opportunities. And don’t forget to join us on LinkedIn and Facebook. BathSpaUniversityAlumni Bath Spa University Students and Alumni BathSpaAlumni
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alumni BENEFITS You can enjoy all kinds of benefits as an alum of Bath Spa, including continued access to the University’s Library and use of the Careers Service for up to three years after you graduate. You can also join the Students’ Union as an Associate Member and receive a generous discount on postgraduate courses. Find out more at: www.bathspa.ac.uk/alumni
Stay Connected We want to stay connected with you - and for you to be able to make the most of the insight, skills, experience and opportunities you can offer each other. We are here to put you in touch with other Bath Spa people for advice, for mentoring, for networks at home and internationally.
Share your news
Available funding
Whatever you’ve been up to, whether you graduated this year or 30 years ago, why not share your news with other alumni? Please send your stories to alumni@bathspa.ac.uk.
Postgraduate Scholarship for Bath Spa University Alumni
LOST TRACK OF FRIENDS? We can link you up with old friends and classmates. Send us their complete name, course they attended and class or graduation year. We will send them an email or letter (if we have their up-to-date contact details) on your behalf with your name and details, so they can get in touch with you. Due to the Data Protection Act we can’t share contact details.
The Scholarship consists of a £1,200 course fee reduction (excluding teacher education qualifications, such as the PGCE), and it is available to graduates from both UK and EU, and international students. To be eligible you are required to start a taught master’s course in February 2017.
The Jennifer Skellett Postgraduate Bursary This is awarded to up to three outstanding students from the Music Department, and applications are welcomed from alumni up to three years after graduation. The recipient will be awarded £1,500.
MA Creative Writing Award This award is for students that have been accepted on to the Master’s in Creative Writing, Travel and Nature Writing or Writing for Young People. This new award of £1,000 is given each year to a student who has demonstrated outstanding talent in writing, and for whom the award will make a significant difference in enabling them to further their studies at a Master’s level.
The Bath Spa University Classical Performance Award This award is granted annually to an outstanding student that has been accepted on the MMus Performance Course. The successful applicant will receive £1,500.
If you would like more information please go to the following website: www.bathspa.ac.uk/study-with-us/ postgraduate/fees-and-finance/ scholarships-and-awards.
SPARTAN 33
Final n from the vice cha
34 SPARTAN
I
note ncellor
would like to welcome you to the seventh issue of Spartan, in particular to all of those who are reading it for the first time. I would like to congratulate all of those who are graduating this summer; it is a huge achievement and we would like to celebrate it with you. As we all know from our own experience, higher education changes lives, creates opportunity and it should be accessible for everyone who has the potential to benefit from it. This is not always the case; research from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows a decline in the number of students from a disadvantaged background enrolling in top UK universities. At the same time, data from the OECD demonstrates that the UK has one of the lowest social mobility rates among developed countries. Taking this into account, universities are actively pursuing widening participation programmes in order to engage more students from lower income families. At Bath Spa University we know we have to work even harder. We not only encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to University but we are also keen to enrich their experience by giving students the chance
to study or work abroad. As we face a future outside the EU this has become even more critical. Research has also shown that graduates with fewer opportunities who had participated in an international programme have a higher income in 11 of 17 subject areas, and are more likely to be employed, even compared with more privileged graduates for whom international travel is the norm. Our Global Citizenship Scholarship of ÂŁ1,000 targets those who need support to take up an international placement. Thanks to the generosity of donors, an International Travel Fund is also available and aims to enable students to travel on research trips and undertake study abroad. Thank you to those of you who already support the University either financially or with your time and expertise. We are developing a strong and dynamic community which is doing more and more to improve the prospects of current and future generations. Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University
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innovation creativity discovery cutting edge inspired ch opportunity iconic Pride revealing creative passion influe nventive inspiring global insight chance pride collabora passion verve expression spark insight global connection challenge collaboration creativity opportunity sensibili
creative. a teacher.
MORE
opportunity spark iconic influential passion expression c spark verve revealing COLLABORATION global creative op entive chance passion CREATIVITY spark verve revealing pa ssion global creative OPPORTUNITY iconic influential exp challenge inspiring spark innovation global opportunit
Achieve more with our postgraduate degrees At Bath Spa University we believe in thinking differently, and with a postgraduate qualification, potential employers will see you differently. Not only will you enhance your career prospects, you will deepen your knowledge of a subject you are passionate about, widen your network of contacts and enhance your earning opportunities.
Exclusive Alumni offer If you are a graduate of Bath Spa University or one of its predecessor colleges you are eligible for a £1,200 reduction to your master’s course fees. There has never been a better time to start your postgraduate journey.
DIFFERENT THINKING
Get more from your future Visit bathspa.ac.uk/postgrad