Lines & Spaces June 2024

LINES & SPACES

Introducing:

F R O M T H E

H E A D T E A C H E R ’ S

ion of Lines and Spaces Since the last edition ur Christmas and Spring Concerts. I very us at one or both of those very special events

have been involved in a wide range of Lord Clyde Concerto Competition – now a lic, and a pupil led concert entitled Harmony have worked in collaboration with a number enedetti Foundation Sessions in Aberdeen, an cert and an SCO side-by-side project in which gside SCO players and young players from City ouncils, culminating in concerts in the

Usher Hall and the City Halls, Glasgow.

In this edition we introduce our new Head of Voice, Kate Aitken, who describes the new vocal programmes being offered here from September ‘24, we report on the Spring Cathedral Choir tour of

Dresden and Leipzig, we describe the two fabulous Lower Brass Days held in Edinburgh and Elgin back in February, Head of School India Reilly reflects on her time at St Mary’s Music School,

and we view a selection of artwork created by our pupils during the 2023-2024 session.

ind plenty to interest you within these pages see you at one of our forthcoming Summer etails are on the back cover and on the School

KENNETH TAYLOR HEADTEACHER

I N T R O D U C I N G

K A T E A I T K E N

h e a d o f v o i c e .

Having graduated from both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy Music, Kate has spent the last nine years working as a professional opera singer. After completing her formal education, Kate went on to become a member of Studio Opera de Lyon, France, where she discovered a love for French repertoire and learnt to speak the language fluently She is also a Samling Artist

Kate joined St Mary’s Music School in August 2022 as Music Department Manager and has recently been appointed as ‘Head of Voice’, leading the newly launched Vocal Programmes starting in September 2024. Kate identified the opportunity for a tailored vocal programme following her own experience as a trainee singer

In an interview with music journalist Keith Bruce she said “ Fabulous singing lessons don’t necessarily make fabulous singers, because they don’t prepare you for going on to a conservatoire. I spent the first years of my undergraduate studies trying to work out how you take criticism in public without it destroying your confidence

My English counterparts had constantly been singing in front of other people, doing lots of masterclasses and performance classes. By comparison my singing lessons with one person in one room were very safe.

Thereissuchan advantageinfeeling confidentthatyouhave alltheskills,andwhat weweren’toffering herewasthefull packagefora youngsinger,so that’swhatwe’re building.

Ifeelsoprivileged tobepartofit.It's anexcitingtimefor youngsingersin Scotland."

In her new role at St Mary’s Music School, Kate hopes to bring her musical and professional experiences to the next generation of artists so they can emerge into the industry with all the tools they need to succeed.

C H O I R T O U R

b y

R o s e D u f f y ( S 1 )

The 2024 choir trip to Germany was one of the best experiences of my life! I really enjoyed the travelling and by the time we got off the first plane, I had conquered my fear of flying. The next day started with a tour of Dresden, and then we got down to business. We participated in a service at Kreuzkirche, one of my two favourite churches, and then performed our first concert (my favourite one) in Loschwitzerkirche.

The second day, we had a concert in Radebeul on the way to Leipzig, and when we got to Leipzig, we finally got to sing in the beautiful Nikolaikirche, where Bach famously played the organ. It was the most beautiful church, and the echo made our voices sound amazing. Next morning, we visited a monument called the Volkerschlachtdenkmal (Battle of the Nations). It was absolutely massive, and created a wonderful effect with our voices because of the twelve second echo! After singing, we climbed over 300 steps to get to the top, where we were awarded with a stunning view.

That day, we also went to the Mendelssohnhaus, where I had fun conducting a virtual choir. After a service in the organ loft of Thomaskirche, and dinner in Leipzig's most famous restaurant, our last full day was over. We all enjoyed some shopping on the last morning, before all the travelling began once more. The night sky looked so cool from the plane, and I even managed to spot what looked like a constellation.

Eventually, to the disappointment of some choristers (including me) we arrived at Edinburgh Airport and our trip came to an end.

L O W E R

B R A S S D A Y S .

F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 4

St Mary's Music School joined forces with leading UK Brass professionals to raise the profile of sometimes neglected brass instruments. These instruments currently face challenges due to associated costs and declining interest The School aimed to reignite excitement and provide children with the opportunity to work with some of the best tutors in the industry for a day.

We welcomed Jonathan Gawn, John Kenny, Arlene Macfarlane, Oren Marshall, Danielle Price, Martin Lee Thomson and Emily White for an activity filled two days in Edinburgh (The Parish Church of St Cuthbert) and Elgin (Elgin Academy).

This celebration, raising the profile of trombone, euphonium, tenor and baritone horn, and tuba playing, marked the launch of phase two of the St Mary’s Music School Instrument Library project, demonstrating the School's commitment to making music accessible to all

The success of the Lower Brass Days was measured through participant attendance. In Edinburgh we had 36 young musicians taking part with a further 29 observers In Elgin, we had 26 participants with 21 observers. We received very positive feedback, and increased queries about future masterclasses. The event not only enhanced the visibility of St Mary's Music School but also inspired pupils and parents, creating enthusiasm for lower brass instruments. Two attendees participated in our next Instrumental Taster Day as a direct result of the Lower Brass Days.

TESTIMONIALS:

"My daughter had a great day in Elgin with her trombone Thank you to everyone involved and to those who organised the event." – A Parent

"Absolutely super experience, my daughter loved it! Thanks so much to everyone involved in making it happen!" – A Parent

“We really enjoyed the day - thank you so much! It’s a great opportunity for everyone. We did feel a little apprehensive having never attended anything like this before but everyone was welcoming.” - A Participant

L O W E R B R A S S D A Y S .

I

T I M E T O S A Y

G O O D B Y E .

As my time at St Mary’s Music School comes to an end, I have been reflecting on what a life-changing step it has been in my musical journey. My education here has prepared me to pursue a career as a violinist, by providing such intensive training and invaluable educational experiences

Multiple hours of lessons and coaching per week have allowed me to build up a diverse repertoire, and just as important is the vast experience I have gained in ensemble playing. Masterclasses with leading professional musicians and performance opportunities alongside professionals have been endlessly helpful and enjoyable.

St. Mary’s has given me every advantage to be the best musician I can be, and has given me the tools to achieve my goals. I was supported every step of the way in earning a place in the National Youth Orchestra, and then a few years later at the Royal College of Music.

In my final year at school I have really enjoyed being Head of School, as it’s been the perfect chance for me to give back to the place that has

given me so much I want to thank all the

teachers, staff, and fellow pupils I have worked with, for showing me what’s possible

I am so excited for my next steps, but I will always feel a part of St Mary’s and will never forget what it has done for me.

T I M E T O S A Y

G O O D B Y E

Farewell to our S6 and S6+ pupils India, Oli, Alexander, Finn, Victor, Merryn, Liam, Josh, Tom and Harris.

We wish you all well with your future.

W H A T ’ S T H E

S

C O R E ? .08

In partnership with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO), City of Edinburgh Council

Instrumental Music Service and Glasgow

CREATE, our pupils and staff took part in the new SCO Academy programme. The programme provided an opportunity for young musicians to rehearse over two weekends and perform at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh and City Halls, Glasgow, side-by-side with the Orchestra under the guidance of SCO musicians, St Mary’s Music School tutors and esteemed conductor Andrew Manze, in a performance of composer Vaughan Williams’ Concerto Grosso

Their performance was part of SCO’s 23/24 Concert Season, in which Manze led a programme of Vaughan Williams’ music. Concerto Grosso is a 14-minute piece in five movements which is composed for all skill levels. The orchestra is divided into three sections based on proficiency: Concertino (Advanced), Tutti (Intermediate), and Ad Lib (Novice, open strings only).

Celebrity Six Interview

Pupils India (S6), Niamh (S6), Merryn (S6Ext, Freddy (S4), and Alexander (S6) joined the Concertino section, whilst Joshua (S6Ext), William (S4), Sandy (S2) and Paul (S2) acted as peer mentors for the Ad Lib Orchestra Our String Staff were tutors for the Ad Lib orchestra

This was a fantastic project to be part of with spectacular performances from all involved.

Our pupils had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew Manze, Conductor and Violinist, for our latest Celebirty Six interview Andrew conducted the recent SCO side by side performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Sharing insights, stories and advice, the latest episode of Celebrity Six is now available to stream from the School podcast, The Blue Door on Spotify.

ChristopherBowen

ChristopherBowen

W H A T ’ S T H E

C O R E ?

After the curtailment of our ambitions to move to the former Royal High School site on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill, we have been reconsidering the long term plans to develop and upgrade the School’s facilities.

The School’s Directors and I have been exploring two possible options: firstly, developing and upgrading our current site at Coates Hall in Edinburgh’s West End, and secondly, a new building at a site at Edinburgh Park on the western edge of the city.

We undertook a detailed reassessment of the School’s accommodation requirements and engaged Richard Murphy Architects (RMA) to design plans for both sites. RMA produced two outstanding sets of plans which incorporate a much needed rehearsal hall for ensembles, a state of the art recording suite, and acoustically advanced practice facilities. Currently, we are examining the options in conjunction with our key donors and supporters with a view to determining our preferred option. Preliminary costings indicate that we will have to embark upon a major fundraising campaign, to which we are also giving much thought.

We anticipate completing the deliberations within the next few weeks, following which we will share with you details of the preferred option, the expected timescales, and the funding which we will be looking to raise.

John Reid Interim CEO

A Y E A R I N A R T

A r t t e a c h e r , M r s K a t e G o r d o n - S h e d d a n

s h a r e s s o m e p i e c e s c r e a t e d b y o u r p u p i l s

t h r o u g h o u t s e s s i o n 2

O

U R C I R C L E

O F P A T R O N S

We are delighted to launch the St Mary’s Music School Circle of Patrons, a new way for music enthusiasts and philanthropists to support the School and empower the next generation of professional musicians.

Our Patrons are an enlightened circle of philanthropists who share our passion for music and for supporting the musicians of tomorrow. Patrons make an annual donation of £1,000 or more to the School and enjoy a programme of bespoke Patron events, offering unique opportunities to meet and hear our pupils, alumni and staff perform and to gain insight into the life of the School.

It is thanks to the support of our Patrons that the School is able to provide the very highest calibre of music teaching to our talented young pupils and offer such a diverse range of musical experiences and performance opportunities.

If you are passionate about music then help us to nurture and celebrate our young musicians by becoming a Patron of St Mary’s Music School.

To find out more, please visit the School’s website at www stmarysmusicschool co uk/patrons, scan the QR code or get in touch with Caroline Libberton, Development Manager on 0131 538 7766 or at clibberton@smms.uk

Coates Hall

25 Grosvenor Crescent

Edinburgh EH12 5EL

www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk

info@smms uk

+44 (0) 131 538 7766

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

St Mary’s Music School

Virtual Open Morning/ Instrumental Taster Day 06 October 2024

St Mary’s Music School

Vocal Taster Day 27 October 2024

The Parish Church of St Cuthbert Christmas Concert 16 December 2024

St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Be a Chorister Afternoon 28 February 2025

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All images by Nicola Dove unless otherwise stated All images and text © of St Mary’s Music School 2023 Programme printed by Out of Hand Scotland