ISM Music Journal - September/October 2017

September/October 2017 Mercury Prize 2017 CafÊ to concert hall: the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus Portsmouth Music Hub – singing for the heart of the community

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Welcome It always feels a bit strange to be writing this editorial when we are in the middle of the festival season and the Proms is still going strong. However the September/ October edition of Music Journal heralds the start of the new orchestral season and academic year. For the ISM it is one of our busiest periods with many ISM members keen to sort out business and legal issues and calling us for our professional help. We are always keen to hear from you on how else we could be supporting you as a professional musician, and if you have any suggestions then please do contact me on deborah@ism.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Above: Deborah Annetts Photo: Mark Thompson

There continues to be many challenges for musicians from the rapid growth in streaming to copyright infringement and where music now sits in our education system, following the Government’s decision to push ahead with their disastrous EBacc policy. Music though and its power to bring people together at the Proms, festivals or in our theatres remains a mainstay of our cultural life. But for music to retain its central role in the UK, then our musicians need to be able to work freely.

From the ISM’s recent surveys, we know that freedom of movement across all European countries is a number one priority for many of you. From your responses we know that you travel to Europe upwards of 26 times a year, and the average tour length is seven days but some of you are there for 60 days at a time.

So the ISM, in partnership with a-n The Artists Information Company, has launched #FreeMoveCreate – a campaign to protect freedom of movement for all who work in the creative industries and professions. The ability to work freely in Europe is vital to musicians, whether you are a performer, composer, or educator. So if you or your family, friends and contacts care about the ability to work freely then please sign up at freemovecreate.org.

In this issue of MJ, we bring you three diverse features – an overview of the Mercury Prize in its 25th year with a rundown of this year’s nominees ahead of the ceremony on 14 September; a look at the rise of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus, from amateur singing group to internationally recognized choir; and an insight into the vital work of the thriving Portsmouth Music Hub.

Front Cover The 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2017 See feature on pages 11-12 Inset images: The Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus

And finally, many of you will be renewing your ISM membership over the next couple of months. Council – the ISM’s governing body which is made up entirely of ISM members – has taken the decision to slightly increase most subscription rates to keep in line with inflation. Student membership will remain at £15 per year, and there is a discount of £5 for full membership when paying by annual direct debit.

ISM membership continues to be exceptionally good value for money, providing a comprehensive range of insurances, legal and professional advice as well as development opportunities and discounts – everything you need to support, protect and promote you in your career as a musician. See pages 6-7 for further detail.

See page 15-17

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23 31 34 34 36

News & campaigns Business advice Your ISM membership in 2017/18 Fees for organists and directors of music Professional development Mercury Prize 2017 Café to concert hall: the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus Portsmouth Music Hub – singing for the heart of the community News from our members News from our corporate members Local event listings Classified advertising Ask me a question

Volume 84 / Number 3 Published by: The Incorporated Society of Musicians 4–5 Inverness Mews, London W2 3JQ T: 020 7221 3499 E: membership@ism.org W: ism.org Incorporated Society of Musicians is a limited company registered in England No. 36882. Registered Office as address above.

Editor: Deborah Annetts Sub-editor and Production: Kim Davenport Gee All ISM publications are copyright

Design: cogdesign.com Typography: marcmarazzi.com Advertising: Cabbell Publishing Ltd, T. 020 3603 7940 E. jane@cabbell.co.uk Editorial and advertising copy date: 2 October for November/ December issue Price: £7 per copy Subscription: £35 per year Circulation: 8,000 named recipients Views expressed in MJ are not necessarily those of the ISM. The publication of any advertisement does not imply endorsement of the advertiser or the product advertised.

Printed by Optichrome, Woking GU21 5HX ISSN 0951 5135

Portsmouth Music Hub’s performance of Bombay’s Big Adventure See pages 19-21

Contents

deborah@ism.org

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

News & campaigns ISM and a-n launch #FreeMoveCreate Campaign for free movement for musicians The campaign to protect freedom of movement for all who work in the creative industries and professions – including musicians – was launched on 12 July at Toynbee Studios. #FreeMoveCreate, a major new campaign, is a collaboration between the ISM and a-n (the UK’s largest artists’ membership organisation).

The #FreeMoveCreate campaign represents the coming together of more than 30,000 musicians and artists from across the memberships of the ISM and a-n to call for flexible travel as the UK leaves the EU. At the launch ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, said:

ISM members’ views get heard in Parliament

On Monday 17 July ISM members’ views were raised in Parliament in a debate on free movement in light of Brexit, with Earl Clancarty highlighting the results of our last survey, saying ‘Seventy per cent of musicians travel overseas for work. The average stay is eight ‘Results showed that close on 60% of musicians placed days, but can range up to 60’ adding ‘some musicians maintaining freedom of movement as their number travel to the EU more than 40 times a year.’ one priority. Our members travel to Europe upwards of 26 times a year, and the average tour length is seven days but some members are there for 60 days Government rejects EBacc concerns at a time. Our research shows that visas are not the solution and can cause even more problems.

Department for Education ignores ‘Our surveys conducted just after the results of the EU referendum, along with discussion with our members, uncovered the number one priority for working musicians: freedom of movement across all European countries.

‘The issue of freedom of movement is not limited to just musicians – it affects everyone who works in the creative industries, including actors, artists, dancers, directors and technicians.

‘Freedom of movement is vital to our creative industries.

We urge everyone who works in these crucial industries – whatever your trade might be – to sign up to Free Move Create.’

For more information and to download your free logo, visit freemovecreate.org

concerns of industry and professionals After 18 months, the Department for Education (DfE) has published its response to the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) consultation.

Disappointingly, the DfE has failed to listen to the concerns of ISM members, the profession as a whole, and the creative industries and education sectors, and announced its intention to press ahead with its target for 90% of pupils to study the EBacc combination of core academic subjects by 2025 (delaying this objective by a few years as expected).

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM and founder and leader of the Bacc for the Future campaign vowed to keep fighting for music and creative subjects in schools, saying:

Above right: The Dixie Ticklers performing at the launch of the #FreeMoveCreate campaign

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‘For a Government that claims to care about economic growth, social mobility, diversity and

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Legal and tax helpline – new number The telephone number for the ISM’s legal and tax helpline has changed from 01206 368994 to:

01275 376 038

Call this 24-hour helpline for telephone-based advice on anything legal, including matters unconnected with your work as a musician or music professional.

Also call this number during working hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) for free expert advice on any tax or NI issue.

the creative industries, this decision is short-sighted and misconceived.

‘A matter of weeks after Ofqual confirmed the negative impact the EBacc is having on creative subjects in our schools, the Secretary of State has betrayed the future of our children and their opportunities for work, as well as our thriving creative industries.

Arts Council England announces big funding decisions Arts Council England announced its main funding decisions for 2018 to 2022 on 27 June.

Reactions were mixed with the Music Venues Trust, which supports smaller music venues across the UK, ‘We have no choice but to step up the Bacc for the Future seeing its bid for funding rejected. Beverley Whitrick, campaign and urge the Department for Education to the strategic director of the Music Venue Trust, warned think again … As the Chief Inspector of Ofsted, Amanda that more clubs will close before the next round of Spielman said last week: “All children should study funding in 2022 and adding ‘we thought we were a broad and rich curriculum.” We need to create an winning the argument about these clubs being cultural education which is fit for the 21st century and fit for our venues, and so this feels like a slap in the face.’ country post-Brexit. This is not the way to do it.’

The Royal Opera House and Southbank Centre (two The Bacc for the Future campaign is now asking all supporters to write a letter to the Prime Minister. For more information on how to do this visit baccforthefuture.com

Creative workforce keeps on growing The number of people working in the creative industries is growing at four times the rate of the UK workforce as a whole.

of the highest funded organisations) saw a cut to their funding, whilst the English National Opera (ENO) rejoined the funded bodies having been put into ‘special measures’ last year, with funding remaining static at £12.38m.

For the full list, including organisations near to you, you can visit Arts Council England’s main website at: artscouncil.org.uk/NPO

New Parliamentary report: Arts are good for you In ‘the most comprehensive overview of the field to date,’ a new Parliamentary report has found that the arts can improve health and well-being.

The figures, published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport found that almost two million The report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on people worked in the creative industries in 2016, Arts, Health and Well-being found that the arts can a 5% increase on the previous year. Across the UK, help ‘keep us well, aid our recovery and support longer employment grew by 1.2% year on year. lives better lived’ as well as improving approaches to health care and social care across the board.

More people attending live music More than 30 million people attended live music events in 2016 according to UK Music’s new report Wish You Were Here 2017.

Henry Vann, Head of External Affairs, ISM 020 7313 9327, henry.vann@ism.org

The study also found that live music fans spent £4 billion in 2016 through direct and indirect spending, representing an increase of 11% on 2015 where £3.7 billion was spent.

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Business advice Private Music Tuition and Consumer Rights Agreements with pupils or their parents/guardians for your music tuition services are likely to fall within the scope of The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

The Regulations, which have been in force since June 2014, affect most businesses that contract with consumers, irrespective of where and how the contract is entered into.

The Regulations require detailed pre-contract information to be given to consumers and give consumers a 14-day cancellation period. It is important to ensure that your agreements comply with your obligations under these Regulations.

In summary, your contract terms must include the following details: • A description of the service being provided.

• Your identity and contact details.

• Your fees for providing music tuition, and how and when these must be paid.

• A right to cancel and how this can be exercised.

The Regulations give consumers a right to cancel within 14 days from the day after the contract was agreed. You should not start providing the service before the 14 day cancellation period has ended, unless you have a written request to do so.

Where you have a written request for tuition to start straightaway, the contract can still be cancelled within 14 days, but fees are payable for any lessons delivered up to the date of cancellation. You will not be entitled to payment for services supplied in the cancellation period if you have not provided this information in your agreement. Nor will you be entitled to payment if you did not receive a written request for tuition to start within the 14 day cancellation period.

• How and when the contract can be terminated.

The provisions in your agreement for termination and notice must be fair. Under The Consumer Rights Act 2015, unfair terms will not be enforceable against consumers. The legislation identifies a number of terms that may be regarded as unfair including disproportionate financial sanctions, termination fees and requiring payment for services not supplied. Also identified as potentially unfair are terms that provide for unequal termination rights and cancellation by you without notice and a refund. Therefore very onerous notice provisions or clauses requiring disproportionate fees in lieu of notice are likely to be unfair and unenforceable.

We suggest that a four week notice requirement for termination of the agreement is sufficient.

We recommend that all members review their private teaching contracts in light of the above. The ISM legal team will be happy to help you with this (legal@ ism.org). We have private music tuition template agreements available on our website which members can download free of charge (ism.org/advice/ismagreement-for-private-music-tuition). They are available in three differing versions depending on whether you choose to teach series by series, on a termly basis or on a more flexible pay as you go basis.

© iStockphoto/dszc

Lavina Daryanani, Legal Adviser, ISM

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Your ISM membership in 2017/18 Whether you’ve been a member for 60 years or this is your first ever issue of Music Journal, it’s worth making sure you know all the ways the ISM can support you and your music career. If you have any feedback or want to make a suggestion about a service that would benefit your work, please contact us on 020 7221 3499 or email membership@ism.org.

‘I honestly believe that the ISM gives all its members not only valuable information but a tremendous feeling of security; knowing that any problem one may experience, will be harnessed, considered, and result in excellent advice being given, and conclusions being decided by qualified experts.’ An ISM member

Insurances If you’re a student, graduate or full member of the ISM, your membership provides you with comprehensive insurance cover, including public, employers’ and product liability cover of up to £10 million and legal expenses insurance up to £100,000.

We’ve also recently extended the number of companies offering discounts on musical instrument and equipment hire, meaning you can shop around to find the best deal for you.

Legal help Our specialist in-house legal team opens nearly 100 cases a month, helping our members with legal matters across the music industry. You’re able to get advice on contracts, unpaid fees recovery, employment and self-employment issues, performers’ and composers’ rights and royalties.

Additionally, the legal helpline is able to help with queries that are not related to work matters, or in situations where you need to speak to someone

Do you have students starting at university or conservatoire this year?

Give them the gift of ISM membership.

Why not buy your students a gift to take with them to university or conservatoire?

If you have students who are starting a music degree this year, you can give them an ISM student membership for just £15.

Student membership includes all the same benefits as full membership including discounted musical instrument and equipment insurance, public liability insurance, professional listings and hundreds of discounts including three months’ free NUS Extra membership.

To order your gift and find out more, go to ism.org/join.

If you have any questions about gift membership, please call us on 020 7221 3499 or email membership@ism.org.

Please note: to be eligible for ISM membership the recipient of the gift must satisfy our entry criteria. © iSto

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

across the country. As a member, you’re entitled to a discounted price on all our seminars and events, which provide a great opportunity to learn and network with other musicians. We also continue to host free webinars covering diverse topics across the music profession. You can catch up on what we’ve already done this year at ism.org/professional-development/webinars.

If you have any questions about membership services, or your membership in particular, please contact the staff team on 020 7221 3499 or email membership@ism.org.

2017/18 subscription rates Above: Over 140 people attended our 2017 Members’ Day at the Embassy Theatre in London Photo: Kris Brown

outside office hours. You can call their experienced legal advisers on 01275 376 038 and you can use the same number to speak to trained tax advisors during the day.

So that we can continue to offer you premium services, our subscription rates will increase slightly from September 2017. If you’re a full member, you can save £5 by paying by annual direct debit.

2017/2018 rates

Advice and information Our online advice centre provides members with a wealth of information, including template contracts and the latest information on musicians’ pay. You can add to our new composers’ resource or download one of our career-focussed Make Music Work advice packs for performers, composers and teachers.

The ISM team can also help you with queries to do with safeguarding and child protection, and with DBS checks. Just call us on 020 7221 3499.

Save money As well as a range of discounts to save you money with matters directly relating your music career, from music shops to web services and sheet music, you can join fellow members claiming discounts on everything from financial advice to cinema tickets through ISM Discount+. Find out what you can save at ism.org/my-ism/your-discounts.

Promote yourself By listing yourself on our web directory, you can get more work by promoting yourself and your music to fellow musicians and members of the public. Log in to our members’ area, My ISM, to update your listing: ism.org/my-ism.

Because you’re a member of the ISM, the UK’s professional body for musicians, you can use letters after your name to demonstrate your professional status. You can also use a logo on any personal marketing or correspondence. For further information go to ism.org/advice/letters-after-your-name.

Full Member

£176 or £171 annual direct debit

Full member (graduate, upgrade from Student)

£32

Full member (graduate, year 1)

£78

Full member (graduate, year 2)

£98

Full member (graduate, year 3)

£128

Full member (retired)

£89

Full member (student)

£15

Associate member

£62

Friends

£62

Corporate members The ISM currently has 155 corporate members from across the music industry including conservatoires, universities, schools, suppliers, manufacturers, hubs, venues, festivals and charities. Corporate membership of the ISM offers a range of promotional opportunities as well as the chance to support our vital campaigning and lobbying work. We also invite our corporate members to networking events where they can meet with industry colleagues, share ideas and keep up to date with the ISM’s activities.

If your organisation would like to consider corporate membership please email our Marketing Manager Ruth McPherson (ruth.mcpherson@ism.org).

2017/2018 rates Platinum

£540

Gold

£340

Professional development

Silver

£220

This year, our popular performance anxiety workshops have been in high demand from music teachers

Bronze

£110

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Fees for organists and directors of music Thank you to all of you who took part in our recent survey of fees and salaries paid to organists and directors of music in places of worship. It’s the only survey of this type in the UK. We were delighted that over 600 musicians responded to the survey.

This makes the results a truly authoritative picture of what organists and directors of music were paid.

Our survey findings Fees per service in 2016 £ per service

£ per service

Mid-point*

Central range**

Regular weekly services London

60

50–100

Rest of UK

40

25–51.20

Overall

42.50

25–60

London

125

100–187

Rest of UK

95

70–120

Overall

100

75–128.80

London

100

83–180

Rest of UK

75

60–95

Overall

75

60–100

Weddings

In addition, 95% of survey respondents were paid an additional amount for Holy Day services.

The fees in the table are the basic fees, before any additional charges for recordings of the service. For those who quoted a price for weddings we asked whether they charged more for audio or video recordings. 41% said they did charge more. For audio recording 12% said they charged 50% extra. For video and audio recording over a quarter of respondents said they doubled their fee.

Due to competition law constraints, we are not able to make any form of recommendation in respect of fees for self-employed musicians.

Our survey findings are published on our website at ism.org/advice-centre/fees.

Our recommendations for employed organists and directors of music Our recommendations for the hourly rates which employed organists and directors of music should be paid in 2018 are set out below.

Recommended rates for employed organists and directors of music in 2018

Funerals

£ per hour

Holy Day service (per service) London

60

60–128

Rest of UK

37.50

25–50

Overall

40

25-–60

Other special services * Half the respondents were paid this amount or more and half were paid this amount or less.

London

120

84–180

** Most respondents were paid within this range: 20% were paid more and 20% were paid less.

Rest of UK

65

43–100

Overall

72.50

50–120

London

22–35

Rest of the UK

15–25

In deciding where your church fits within our recommended range, you should take into account considerations such as whether there is a choir, the size and importance of the church, and the importance of music in the church’s liturgy.

You will find advice on how to derive a fee per service or an annual salary from these hourly rates on our website at ism.org/advice/employed-organist-fees.

For further advice about working as an organist, visit ism.org/advice/advice-for-organists.

Derin Adebiyi, Public Affairs Officer, ISM

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Professional development Performance anxiety: A practical workshop for music teachers Thursday 19 October, 9.30am-3.45pm ISM, 4-5 Inverness Mews, London W2 3JQ A practical workshop, delivered by the ISM Trust, with Gregory Daubney MSc MBPsS and Dr Alison Daubney, authors of the publication Performance anxiety: A practical guide for music teachers, published by the ISM Trust.

This workshop explores many of the common underlying causes of performance anxiety and helps teachers identify its presence in their day-to-day work. Participants will take part in a series of practical exercises to try out a range of strategies across three key timeframes over which anxiety commonly occurs.

This course will provide music teachers working across all contexts, and with pupils of all ages, with easy to use, practical strategies informed by rigorous psychological research to integrate throughout their own practice and positively enhance their students’ development over time.

Webinars ISM webinars, delivered through the ISM Trust, offer you the chance to access key professional development opportunities at work, home or on the move. You can catch up on our previous webinars at ism.org/webinars.

Our next webinar is:

How to use Dorico, Steinberg’s new notation software Wednesday 27 September, 1-2pm Curious to find out about Dorico, Steinberg’s new notation software? If you missed our introductory sessions in May then now is your chance to find out how Dorico can meet your individual notation needs. During this free webinar, Daniel Spreadbury, Steinberg’s Product Manager and musician, will give a demonstration of Dorico and answer any questions you might have.

Register for your place at: bit.ly/DoricoWebinar

This workshop is limited to 14 people, which allows a unique opportunity for in-depth consideration of the subject.

Tickets: £49 ISM members; £59 non-members (includes VAT, refreshments and lunch) To book, go to ism.org/seminars.

The ISM Trust Primary Music Toolkit The ISM Trust, supported by the Schools Music Association (SMA), has published a free online resource for primary school music teachers.

The Primary Music Toolkit, written by music education expert Dr Alison Daubney, is a concise six-part guide which aims to help specialist and non-specialist primary music teachers further their knowledge and self-assurance in the classroom. It is packed with practical help and strategies to give teachers the confidence to lead inspiring musical experiences and bring the primary music curriculum to life.

The toolkit is free to access and download from the ISM Trust website: ismtrust.org/primary-toolkit

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Mercury Prize 2017 The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize, with its illustrious, yet sometimes chequered history, is an annual music prize awarded for best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland for that year. Francesca Treadaway of the ISM gives an overview of the award in its 25th year alongside a rundown of this year’s nominees ahead of the ceremony on 14 September.

A highlight in the awards calendar, the coveted Mercury Prize endeavours to promote the best of UK and Irish music and the artists who produce it.

This is done through the celebration of the 12 ‘Albums of the Year’, recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres.

Above: Francesca Treadaway, the ISM’s Communications Manager, at the Mercury Prize launch event in London on 27 July.

Its remit is to ‘introduce new albums from a variety of musical genres to a wider audience’, and the prize is open to all types of music, including pop, rock, folk, urban, grime, dance, jazz, blues, electronica and classical. Any album released by a British artist, or by a band where over 50% of the members are British, may be submitted for consideration by their record label. Its aim, organisers say, is to provide ‘a snapshot of the year in music’ and to ‘encourage debate and discussion about music’.

Left: The 2016 Mercury Prize winner, Skepta, for his album Konnichiwa

The Mercury Prize – named after its sponsor, the now merged Mercury Communications – was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British Association of Record Dealers (now the British Records Association) in 1992, with the Ă€UVW ZLQQHU EHLQJ 3ULPDO 6FUHDP IRU WKHLU DOEXP Screamadelica. Each shortlisted artist receives a specially commissioned ‘Albums of the Year’ WURSK\ DW WKH $ZDUGV 6KRZ DQG XQOLNH VRPH other music awards, the overall winner of the Mercury Prize also receives a cash prize – this year the winner will take home ÂŁ25,000. As of 2016, 3- +DUYH\ ² WKH Ă€UVW IHPDOH VROR DUWLVW WR EH DZDUGHG the Prize – is the only artist to have won the award on more than one occasion (in 2001 and 2011 respectively). Radiohead are the most shortlisted DUWLVWV Ă€YH WLPHV EXW WKH\ KDYH QHYHU ZRQ

For some artists, winning can be the launchpad into a glittering music career – the Mercury Prize has a penchant for celebrating the underground artists, with only one or two ‘bigger names’ on the list each year. 2013’s winner, the classically-trained pianist and electronic musician James Blake saw a 2500% jump in sales (after admitting pre-Mercury sales were ‘hideous’ in an interview), while band Elbow, who won the award in 2008 after eighteen years of trying, said in their acceptance speech that winning was ‘quite literally the greatest thing that ever happened to us’. Band The xx saw a 450% rise in sales of their winning album the day after they won the prize in 2010. For others, winning the prize is a ‘curse’, and in the case whereby a debut album ZLQV WKH SUL]H PDNHV WKH ÂśGL΀FXOW VHFRQG DOEXP¡ DOO WKH PRUH WRXJK WR JHW RÍż WKH JURXQG $UWLVWV KDYH also withdrawn nominations – Gorillaz requested the nomination for their debut album Gorillaz to be withdrawn in 2001, saying that winning the award would be ‘like carrying a dead albatross round your neck for eternity’.

The Prize has also been criticised for a lack of classical, jazz, folk or heavy metal presence in shortlists. Despite the Prize being open to ‘all types of music’, there has not been a shortlisted classical record since 2002, and none have ever won.

Only one Metal album has been nominated (Troublegum by Therapy? in 1994).

Photo: John Marshall Š JM Enternational

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Above: The 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2017

Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times; MistaJam – DJ & Broadcaster; Marcus Mumford – musician and 7KH Ă€QHU GHWDLO RI WKH MXGJLQJ SURFHVV LV YHU\ PXFK VRQJZULWHU -HÍż 6PLWK ² +HDG RI 0XVLF 0XVLF DQG shrouded in secrecy, ‘to ensure that all members of Radio 2; Jessie Ware – musician and songwriter; and the panel are able to express their opinions freely Mike Walsh – Head of Music, Radio X. The Chair DQG RSHQO\ DV SDUW RI WKH SURFHVV ZLWKRXW VSHFLĂ€F of the judging panel is the music executive, Tony comments or views being attributed to them’, Wadsworth CBE. the Mercury Prize states.

The shortlist for 2017 was unveiled by BBC Radio 1 The results of any voting by individual judges are SUHVHQWHU +XZ 6WHSKHQV DW D SDFNHG RXW ODXQFK not published to ensure that all albums are always event at the Langham Hotel in London on 27 July, viewed as being equal and that no ranking system WR ZKLFK WKH ,60 ZDV LQYLWHG is employed at any stage of the process. The team The shortlist for this year features a range of artists is also careful to state that since the Mercury Prize IURP ELJ QDPHV WR QHZFRPHUV ² IURP (G 6KHHUDQ began ‘no other organisation, including sponsors RU EURDGFDVWHUV KDV H[HUWHG DQ\ LQĂ XHQFH RYHU WKH and two previous winners (alt-J (2012) and The xx judging process or shortlist and winner decisions.’ (2010)) to The Big Moon and Dinosaur, covering a broad sweep of genres – anything from grime Generally speaking – David Wilkinson, the to jazz.

Chairman of the Mercury Prize tells me in a quick phone call ahead of the launch – the shortlist is The shortlist for Mercury Prize 2017: chosen by an independent panel of musicians, music presenters, music producers, music journalists, alt-J: Relaxer IHVWLYDO RUJDQLVHUV DQG RWKHU ÀJXUHV LQ WKH PXVLF The Big Moon: Love in the 4th Dimension industry in the UK and Ireland. Notably, there Blossoms: Blossoms are no record label representatives, managers, Loyle Carner: Yesterday’s Gone publishers or music retailers on the panel.

Dinosaur: Together, As One The judges listen to all the albums – ‘hundreds of

The judging process

submissions’, David says – that have been entered over many months, before meeting to decide on D ÀQDO WZHOYH

Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being

What’s in store for 2017?

The xx: I See You

The judging panel for 2017 comprise 12 of the LQGXVWU\¡V NH\ ÀJXUHKHDGV 3KLO $OH[DQGHU – Editor-in-Chief, Mojo and Q; Clara Amfo – broadcaster; Jamie Cullum – musician and broadcaster; Ella Eyre – musician and songwriter; Harriet Gibsone – Music News Editor, The Guardian/TheGuardian.com; Lianne La Havas – musician and songwriter; Will Hodgkinson –

Listen to this year’s nominees at bit.ly/MercuryPrizeMJ

J Hus: Common Sense

Sampha: Process The judges’ decisions, the Mercury Prize maintains, Ed Sheeran: á are based solely on the quality of the music on Stormzy: Gang Signs & Prayer the albums.

Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos

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www.mercuryprize.com Francesca Treadaway, Communications Manager, ISM

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

CafĂŠ to concert hall: the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Chorus had humble beginnings as an amateur singing group, meeting weekly in a cafĂŠ on Glasgow’s Argyle Street – but 175 years later, it is not only an established choir that performs internationally but the longest continuously operational performing arts organisation in Scotland. Francesca Treadaway of the ISM speaks to Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer to ďŹ nd out more.

The Glasgow Choral Union was formed as an amateur singing group in 1843/44 to give concerts to charities, DQG PHW ZHHNO\ LQ D FDIp LQ $UJ\OH 6WUHHW D PDMRU WKRURXJKIDUH LQ WKH FLW\ FHQWUH RI *ODVJRZ 6FRWODQG ,Q LWV Ă€UVW PRQWKV WKH &KRUDO 8QLRQ JDYH WKH Ă€UVW 6FRWWLVK SHUIRUPDQFH RI +DQGHO¡V Messiah in April 1844, a tradition, Gregory Batsleer, who joined the Chorus as their full-time Director from 2015, says the Chorus has ‘maintained every year since, with only a few exceptions’. The scratch orchestra they made from gathering local orchestral players for this pioneering concert later became the Royal 6FRWWLVK 1DWLRQDO 2UFKHVWUD ‘The choir has always had its roots in Glasgow’, Gregory explains to me. ‘It rehearses in Glasgow DOWKRXJK LW FDUULHV WKH QDPH RI ´6FRWODQGÂľ RQ LW The vast majority of the singers are also from Glasgow, with only a handful travelling from further away.

It is made up of very committed, very talented amateur singers. The Chorus is really seen as the pinnacle of amateur singing. It has been like that from the very beginning.’

Left: The Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus Photo: Courtesy of RSNO Chorus

‘The Chorus bears the name of an orchestra with a leading reputation, which has lots of ambition and is expected to perform at a very high level by the audiences that come to watch. It is our duty – even as an ‘amateur’ chorus – to aspire to be the same standard as the orchestra. It requires a professional mind-set to music making and it is a big commitment for the members – we can’t SUHWHQG LW¡V QRW ² EXW RQ WKH Ă LSVLGH WKH UHZDUGV are huge.’ 7KH 5612 &KRUXV KDV DOVR KDG JUHDW VXFFHVV in recording with the orchestra. Its recordings, DPRQJVW RWKHUV RI 3URNRĂ€HY¡V Alexander Nevsky, conducted by Neeme Ja¨ rvi, and Holst’s The Planets, conducted by David Lloyd-Jones, have both been subject to high critical acclaim.

Gregory laughs, ‘The Chorus has been part of many recordings, so whether people have known it or not, they have probably heard them perform RQ GLVF DW VRPH SRLQW RU LQ VRPH Ă€OP PXVLF ¡

In addition to its commitment to the Orchestra, WKH 5612 &KRUXV SHUIRUPV LQGHSHQGHQWO\ DQG 7KH 5612 &KRUXV SHUIRUPV LQ DURXQG VL[ GLÍżHUHQW has been invited to perform with orchestras in PDQ\ GLÍżHUHQW SDUWV RI WKH ZRUOG HVWDEOLVKLQJ SURJUDPPHV LQ XS WR FRQFHUWV DFURVV 6FRWODQG an international status for the choir. In the past, ZLWK WKH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK 1DWLRQDO 2UFKHVWUD HDFK WKH 5612 &KRUXV KDV WRXUHG LQ &RSHQKDJHQ year. ‘We take it very seriously that the Chorus is Hong Kong, Israel, Germany, Belfast, Australia, heard by as many as possible throughout other Trondheim and most recently, Amsterdam.

FLWLHV LQ 6FRWODQG¡ *UHJRU\ H[SODLQV WR PH This is something that has lessened in recent œ7KH 5612 &KRUXV LV D UHDOO\ DFWLYH FKRLU DQG RQH years due to the cuts in arts funding. of the things we try to do – even though its origins were as a choral society – is to ensure it aligns with the orchestra.

Continued overleaf Ăˆ

15

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Above: The RSNO Chorus and (right) their Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer All photos courtesy of RSNO Chorus

‘Due to the natural economy of the arts, international touring has declined in recent years, but we are hoping to bring it back. Lots of budgets are being cut in the arts, and it is harder to secure those tours. ,W LV GHĂ€QLWHO\ ZLWKLQ RXU DPELWLRQ WKRXJK WR organise another tour.’ The funding for the Chorus comes from the main FRUH EXGJHW RI WKH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK 1DWLRQDO 2UFKHVWUD – ‘that was a big decision that the Chorus took but IURP LW WKHUH DUH ORWV RI EHQHĂ€WV ZKLFK RXWZHLJK any negatives’, Gregory explains. It was the Chorus’ history that inspired the move, as it was important that the future was just as bright. ‘The Chorus has a lot of ambition and wants to achieve even more’, Gregory says. +LVWRULFDOO\ WKH 5612 &KRUXV ZDV VHOI JRYHUQLQJ Gregory tells me, initially run by its members with a committee and Chairman, which ran DORQJVLGH WKH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK 1DWLRQDO 2UFKHVWUD That changed, with the management of the Chorus as an organisation becoming full-time ZLWKLQ WKH PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK National Orchestra.

6LU $OH[DQGHU *LEVRQ WKH 0XVLF 'LUHFWRU RI WKH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK 1DWLRQDO 2UFKHVWUD ² ZDV D VLJQLĂ€FDQW LQĂ XHQFH LQ WKH ULVH RI WKH &KRUXV DQG WKHLU GLYHUVLW\ LQ UHSHUWRLUH 6LU $OH[DQGHU was the driving force behind bringing new and exciting works, that were only performed in /RQGRQ WR 6FRWODQG ‘It’s a privilege to lead a Chorus with such an incredible history. The Chorus has previously done a lot of touring with the orchestra and had a close relationship with their directors.’ Gregory’s job is to oversee the development and the artistic side of the Chorus’ current ambition, as well as take the majority of the rehearsals in preparation for performances with the orchestra. ‘There is a team of wonderful people who support the Chorus, including a pianist who rehearses with us every week and a vocal coach. We also have the Gibson Conducting Fellowship – this year awarded to Abigail Kitching, who joins us for rehearsals too.’

The Gibson Conducting Fellowship, made from D JHQHURXV HQGRZPHQW IURP 6LU $OH[DQGHU supports young and upcoming choral conductors One thing that really stood out whilst reading with a year-long choral training post. It is a crucial DERXW WKH 5612 &KRUXV ZDV WKH UHDO GLYHUVLW\ SDUW RI WKH 5612 &KRUXV¡ LGHQWLW\ DQG KDV RYHU RI UHSHUWRLUH LW SHUIRUPV 7KH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK the years provided many young choral conductors National Orchestra, Gregory explains to me, retains with the rare opportunity of working with D UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR GR ORWV RI GLÍżHUHQW W\SHV RI a symphony chorus. concerts rather than classically-centric ones. ‘Both the Orchestra and the Chorus really take UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU EHLQJ 6FRWODQG¡V ´2UFKHVWUD DQG &KRUXV RI WKH 3HRSOH¾¡ *UHJRU\ VD\V ‘This has been the case since the founding of the Chorus, to have that remit – not just to perform the big choral classics but also to do performances and recordings with the Orchestra.’

16

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

‘We had a wonderfully high level of applicants this year and saw some fantastic auditions but it was Abi’s exciting potential and overwhelming passion for choral conducting and choral music that made her the obvious candidate for the Fellowship.

The Fellowship is a unique facet to the Chorus.’

*UHJRU\ DOVR KHDGV XS WKH 5612 &KRUXV $FDGHP\ for those who are passionate about choral music EXW KDYH QRW \HW MRLQHG WKH 5612 &KRUXV Each date focuses on choral techniques, singing techniques and musicianship, including reading a musical score.

7KH 5612 &KRUXV DOVR H[WHQGV WR D -XQLRU &KRUXV which has quickly established itself as one of the leading children and youth choirs in the UK, with over 400 members aged seven to 18. It was formed in 1978 by Jean Kidd and since 1994 has been directed by Christopher Bell. It has built up a considerable reputation singing under some of the world’s most distinguished conductors and appearing on radio and television. The Junior &KRUXV DOVR VLQJV ZLWK WKH 5R\DO 6FRWWLVK 1DWLRQDO Orchestra, at BBC concerts and regularly appears at the Edinburgh International Festival.

7KH VHDVRQ VHHV WKH PDLQ 5612 &KRUXV celebrate their 175th anniversary with a performance – of course, as tradition dictates – of Handel’s Messiah in January 2018. Other season highlights are performances of Bernstein’s Mass and Chichester Psalms, Brahms’ A German Requiem and Holst’s The Planets.

Above: The RSNO Chorus performing in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh

rsno.org.uk/engage/chorus Francesca Treadaway, Communications Manager, ISM

d ces across Scotlan

cruiting RSNO Chorus is re nal Orchestra Royal Scottish Natio The Chorus of the nks. In the lead singers to join its ra is looking for new is is an exciting versary in 2018, th up to its 175th anni essful choruses. the UK’s most succ time to join one of rtunity for an exclusive oppo The RSNO Chorus is otland to: choral singers in Sc w Choral work from ne e a broad range of nc rie pe Ex • pular ďŹ lm scores commissions to po the Royal Scottish and perform with se ar he Re • National Orchestra

• Perform to audien orking group of people rd w • Join a frienedlfroy,mhaall walks of life and who share

who com to sing. the same passion: sday night hearses on a Wedne The RSNO Chorus re Buchanan e sit in Glasgow, oppo at the RSNO Centre m Queen fro lk just a short wa d an n io at St s Bu Street Street Station. ge/chorus rsno.org.uk/enga

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Portsmouth Music Hub – singing for the heart of the community Producing a new concert about a lost cat, with music written by local composers, performed by hundreds of young singers from schools across Portsmouth isn’t the easiest thing to do, but Portsmouth Music Hub has this type of event ďŹ rmly under its belt. We learn about the vital work of this thriving music hub from its Chief Executive Sue Beckett.

6RPH ZRXOG VD\ WKDW SURGXFLQJ D EUDQG QHZ concert about a lost cat, with music written by local composers and performed by hundreds of young singers from many schools across Portsmouth, is a hard task; out of the norm. Include a Lord Mayor, dignitaries, an excited cat, and an audience of more than a thousand people waiting for an evening of music and song, to be performed under the roof of one of the most prestigious venues in the south of England. It could be a recipe for disaster, but this is just a normal day in the life of Portsmouth Music Hub. ‘We’re not frightened by complexity, and since the creation of the Music Hub almost six years ago we have certainly got used to the challenges that come from providing musical and cultural opportunities for thousands of children and \RXQJ SHRSOH ¡ VD\V 6XH %HFNHWW &KLHI ([HFXWLYH of Portsmouth Music Hub. Hundreds of children took part in Bombay’s Big Adventure, which tells the musical story of Bombay the lost cat who visits some of Portsmouth’s major landmarks in search of his owner. All the songs were written by the Hub’s composition team DQG ZHUH Ă€UP IDYRXULWHV ZLWK WKH FKLOGUHQ -XVW D week earlier, to celebrate BBC Music Day, 900 local children took part in a world record attempt to perform the largest ever djembe ensemble. ‘The world record attempt was a great success and Bombay’s Big Adventure was enjoyed by all the young performers and the proud parents ZKR FDPH WR ZDWFK WKH VKRZ ¡ VD\V 6XH

‘Producing major events, back to back, requires dedicated team work, and we work closely with teachers, parents and partner organisations to deliver the most innovative, exciting and compelling results. Above all we need to maintain professional standards and to guarantee that every child and young person, no matter what their personal circumstances, feels that they have had an unforgettable and enriching musical experience.’ Portsmouth Music Hub’s mission is to transform young lives through music and cultural engagement. The Hub, which this year jointly won the Music Education Council’s Major Award for Excellence, for the second consecutive year, provides high quality music education and support for children and young people in and around the Portsmouth community. Children are inspired to sing and play a musical instrument and to develop their talent and passion for music through progressive performance pathways. To promote high achievement in young people, Portsmouth Music Hub maintains and develops diverse and enriching partnerships with local and national arts groups, organisations and businesses, ranging IURP WKH %RXUQHPRXWK 6\PSKRQ\ 2UFKHVWUD WR WKH 5R\DO 0DULQHV %DQG 6HUYLFH Reaching more than 10,000 children in 2017 Portsmouth Music Hub’s singing strategy has proven to be one of the highly successful aspects of the Hub’s ongoing work to engage children and young people, and performance pathways are key to this success.

Continued overleaf Ăˆ

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Above: Young performers take part in Portsmouth Music Hub’s Bombay’s Big Adventure All photos courtesy of Portsmouth Music Hub

Each year the Hub produces a range of events, open to the public, from small-scale concerts with performances from developing young Hub choirs, to concerts at major venues with performances from professional bands and the participation of hundreds of local children and young people.

Children, teachers and parents from Portsmouth schools have been learning how to save lives in a unique musical initiative that aims to teach the skills required to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) using music.

This unique initiative is a collaboration between musicians from Portsmouth Music Hub and medical professionals. Working together they 6KH VD\V Âś7KH PDMRU HYHQWV DUH D SHUIHFW RSSRUWXQLW\ have produced an exciting music resource, It’s CPR for Year 3 – 6 students designed to support and for children to get involved. Rehearsals take place enhance the teaching of CPR in schools around at school before the children come together on the country. The musical initiative was created by the day of the concert. What makes these events unforgettable is that every child feels that they have 6XH %HFNHWW DQG 'U &ODUH 0RUGHQ 6HQLRU 5HJLVWUDU in Intensive Care & Emergency Medicine at a role. No one is left out, and there is a real sense of HYHU\RQH FRPLQJ WRJHWKHU IURP GLÍżHUHQW VFKRROV 6RXWKDPSWRQ *HQHUDO +RVSLWDO 6XH H[SODLQV WKH UHDVRQV EHKLQG WKH LQLWLDWLYH IURP GLÍżHUHQW EDFNJURXQGV ZLWK GLÍżHUHQW QHHGV 7KH FKLOGUHQ KDYH D FRPPRQ JRDO WR SURGXFH DQ ‘Every year, in the United Kingdom, approximately amazing performance that they can be proud of.’ SHRSOH VXÍżHU D FDUGLDF DUUHVW ZKLFK UHTXLUHV $V &(2 6XH FRRUGLQDWHV DOO WKH FRQFHUWV undertaken by Portsmouth Music Hub.

Performance pathways remain at the heart of Portsmouth Music Hub’s singing strategy, but the Hub has a talented team of composers, and each year they produce a songbook to support singing in schools. The songbooks have been written VSHFLÀFDOO\ IRU SULPDU\ VFKRRO FKLOGUHQ ZLWK engaging themes ranging from underwater life, to animals, history and the universe. The songbooks are an important teaching tool, used by teachers to encourage children to work together, to develop an ongoing passion for music, and to aid their understanding of the world around them.

In recent months, as part of the Hub’s singing strategy, a new musical initiative has been developed to teach children life-saving skills.

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resuscitation. Only a quarter of the population can perform CPR and even fewer people know ZKHUH WR ÀQG WKHLU QHDUHVW GHÀEULOODWRU RU KRZ WR use it. Teaching children CPR isn’t always easy, there’s a lot of information to absorb, and the purpose of the musical initiative was to support the communication of this information. Our aim was VLPSOH WR PDNH LW IXQ DQG DFFHVVLEOH DQG WR HQDEOH children to be able to save a life.’ More than 4,000 children from Portsmouth schools have learnt CPR songs before they receive training from doctors. With the use of music, beat and rhythm, plus the expertise of medical professionals children learn the skills they will need if someone VXͿHUV D FDUGLDF DUUHVW

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

6RQJV KDYH EHHQ ZULWWHQ DW WKH VSHHG RI beats per minute which is the speed for giving chest compressions whilst carrying out CPR. The aim of the songs is to set the speed of the compressions for the children and to help keep them in time as they perform CPR. During the workshops the songs are used for children to sing whilst practising their compressions. Using songs as an integral part of the CPR training not only reminds the children what to do and keeps them in time, but it also provides energy and focus during the training so that FKLOGUHQ GHYHORS FRQĂ€GHQFH WR SHUIRUP &35

James Eastwood, a student at Portsmouth Music Hub (aged 10) said, ‘It’s amazing to think that I might be able to save someone’s life. The songs have really helped me to learn what to do and keep in time and it was really fun working with the doctors. I am very proud to be a HeartBeatz Hero!’ The initiative will be launched nationally in 6HSWHPEHU ,W LV KRSHG WKDW LW ZLOO EH D cornerstone of a campaign to improve CPR rates of survival around the country.

‘If there was ever a question about how music can change lives then It’s CPR has proven, beyond 6XH VD\V ÂśWKH UHVXOWV RI WKH SLORW SURJUDPPH KDYH GRXEW WKDW PXVLF PDNHV D WDQJLEOH GLÍżHUHQFH WR VKRZQ KRZ HÍżHFWLYH VLQJLQJ LV DV D WRRO IRU DFTXLULQJ HQJDJLQJ DQG LQVSLULQJ \RXQJ PLQGV¡ 6XH VD\V knowledge and understanding. The children learn ‘The goal of the musical initiative is to educate in the songs about CPR before receiving a visit by an exciting, dynamic and creative way, to teach local doctors, and this has enabled the children to important life-saving skills, and to inspire a new DVN TXHVWLRQV FRQĂ€GHQWO\ DQG SXW WKHLU NQRZOHGJH generation. If we can help a child to develop the into practice. Key to the success of the initiative is skills necessary to save a life, then this important our team of vocal leaders who work with children initiative, bringing music and medicine together, and young people on a regular basis. That is why UHDOO\ ZLOO KDYH PDGH D GLÍżHUHQFH ¡ the music composed for It’s CPR has proven to be extremely popular. It’s packed with information Sue Beckett, CEO, Portsmouth Music Hub but the music remains catchy and contemporary, with children singing the songs weeks and months portsmouthmusichub.org after their initial training session with the musicians twitter.com/portsmouthmusicservice and doctors.’

Left: Children, teachers and parents from Portsmouth schools have been learning how to perform CPR using music.

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS We welcome your brief news (max. 150 words) and good photographs. Please email mj@ism.org.

The next deadline for copy is 2 October for November/December issue.

Dr Robert Howard The first of four performances of Dr Robert Howard’s recent choral works took place on 18 May at St Nicholas’ Church, Sutton, St Helens. The Royal School of Church Music’s Liverpool & Isle of Man branch featured Robert’s Jubilate Deo as part of a workshop and act of worship exploring anthems and hymns based on the psalms.

Jubilate Deo was also performed by the 60-strong Prescot Festival Chorus at the 13th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts at Prescot Parish Church, Merseyside.

Above: John Webb Photo: Ken Leanfore / Academy of St Martin in the Fields

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral, a concert was organised on 24 June showcasing a programme of contemporary works by local composers, including Robert’s Jubilate Deo.

John Webb

Gerald Finley honoured

Composer and music educator John Webb won the BASCA composer’s award for the Community or Education Project 2016, for his work Into the Light (written with contributions from 150 children) which he conducted at the Royal Albert Hall with 2,000 KS2 children participating. He also recently travelled to Sydney with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields to lead a composition project with young instrumental players aged 11-18 which ended in a performance on stage at the Sydney Opera House. The project even made the national ABC news!

John’s music for the short animation Roger Ballen’s Theatre of Apparitions was a finalist in this year’s Music and Sound Awards. He’s currently working on music for a community dance, commissioned by the Royal Ballet, for performance in Hull in September.

Canadian bass-baritone, Gerald Finley On 25 June, a revised version of has been appointed a Commander of Robert’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis the Order of the British Empire in the featured as part of Choral Evensong Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017. at Prescot Parish Church on the final A leading singer and dramatic interpreter day of the town’s 10-day music & of his generation, Gerald is famous for arts festival. his many acclaimed performances on Further details about both works, the world’s major opera and concert including score samples and audio stages and for his award-winning recordings can be found on Robert’s recordings on CD and DVD across a website: roberthowardmusic.co.uk broad range of repertoire. He is also passionately committed to both music education and charity work, climbing Stories from Musicland Mount Kilimanjaro for Help Musicians Sue Lake, author of Stories from UK. Gerald’s career is devoted to the Musicland, which introduce very young wide range of vocal art and he regularly children to the written language of collaborates with the greatest orchestras music in a captivating way, has a and conductors of our time. new website where these charming In 2014, he was appointed an Officer of adventures can be purchased as the Order of Canada and was recently e-books, or print copies, and parents featured on a Canadian postage stamp and children can read more about celebrating Canadian Opera and Charlie Crotchet, Minny Minim, #Canada150.

Grandpa Semibreve and the funloving, fast-moving Quentin Quaver. geraldfinley.com

johnwebbcomposer.co.uk

Continued overleaf È

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Right: HRH The Prince of Wales receiving the Welsh Music Guild’s 2017 John Edwards Memorial Award with baritone Jeremy Huw Williams (r) and composer Paul Mealor (l).

Photo: © Huw Evans Agency

Young visitors to the site can comment and ask questions about Musicland via Sue’s blog. There is a free download of the very first story in volume 1, competitions and prizes and lots more to help little ones have a positive, fun first encounter with notation.

Sue wants fellow ISM members to be aware of the new website and use it as a resource for any young pupils aged 3-8 years. storiesfrommusicland.com

Welsh Music Guild Awards Baritone Jeremy Huw Williams recently presented the 2017 Welsh Music Guild Awards.

The John Edwards Memorial Award – the highest award of the Welsh Music Guild – was presented to HRH The Prince of Wales for services to Welsh music. Other award recipients were as follows:

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•

Sir Geraint Evans Award: Joseph Davies, for his significant contribution to Welsh music

•

Glanville Jones Award: Dr Rhiannon Mathias, for her outstanding achievement in music in Wales

•

Joseph Parry Award: Alun Guy, for his exceptional contribution to musical education in Wales

•

•

J Mervyn Williams Award: Michael Garvey, for his contribution to the communication of Welsh music through television and radio production Geraint Stanley Jones Award: Beti George, for her contribution to music communication through broadcasting

Nathan James Dearden received the Paul Mealor Award for Young Composers along with a commission fee to write a song cycle for 2017/18.

Looping Through Time Lizzie Gutteridge is presenting a new show, and album, of live looped Early music. Melodies from the 12th-17th centuries are performed on historical instruments including fiddles, bagpipes, shawms, percussion, recorders, pipe and tabor, curtal and chalumeau, and on a loop station.

Pieces from historical manuscripts are given the lightest of modern makeovers with the aid of live looping equipment. Much of this material lends itself well to the layers and cycles that can be produced using the loop station, and most of the arrangements are based on the premise of ‘what might a person from the period when this tune was written have done with this technology, had

they had the chance?’ There are no special effects and every note of every show is played live on the day.

For live video clips and events diary visit facebook.com/Consortof1

International Directory of Music and Music Education Institutions Graham A R Bartle from Melbourne, Australia writes: ISM members are invited to explore the range of higher music institutions offering programs for post-secondary students in countries around the world. The new online International Directory of Music and Music Education Institutions lists information on over 3,100 such institutions in 225 countries – an expanded version of an earlier edition published in 1968 by UNESCO. Apart from contact details and course content there are 32 searchable special indexes showing where specific programs are offered around the world. These include lists of institutions teaching early music performance, music therapy, wellness for musicians, jazz and contemporary music, sound engineering, music management, orchestral and choral conducting, opera performance, traditional instrument performance, world music, programs for the

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

handicapped, military music academies, institutions for women only, community music training, church and religious music, among others. idmmei.org

Comparing Notes: How We Make Sense of Music Professor Adam Ockelford is pleased to announce the publication of his new book Comparing Notes: How We Make Sense of Music. Drawing on major 20th century theories of music, ranging from Schenker to Bernstein, and four decades of work with children and young people who are on the autism spectrum – including the musical savant Derek Paravicini – Comparing Notes explores how everyone experiences music, from composers and performers to everyday listeners. There is a detailed examination of how music is learnt and how musical skills are acquired, from the early years to adulthood.

There is discussion too of the role of teachers, and the strategies they use. With over 100 musical examples, Comparing Notes will be of interest to anyone who has wondered just how music works, and how it is that abstract patterns of sound – that are meaningless in a literal sense – actually mean so very much to so many people.

Madeleine Mitchell new album released Grace Williams is regarded as Wales’s foremost woman composer.

Renowned violinist Madeleine Mitchell will premiere her violin sonata of 1938 – unperformed and unpublished until now, 40 years after her death – at the first international Women Make Music conference held at Bangor University on 7 September at 11am (free admission, open to the public). Madeleine also performs works by Judith Weir and Sadie Harrison from her forthcoming album,

Violin Muse – seven world premiere recordings of music by established living UK composers. The album, for Divine Art, includes the violin concerto written for her by Guto Puw, works with piano by Michael Nyman, Michael Berkeley, Geoffrey Poole, David Matthews and Sadie Harrison and violin duos by Judith Weir entitled Atlantic Drift.

ISM members are welcome to attend the album launch at the RCM on 25 October, 2-4pm including short performances by Madeleine and discussion with some of the composers. Free but tickets required. madeleinemitchell.com

Obituaries With regret, we report the deaths of: Laurence E H Caller of Harwich Eileen Silcocks of Inverclyde

ISM meeting room We have a fantastic meeting room available for hire at our home at 4–5 Inverness Mews, London W2 3JQ. Members can hire the space at the special members’ rate of £100 for a half day or £190 for the full day. Included in your hire rate is free use of tea and coffee, internet facilities and flat screen TV. The room takes up to 16 people boardroom style, with 25 theatre style.

For further details and bookings, please contact Stephanie Collier at roombooking@ism.org or 020 7313 9321.

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Full members Birmingham Nicholas Foster GRNCM Luke Horobin Julia Rowley BScMusicPsychology Jim Stokoe Mathias Svensson BMusBirm Elizabeth Wrighton BMusBirm

Bournemouth Keith Bartlett GGSM Jennifer M Brookfield BA(CNAA) Dawn Hart BMusBirm Samuel Ryall BAHonsColchester Amy Whittlesea

Brighton Rebecca Shackelford Langley Ginette Nye BAHonsBristol

Bristol George Barlow BAHonsBristol Luke Holman BMusHonsRNCM Angela Morecroft BAHonsOxon Amanda Pring GRSM Allison Rees BAHonSoton

Cambridge Zoe Austin BAHonsExeter Rosalyn Hart GradArtistCertTexas Matilde Pais MAAppliedMusic PsychologyLisbon

Cheltenham Philippa Ginns

Devon & Cornwall Alice Clare Browning BA(Mus)HonsYork Zoe Cartlidge BMusHonsGSMD

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London – North

Manchester

Susan Wyn Bint MA PGCE GMus Kim Hawthorn BMusHonsManch Catherine Lett BMusKent CertAdv Studies(GSMD) Elizabeth Robinson BAHonsDurham Stuart Wheaton BMusHonsSurrey

Elizabeth Bass BMusHonsRCM Mina-Maria Beldimanescu BMusHonsRAM James Brookmyre BMusHonsGSMD Jamie Macrae BMusHonsEdinburghNapier MMusRNCM Elizabeth Marshall BAHonsYork Daniel Paleodimos BMusBIMM Josh Salter BMusHonsRNCM Charlotte Schoeters BMusAcademyofMusicand PerformingArtsTilburg Jane Sebba GGSM LRAM ARCM(PfT) Ayako Yamazaki PGDipRAM BMus

Andrew Davies BMusHonsManch Emily Matthews PGCE GRNCM Andrew Millinchip MAOxon Elin Rees MMusRNCM Jennifer Rust MMusRNCM Mana Shibata BMusHonsRAM

Hull & East Riding Lei Mei Bau MA (Music) Lester Hough BMusHull

Kent Anjeza Shahini Connolly George Neighbour BACommericalMusic Miho Sanou LRAM MMus PGDip BMus

Lancaster Maija Hoggarth BAHonsLeedsMet

Lea Valley Beryl Farr BAHonsColchester Laurence Lyndon-Jones FRCO Nick Rayner BADurham

Leicester Trevor Bartlett BMusHonsRNCM Sarah Crizzle PGCE BMus (Hons) Dominic Dallali BScMusicTech andProduction Clare Jones BMusRoyalHolloway

Lincoln Ellen Rose LLCM(MusTheatreP) Ekatherina Waterfield BAHonsEducation StudiesMusic

Liverpool Gareth Moore PGCE(SecondaryMus) MusBManch Clare Newbould BAHonsLiverpool Donna-Marie Povey

London – South East Felicity Cliffe BMusHonsTrinityLaban Gosia Kuznicki BMus(TCM) MMusCCU Germana La Sorsa MusicandPerfarts UniofSalento Gwenllian Llyr BMusHonsRWCMD Christopher Middleton Khac-Uyen Nguyen PGOrchestralConductingRAM Caleb Sibley BMusTrinityLaban Zoe South BAHonsColchester Oliver Stankiewicz Michael Whight

London – South West Susan Jiwey Gareth John AdvDipOperaPerfRAM MA(Performance) Oles Klok MMusRCS Hayley License BMusHonsBirm Emre Oztek BMus

London – West

Mid-Wales Aeron Preston BAHonsCantab

North of England Miranda Francis DipMusWesternCape Katie Mackay BAHonsYork

North Yorkshire Sarah Garrard Ben Sellers BAHonsSOAS

Nottingham Lauren Greaves BAPopularandWorld MusicLeeds Lesley Holroyd GTCL Joseph Rock BMusBirm Rebecca Thumpston BAYork MAYork PhDKeele

Oxford Rachel Ballard BMusHonsRWCMD

Portsmouth Tamzin Barnett BMusManch

Reading Benjamin Giddens BAHonsEAnglia

Scotland – North East Emma Alexander BMusHonsRNCM Elisabeth Flett BMusHonsGSMD Chris Grant

Kathryn Corrigan MMusRAM Grace Davidson Stephen Raine BAHonsLCM

Continued overleaf È

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www.benslowmusic-ils.org 01462 420748 Registered Charity No. 313755

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Scotland – South East

Suffolk

Leicester

Nottingham

Jemma Aitcheson BMusHonsQUB Laura Comini MAMusic Juliette Deojee-Wood BAWolverhampton Patricia Juliette Philogene BMusHonsRCS

Colin White

Christopher Hill

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire

London – North

Edmund Hunt Alexander Vilkaitis

Scotland – South West Paul Murray BMusAberdeen Yvette Rosie BMusGlas

Sheffield David Burgoyne BAHonsCantab

South Wales Noel Bertram FRSM Laura Deenik BMusHonsRWCMD Michael Graham BAHonsOxon Iona Jones LRAM GGSM Zoe Smith MAOxon Oliver Waterer BMusBirm

Southampton Craig Lawton BASouthampton Benjamin Reid BAMusHons Rosie Woods BAHonSoton

St Albans Philip Aird LWCMD CertAdvStudies(GSMD) Helen Brown BMusHonsGSMD Beth Calderbank BMusHonsRNCM Gareth Holwill BAHonsBristol Margaret Lucy BMusHonsRNCM Sarah Mansfield BAMiddx Hannah Opstad BMusHonsRAM Simon Pearce BMusHonsRWCMD Ruth Seodi GradDipOrchestralPlaying GradDip Anthony Zerillo BADurham

Simon Cliffe BACoventry Alexander Peter Gordon Hart BAHonsComposition Clare Frances Rogers

West Yorkshire Ruth K Nielsen BALeeds Aoife O’Connell BAMusicPerfRoyalIrishAcad

Wiltshire Jane Law BMusHons DipABRSM ARCM Jessica White Pearson BMusHonsBangor

Student members Birmingham

William Ball Joshua Domfeh Nika Goric Deianira Iozzi Adela Sevcikova

London – South East Jacob Bettinelli

London – South West Hannah Crerar James Fisher Jess Wood

London – West James Heron Lily Hope Joyee Jia Jin Ling William Riby Jobine Siekman Svetoslav Todorov

Nicolas Athanasiades Emily Bogiatjis James Burke Ella Lee Anna Olsson Hannah Roberts Louis Stockton Katharina Von Colson

Manchester

Brighton

Rhiannon Harris

Oxford Paul Owen

Portsmouth Owen Jones

South Wales Sioned Evans Grace Farrell

St Albans Tabitha Caroe Holly Shirra Nina Sparks

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Adele Smith

Overseas – Europe Anne Michael Jakub Montewka

Vanessa Hanson-Morris

Friend Overseas

North of England

Wendy Nielsen

Corporate members Gold University of Huddersfield 01484 422 288 hud.ac.uk study@hud.ac.uk Trybooking.co.uk 0333 344 3477 trybooking.co.uk joan@trybooking.co.uk

Silver Tower Hamlets Arts & Music Education Service 020 7364 0431 towerhamletsarts.org.uk music.service@ towerhamlets.gov.uk

Bronze Ensemble Cymru 01248 383257 ensemble.cymru info@ensemblecymru.co.uk

Max Drew-Halkyard

North Wales Kiefer Jones

Norfolk

Kirk McLeod

Channel Islands Natasha Ronayne

Devon & Cornwall Esther Beyer

Eastbourne & Hastings Georgiamae Bromley

Guildford Eleanor German

Kent Samuel Ali BMusRNCM George Needham

Lancaster Lindsay Garvin Abigail Hellam

Lea Valley Alexander Petrov

e Letters after your nam

are automatically As a member of ISM you er your name: MISM aft entitled to use letters SMISM (Student Member (Member of the ISM) or been in continuous of the ISM). If you have or more, you gain rs membership for 15 yea tus. Download the sta ) FISM (Fellow of the ISM members’ area of appropriate logo from the ur website, personal our website to add to yo g materials. stationery and marketin e member logo.

We also have a corporat ld, silver or bronze If you are a platinum, go uld like to display wo corporate member and in your publications, or the logo on your website 0 7221 3499 or please contact us on 02 membership@ism.org.

29

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

NEWS FROM OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS We welcome your brief news (max. 200 words for Platinum and Gold members, max. 150 words for Silver members) and good photographs. Please email mj@ism.org. The next deadline for copy is 2 October for November/December issue.

The Schools Music Association (part of the ISM) The Schools Music Association (SMA) Awards scheme for school choirs, orchestras and ensembles has now been in operation for almost 10 years.

It offers those who enter a chance to receive an in-depth adjudication of their performances (far more detailed than is generally possible in a Festival situation) and is a measure of how a particular band, choir, orchestra or ensemble is achieving nationally rather than locally only.

The adjudicating panel is made up of members of the SMA Steering Group, with occasional outside consultants brought in for particular specialisms.

The comments of the individual adjudicators are drawn together by Douglas Coombes who chairs the panel and marks are averaged out to determine the category of award. So far the highest award has been ‘gold’ – ‘diamond’ being the highest possible.

Only one entry has been assessed as ‘copper’ the lowest grade. The majority of entries are in the ‘bronze’ range with the next level, ‘silver’, coming in a close second in terms of numbers achieving these grades.

The SMA Awards scheme is nonprofit making, the entry fee (£15 for ISM and ISM-SMA members or £18 for non-members) simply covering administrative costs, as the judges donate their time in offering their comments and suggestions.

An entry form can be found at: ism.org/sma-music-awards

London College of Music In late April LCM’s BA Musical Theatre students presented A Little Night Music, Sondheim’s award-winning

take on Bergman’s comedy of manners. Hard on its heels came Bat Boy: the Musical, Laurence O’Keefe’s rock score and lyrics based on the book

by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming.

On 5 April LCM presented Expo 17, a triumphant sequel to last year’s ground-breaking event. On 17 May, Graduate Summer Showcase featured film music by rising LCM star Zane Veremeja, plus orchestral music from LCM Camerata under the baton of lecturer Simon Rigby. Hannah Smith and Francesca Louise Fairclough shone as vocalists, the latter showcasing pop ballad material from her debut EP release. LCM Big Band included music by alumnus Paul Edis, fast becoming the most talked-about jazz ensemble leader and composer in the North East.

Professor Francis Pott’s choral/ orchestral Cantus Maris received its world premiere on 1 May in the Royal Festival Hall, featuring the London Chorus, Vivace Chorus and Philharmonia Orchestra. In April/May the Murasaki Duo performed Professor David Osbon’s Cello Sonata in the USA, then on tour in Israel and Europe.

Performances of his Violin Concerto and Nelson Overture took place in New Jersey and Maryland and his 3 Songs (saxophone and piano) were toured across Pennsylvania.

University of Huddersfield Music and Music Technology at the University of Huddersfield has recently updated its existing range of innovative undergraduate courses to reflect the needs and interests of today’s modern musicians. There’s a whole suite of courses which range from the creative or technical, to analytical or historical, plus there’s the vocational Secondary Music Education

BA(Hons) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). They offer the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of interest – whether that be composing for video or film, exploring a particular area of musical history, gaining the tools to become music and audio technology engineer, or for a career as a classical or popular musician.

Courses available for September 2018 entry: • • • • • • • • • •

Audio Engineering BSc(Hons) Creative Music Production BA(Hons) Music BMus(Hons) Music Performance BMus(Hons) Music and Sound for Image BA(Hons) Music Technology and Audio Systems BSc(Hons) Popular Music BMus(Hons) Sonic Arts and Composition BMus(Hons) Sound Engineering and Music Production BSc(Hons) Secondary Music Education BA(Hons) with QTS

To find out more visit the University’s Open Day on Saturday 16 September.

Concerts from Scratch/ The Really Big Chorus Marianne Barton writes: The 2016–17 season culminated in August with our fourth Summer School, presenting The Dream of Gerontius in Coventry Cathedral. In October, Brian Kay directs Haydn’s Nelson Mass in Riga; the 13th-century cathedral will also echo to Sing!, Sir David Willcocks’s choral arrangement of Widor’s Toccata, written for TRBC in 1999 and given its Latvian premiere this year with Andrew Parnell as soloist.

Our fifth award-winning Scratch® Youth Messiah directed by Ben Parry takes place Sunday 12 November Continued overleaf È

31

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

We are very grateful to all our corporate members for their support.

PLATINUM CORPORATE MEMBERS

ABRSM

GOLD CORPORATE MEMBERS

NMC Recordings

ALFA Education Ltd Birmingham Conservatoire Classic FM

Bath and North East Somerset Music Hub Goldsmiths, University of London Kawai

Lark Insurance

Leeds College of Music London College of Music

Make Music Swindon

at the Royal Albert Hall (2pm).

Showcasing 1,500 young singers from across the UK it’s an ideal event to introduce children or pupils to Messiah: afternoon performance; shorter concert; young performers; generous price concessions. Children 3–15 pay half price, plus family tickets (two adults/two children, bookable only by phone or in person). Tickets, also for Messiah from Scratch® the same evening, from the RAH Box Office (by phone, online or in person). trbc.co.uk

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Park Lane Group

Drums for Schools Impulse Music Consultants Len Rhodes Music

Rhinegold Publishing

Music Mark

The Royal Central School Of Speech & Drama

Oxford University Press

National Preparatory School Orchestras Paritor Ltd Portsmouth Music Hub

The Royal Philharmonic Society

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Trybooking.co.uk

Trinity College London University of Huddersfield Wigmore Hall Victoria College Exams Voice Workshop

For further information about our different levels of corporate membership and a full list of over 160 corporate members, Yamaha Music Europe visit ism.org

Impulse Music Consultants Geraldine Allen writes: Living with uncertainty is challenging at the best of times and even more so for musicians, which means the ISM’s #FreeMoveCreate campaign has an important role to play in conveying to the post-Brexit legislators the necessity for creative artists to be able to travel across international borders quickly and smoothly.

At Impulse we are advocating to all our clients and suppliers to support the campaign and make the collective voice of musicians heard, particularly as our online shop, tutti.co.uk, sells musical products for composers,

performers, publishers and record labels from Canada to Germany, Russia to Japan and South Africa to the USA. We are proud of how widely we are able to source our titles and of course, with these connections, buyers from across the globe are drawn in to browse our content. During the month of July alone, orders were despatched to USA, Australia, Italy, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Czech Republic, Japan and Honolulu (that was a first!).

We are keen to help ISM members maximise their opportunities for distribution of their music and always happy to hear from anyone who

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Right: Reflective Conservatoire Conference 2015 Photo: Sarah Hickson

would like to know more about what we can do for them. Call us on 01760 441448 and don’t forget to support #FreeMoveCreate. impulse-music.co.uk tutti.co.uk

Guildhall School The Guildhall School has appointed Matthew Jones as Head of Chamber Music, commencing in September 2017. He has been Acting Head of Chamber Music since January 2016.

The Keyboard Department welcomes pianist and Guildhall alumna Sa Chen as Associate Artist, while the Vocal Department welcomes three new Professors of Voice: Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone); Stephan Loges (baritone); and Ruby Philogene (mezzo-soprano). In the Wind, Brass and Percussion Department, Nick Betts joins as Professor of Trumpet, and Nico Fleury as Professor of Horn.

Right: Gillyanne Kayes

The 5th international Reflective Conservatoire Conference, Artists as Citizens, takes place at the Guildhall School and Barbican Centre on 20-23 February 2018. It considers how artists, arts organisations, and higher education institutions, can and are already engaging with artistic citizenship within contemporary societies. The earlybird full conference rate is £325 until 20 November 2017 via gsmd.ac.uk/rcc. Day rates and student discounts also available.

there was much interest in Gillyanne’s latest thinking on the subject.

Our next AOTOS Autumn Conference – Text, Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Action, Imagination takes place at St Paul’s Girls’ School, Hammersmith, London on 29 October 2017.

Go to aotos.org.uk for further details and to book.

Association of Teachers of Singing Nicola-Jane Kemp writes: Our annual residential Summer Conference Action and interaction! – took place at Wills Hall, Bristol University in July. Over 80 delegates from all over the UK attended our three-day event which included a wide range of talks. It was our keynote speaker however, who generated the most interest. Gillyanne Kayes (Vocal Process) spoke on After Estill: a conversation we need to have.

The influence around the world of Jo Estill’s research and vocal method has been very great, and as an early teaching practitioner of her method,

lenrhodesmusic.com lenrhodesmusic.com has an established music catalogue of keyboard arrangements including piano solos, piano duets, and piano trio (for six hands) as well as organ solos. Also available are unique arrangements for strings, woodwind, brass, contemporary hymn tunes, choir, and ensemble.

For specific occasions there are many arrangements of music for weddings, funerals and memorials; Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

Len Rhodes was recently granted worldwide arrangement rights transcribing Reconciliation from Ralph Vaughan William’s Dona Nobis Pacem for piano solo; renewing a relationship with the Vaughan Williams Estate following work he did in the 70’s for Ursula Vaughan Williams. Len has been commissioned by BBC Radio, The Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Kennedy Center-Washington DC, The Edinburgh International Festival and Trinity College London. More recent credits include Stage West Canada, and the Janis Joplin Family and Estate.

Music reference books include Perfect Pitch for You, Teaching Composition in the Private Music Studio, A New Dictionary of Composers; also ‘Free Stuff’ including How to Remember Key Signatures, Composition – Twenty Ideas to Get Started, The Beatles: Song Titles and Albums, and manuscript paper – everything available for instant download.

ISM members receive a 15% discount – type ‘ISM2017’ – at check out.

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ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS Full listings can be found on our website: ism.org

Sunday 8 October

Sunday 12 November

North London Annual Dinner

North London Pupils’ Concert

7pm, Genzo Restaurant, 212-216 High Road, East Finchley, N2 9AY Members are invited to our Annual Dinner to network, make connections with like-minded musicians and to meet the committee members who represent your interests in North London.

Partners and friends are welcome too!

Cost: £23 per person for a three course dinner including wine.

Contact: Judith Sheridan, 01525 222131 judithclaresheridan@gmail.com

2.30pm, The Cooper Hall, Hall School, 3 Crossfield Road, NW3 4NU Members are invited to put forward pupils to play or sing. Both children and adults are welcome to perform, whether individually, in duets, or in larger ensembles. An accompanist will be provided if required but must be requested in advance.

Cost: £5 adults, £2 children. There is no charge for performers and teachers presenting pupils.

Contact: Sara Medina, 020 8883 2082

We are currently looking for members to act as ISM Representatives for the following local groups: Croydon, Bristol, South West London This opportunity is perfectly suited to members who enjoy planning or organising events and meeting other members in their local area.

For more information or an application form please call 020 7313 9323 or email membership@ism.org.

ISM/MMA JOINT MEMBERSHIP OFFER FOR MUSIC TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS Be a member of the ISM and the MMA and get up to 25% off the cost of both memberships – call 020 7313 9316 or email membership@ism.org

Classified advertising PROOFREADER AND COPY-EDITOR. Vanessa Richards MA, PGCE, MISM offers a professional proofreading service for dissertations, websites, music compositions etc. Fully trained and a member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. www.vanessa-richards. com info@vanessarichards.com

TAX AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES. Tax and accounting noise interfering with your melody? Then let us help you tweak the tune of your song. At PAC, we are Specialist accountants on property business, ANXIOUS ABOUT company’s year-end PERFORMING? Worried accounts, tax planning about exams? Don’t feel and advice. Whatever like you can cope with the your tax music, you can pressures of teaching? rely on us to change your FULL SIZE GERMAN CELLO Hypnotherapy can help. melodic contour – for the available in Kent. Very Please call Jan to arrange better. For no obligation good condition. Further your free confidential advice, call 02036575696 details Tel: 01474 873785. Initial Consultation. 01793 or email team@ 331450. 0750 1066 717. practicaladvice SQUARE PIANO by Goulding Phipps & MUSIC COPYING SERVICE. consulting.co.uk. Visit us on www.practicaladvice Dalmain for sale, c.1800. Quality printed music consulting.co.uk Comprehensively restored produced at reasonable in 1989, requires some prices. For further details MUSIC IN THE SUN, additional adjustments. contact David Turner, Residential courses in Located in Cheltenham, computer based music SW France for teachers or contact Elizabeth on copyist, at 23 Overbrook, their pupils. Also available 07894633486 for Hythe, Southampton for private hire. More info more details.

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How to Book: Please send advertisement copy with payment (cheques payable to the ‘Incorporated Society of Musicians’ or T: 020 7221 3499 with credit card details) to the ISM, 4–5 Inverness Mews, London W2 3JQ or email mj@ism.org by 2 October for November/December issue.

HARP, 47 string concert grand, Swanson SemiGilded Empire, built 1998. Beautiful tone and excellent condition. With Paxman travel covers and harp trolley. £13000 ono.

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JAMES HEWITT COMPOSITIONS, including Ave Maria (unaccompanied choir), Fragmentations (violin, clarinet, piano), the solo violin virtuoso pieces Chaconne and Bulgarian Etude and more, are available on tutti.co.uk.

Further details: www. jameshewittmusic.co.uk

Private and Trade 50p per word, minimum £5.

Advertisements from ISM members are half-price (ie, 25p per word, minimum £2.50). Name, address and contact details must be paid for if included. Box numbers £2 extra. Prices include VAT. A series of six or more identical insertions qualifies for 10% discount.

FRENCH HORNS, Several from £150. 01747 828552 VARIOUS BRASS, WOODWIND & STRINGED instruments for sale and/or rental. Tel: 07974 412269.

STUDENT CELLOS, mostly German, various sizes, from £100. Tel. 07974 412269 SPINNET WITTMAYER (German) 4 octaves, C-D, light walnut. VGC needs tuning, hence £495 for a quick sale. Tel 07974 412269

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PROOF READING: Dissertations, essays etc. Musical subjects a specialty. Contact 0208 COR ANGLAIS: B&H. 288 1380 or mjregan47@ Blackwood, Conservatoire, mail.com Low E, Serviced. £1095 ONO. 07974 412269 NEW EARLY KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS for sale.

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Excellent condition cost £3k plus in 1997, £995 BASSOONS several. 07974 ONO 01747 828552 412269

New from Winter 2017

LCM Popular Music Vocals syllabus and handbooks The syllabus has been revamped and modernised to improve our already popular exams, accompanied by a set of new handbooks including all the material you need for your exam, plus supporting audio downloads.

Visit LCME.uwl.ac.uk for further information The cover artwork, by artist Kevin Umaña, was inspired directly by the music in the books and was commissioned especially by the London College of Music.

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LONDON COLLEGE OF MUSIC

years 1887-2017

Text, rhythm, melody, harmony, action and imagination

VOICE TRIALS for boys aged 7 & 8 11th November 2017

Autumn Conference

Speakers include

St Paul’s Girls’ School, London

David Anthony Vinden Niamh McGuckin Sue Anderson Nicola Harrison & Alan Watson

Sunday 29 October Enquiries are welcome at any time

Substantial scholarships are awarded and choristerrs benefit from an all-round excellen nt education at St Edmund’s School Canterbury.

The Master of Choristers, David Flood, is always pleased to meet and advise parents and their sons.

For further details please telephone

01227 865242 davvidf@canterbury-cathedral.org

More details at @No1Cathedral

www.aotos.org.uk Registered charity 296850

ISM MUSIC JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Ask me a question Bushra El-Turk Composer

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in London to Lebanese parents who fled the civil war.

They encouraged me to take up musical instruments at school. All I wanted to do was improvise and write my own music.

One day, on 2 January 2000, a little black bird twittered a rhythm repeatedly on my balcony, which dictated the rest of my life – as a composer. The rest is history.

What would you say is your greatest achievement to date?

Not sure what my greatest is, but my latest is writing the opera, Woman at Point Zero, for the Royal Opera House/Shubbak Festival and finishing my PhD all while being a new mum recently.

Who is your all-time favourite artist and why?

I’ve never been able to think in superlatives when I’ve had quite a few influences and have been lucky enough to meet and work with many of them. However, I would like to put the late Indian sarangi player Dhruba Ghosh (who died in July 2017) on a pedestal for his musical depth and inspiring philosophical insights that have always made me leave his talks, concerts or conversations as if I have had a very long holiday.

What was the last CD/music download that you purchased?

The last musical thing I purchased was The Best of the 1930s album.

What are your plans for the future?

a Photo: Emile Holb

Who (or what) has most influenced you and your career?

I look to Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet whose sayings inspire the way I strive to make music. For example, On Marriage, he says, ‘let there be spaces in your togetherness … for the pillars of the temple stand apart’ which has influenced me in the way I notate my music for musicians of different traditions; to allow space for the musicians in that space to flourish. I sow the seeds and, in the right conditions, they will grow.

I will premiere Woman at Point Zero in its entirety. I have been commissioned

by Enno Poppe’s Ensemble Mosaik and European-Egyptian Contemporary Music Society to write a piece for Arabic instrument and ensemble in Berlin, amongst other projects.

Finally, what is your ISM membership to you?

My ISM is like an older brother or sister.

It’s personal. I feel listened to. I have felt supported on many different levels of my career. bushraelturk.com

Recommend a friend and get £10 off your membership Tell your musician friends and colleagues about the ISM and encourage them to become part of our thriving community of music professionals. We’ll give you £10 off your next year’s membership fee every time someone you recommend joins the ISM as a full member (includes graduate rate membership).

£10

Off

Membe

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Simply email membership@ism.org with the name and email address of the friend(s) you are recommending and ask them to use promo code ISM12HF when joining. If they join at the full rate we’ll give them £10 off their membership fee too.

If you’d prefer to receive a £10 voucher for iTunes, Amazon, or M&S, or donate your £10 reward to the ISM Trust or the ISM Members Fund, just let us know in your email and we’ll organise it.

Please note: the number of rewards you can redeem is limited to the value of your subscription upon renewal.

36

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