BEHIND THE MUSIC - ISSUE 5 - Featuring Nicola Benedetti - Lark Music
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ISSUE 5
B E H I N D THE M USIC
Featuring Nicola Benedetti
larkinsurance.co.uk What’s Inside Cover Story 12-15 4-5 Nicola Benedetti at 30 I had to be tough She has no wish for lavish gifts on her 30th birthday but Lyric baritone Sir Thomas Allen has natural Nicola Benedetti expresses her desire to fathom a way to talent and shares his craft by encouraging formalise her education work young opera hopefuls 26-29 22-25 Land of legends It was serendipity The Gower Festival goes from strength to strength, thanks Annette Isserlis put her heart and soul into to a music-loving team led by Artistic Director Gordon arranging the posthumous birthday concert in Back who has been attracting top musicians to the idyllic honour of Francis Baines – and she planned it peninsula in south-west Wales in her personal woodland
Welcome
I
t is fascinating to discover what goes on behind
the scenes in the world of top-class music and
inside this issue of LARKmusic I hope you will enjoy
reading the exclusive features which capture our
interviewees’ passion and incredible drive for perfection.
The Lark team has been enjoying some wonderful music,
attending events from the Francis Baines’ centenary
concert to recitals at the Royal College of Music, the
Suffolk schools’ Celebration at Snape Maltings and this
summer’s Gower Festival – meeting clients and making
new friends along the way. Read on for the full stories!
Back in the office, it’s been busy with a focus on improving
our insurance products and online service so I am
pleased to introduce our new Public Liability Cover, as well
as highlighting our new quote and buy portal which will
make buying insurance cover online even more convenient.
Please turn to pages 8-9 for details.
Looking ahead, I’m also delighted to confirm that Lark will be
joining London Sinfonietta’s 50th birthday celebrations in 2018
and we will continue to support the Endellion String Quartet
as they mark their 40th anniversary. Both fantastic milestones!
Gemma Deavall
Divisional Director
gemma.deavall@larkinsurance.co.uk
ARTICLES
20-21
Musical Notes
Private Client Director Julie
Webb shares her news and
travels; meeting clients,
musicians and singers
while attending events and
concerts across the UK
6-7, 30
16-19 Out & About
Isabella Valentini has been
Radio One at 50. supporting the young violin
makers’ competition in
Broadcaster ‘Diddy’ David Hamilton presented the Radio One Prague and the Suffolk
afternoon show during its heyday in the 1970s and helped schools’ music makers
many bands get their foot on the ladder to fame during the Celebration at 30
larkinsurance.co.uk
Nicola Benedetti inspires students during a Music in Secondary Schools Trust programme Picture: Benjamin Ealovega
I want to formalise
my education work
Classical violinist Nicola Benedetti has been teaching since she
was a teenager and now, as she turns 30, she tells journalist
Lesley Bellew about her plans to ‘bring everything together’
I
f there’s one thing that Nicola “It has always been quite natural for growing willingness to work together,
Benedetti would like to do to me to teach and give masterclasses; it to develop the level of music tuition,
mark her 30th birthday it is to is something I have always been quite collectively, and re-address how we
formalise her education work. drawn to, perhaps without identifying define our belief in the need for the
it. Am I evangelical? I suppose so! creative arts, and send this message
Nicola, who was 30 in July, has been
“When you love the music so much, out more confidently.
going into schools to teach pupils
since she was 15 but has decided you want to make sure other people “I’m more energised, inspired and
she wants ‘to get everything more have the chance to experience the uplifted than ever. I always want
organised’. music, too – so it is out there for to be extremely enthusiastic so the
everyone.” enthusiasm is powerful enough to be
She said: “I do so many things so it
Nicola, who attended the Yehudi infectious and alert others to the idea
would be good to bring everything
Menuhin School, was awarded an OBE of loving this music.
together, formalise the education
work and link everything to in 2003 and the Queen’s Medal for “Doing something musical and
give it more structure – to offer Music in May 2017, collaborates with creative in schools has such far-
greater quality music and creative a diverse range of teachers, musicians,
reaching benefits, besides the fact
experiences for as many children as charities and music organisations.
that it should be incredibly enjoyable
possible. She said: “Many of us feel moved by a for young people.
4
LARKmusic
Nicola, who was born in West very beginning – that’s what I do.
Kilbride, Scotland, and started to
“With some violin concertos the
play the violin at the age of four, said:
pieces can be so large, and so
“Classical music has a beauty and
complex, that at first they seem like CONCERT DATES
complexity, as well as a creativity
an impossible task but if you keep on 2017-18
and most wonderful sound. It is
going you can get there.
always interesting to me, especially
with young kids, that if you put on a “There’s no way to speed up that Aug 25 Gstaad Menuhin
piece of Stravinsky or Beethoven in process so I always say be focused, Festival, Mozart VC3 with Santa
front of them, generally speaking learn well and keep going until it Cecilia and Antonio Pappano
they react in an extreme way. solidifies – don’t worry about the Sept 5 RSNO, Elgar VC, Peter
“Children are not in that mental initial stages being messy! Oundjan: Dundee (Sept 6
space where they have any prejudice Edinburgh and Sept 7 Glasgow)
“Because I do a lot of masterclasses I
so they hear the music for what it Sept 23-24 Bremen Phil,
do try to think about my own journey
is, which is a fantastic sound. It’s Brahms Double with Leonard
and playing style because you go
something they can listen to and feel Elschenbroich
through so much information if you
something. are seriously studying an instrument Oct 27 & 29 San Diego
like the violin. Symphony with Cristian
“The music is dramatic and diverse, Macelaru: Wynton Marsalis VC
much more so than pop music “There’s a lot of opposing information Nov 2-4 Philadelphia Orchestra
which is far more, well, let’s say with people telling you to do this and with Cristian Macelaru: Wynton
homogenised. that – use your body, follow your Marsalis VC
“I just wish there was a whole bunch instinct, don’t move too much or Dec 2-3 New World Symphony
of music pieces that children get to you’ll disturb the band … there are with James Gaffigan:
hear when they are four or five years so many ridiculous notions and it is a Szymanowski VC
old – in my experience when they tricky thing to balance! Jan 8, 19-21, 2018
are exposed to music at that age they Dallas Symphony with Donald
“I often just try to present
react very strongly. Runnicles: Beethoven VC
the students or audience with
“That’s my goal at 30 – I really do information but also aim to get Feb 3-21 OAE UK and North
not have a personal goal. I’ve never them into a mental space of trusting America tour with Marin Alsop:
had the ambition to live here or own themselves and their own creative Beethoven VC and Mozart VC5.
something particular – in fact, I’ve way to work something out to sound Concerts in Oxford, London,
never had that sort of feeling, it’s better and develop their own style. Birmingham, Basingstoke,
strange. Saffron Walden, Santa Barbara,
“We are ourselves and we can’t Oakland, Rochester, San
“I would also like to become more get away from it – so embrace the Francisco, Ottawa
comfortable with myself, more element that’s in-built. Embrace and
humble in the process and develop as be far more experimental to find
a person and a violinist.” Visit nicolabenedetti.co.uk
deeper individuality.”
Nicola played the Proms on July 18,
and celebrated her birthday with a
big party for friends and family the
next day.
She said: “I had a proper party in
London because I have so little time
to catch up with friends.
“There is something about playing
a concert at night. I preserve
everything for the performance so it
is not until after a week off and the
weight lifts that I get in touch with
everyone I haven’t spoken to in a
while. That’s how I spend any free
time – catching up with people.”
When teaching, Nicola, who plays a
1717 Gariel Stradivarius, also warns
students that there are no short cuts
to learning a piece of music.
She said: “I suggest to students that
when they start to learn a piece
of music, they should put in an Nicola with young string players from A R Rahman’s Sunshine Orchestra of KM
enormous number of hours at the College of Music and Technology, Chennai, India Picture: Helen Taylor
5
larkinsurance.co.uk
Celebration!
Suffolk is a music county (think Benjamin Britten and Ed Sheeran)
and the Lark team arrived in force to support the unique schools’
music festival, says Music Account Handler Isabella Valentini
‘IF WIND AND WATER COULD rented a place for the team to stay. schools came together for the final
WRITE MUSIC, IT WOULD SOUND We called it Lark Lodge! piece, I Wish, composed by Gwyneth
LIKE BEN’S’ – YEHUDI MENUHIN. Group Managing Director Stephen Herbert. Gwyneth explained she
T
Lark, Managing Director David ‘needed new noise, with a sense of
he above words of possibility’ so she asked the children
virtuoso violinist Yehudi Foster, Music Divisional Director
Gemma Deavall, Commercial New to give her their three wishes – one
Menuhin rang true for
Business Manager Lewis Doyle, for themselves, one for someone they
the Lark Music team who
Graduate trainee Matt Westbrook, love and one for the world.
spent a week in Aldeburgh for the
Suffolk schools’ Celebration at 30 Marketing Manager Mike Bramford, Gwyneth said: “The song was one
Festival. New Business Account Handler
of genuine celebration of Snape
Natalie Hills and I attended concerts
The wind whistling through Maltings; the extraordinary creative
throughout the week.
reed beds, moody skies, seagulls work they do; of singing and the
screeching and waves dragging Over the last 30 years, some 40,000 magical feeling of community it
shingle down the beach powerfully children have been involved in generates; of young people and the
echoed Britten’s music – and his the music-making festival and in power of their voices. It was an
legacy lives on through children the audience we met parents who invitation to make a wish and make
performing in the festival. themselves were part of Celebration it happen.”
when they were at school.
Here in ‘Benjamin Britten country’, We at Lark were still humming the
more than 1,500 children went on From tiny tots to sixth formers, chorus as we drove back down
stage in the Snape Maltings Concert orchestras to ensembles, the
the A12.
Hall and Lark was proud to support enthusiasm for music was
the event. So keen, in fact, that we contagious. Every evening, the Visit snapemaltings.co.uk
Snape Maltings, right, is known for the Aldeburgh Festival (now Aldeburgh Music). The festival was created by
Benjamin Britten and his partner Peter Pears who lived nearby in The Red House, from 1957. When Snape Maltings
ceased to malt barley in the mid-1960s, Britten leased the largest building and converted it into an 830-seat concert
hall. The present hall replaced it after a fire in 1970. Left, Isabella Valentini stayed on in Aldeburgh and took a walk
on the beach (with dogs Rita and Polly) to see artist Maggi Hambling's Scallop which commemorates Benjamin Britten
6
LARKmusic
The Celebration Festival gives children a chance to experience what it is like to be a professional musician
P
upils from singer-songwriter Festival, as well as opera singer “Music is a precious thing but
Ed Sheeran’s former school, Nancy Evans and librettist Eric resources in the UK are being
Thomas Mills High, took part Crozier’s grandchildren. squeezed. It would be a disaster
in Celebration at 30. if children were denied access to
“Celebration started in 1987 and our
music.”
Sheeran’s former music teacher school played in the first concert. We
Richard Hanley said Celebration is a have taken part most years, taking Ed Sheeran keeps in close contact
unique ‘bring and share’ event. the orchestra, chamber choir or other with the school and calls in to run
ensembles. workshops.
He said: “What makes Celebration
so special is that there is no audition. “About 10 per cent of our 1,100 Richard said: “Ed has been
Every school in Suffolk can take part students are involved in the choir or adjudicating a song-writing
with students of all ages, from a small orchestra and we go on music tours competition and recently sixth form
rural school to a full orchestra. every other year, performing in cities students were involved with his
such as Vienna, Salzburg and Paris. Castle on the Hill video. He thinks
“The children experience what it is like
We also have a strong jazz group. It is highly of the school – and says he
to be a professional musician; going
very normal to be a musician in this would like his own children to come
to the concert hall, being allocated
school. to such a school.”
a dressing room and going into the
Green Room.
“They also attend a rehearsal where
everything is marked on stage and
Ed Sheeran MBE portrait in London
learn how the stage crew check The National Portrait Gallery in
positions and lighting.” London has acquired a new portrait
of Ed Sheeran. Painted by the
Richard added: “Suffolk has a strong Belfast-based artist Colin Davidson,
and vibrant county music service the four-foot square oil on linen
which has been both protected and portrait is the result of an encounter
promoted. There is a good relationship in which a sitting was proposed
between the music service and Suffolk between the artist and the singer’s
County Council. father John, an art historian.
“This part of world does tend to attract Sheeran, who was awarded an MBE
people who are interested in the this summer, sat for Davidson at his
creative arts and want their children to Suffolk home.
Sheeran’s third album ÷ (Divide),
experience high quality arts’ education.
released in March, debuted at No 1
It is amazing.
in the Official UK Album Charts with
“I have taught the grandchildren of the 672,000 sales in the first week and
Countess of Cranbrook, who helped made history as the fastest-selling
Benjamin Britten set up the Aldeburgh Ed Sheeran by Colin Davidson, 2016 album by a male artist. Visit npg.org
7
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9
larkinsurance.co.uk larkinsurance.co.uk IT WAS DAD WHO TAUGHT ME TO FIGHT MY CORNER Sir Thomas Allen is one of the finest lyric baritone singers of our generation and as Chancellor of Durham University he is also a great supporter of music education. Private Client Director Julie Webb discovers how he ‘encourages the craft’ of opera singing
LARKmusic LARKmusic
larkinsurance.co.uk
You have to stick
up for yourself
O
n a balmy evening at there’s something strange in the way might benefit from this or that’ and
West Green Opera, in they are doing that. They are singing hopefully give them the right kind of
Hampshire, Sir Thomas – you realise they are singing but guidance.
Allen charmed the they’ve created a harmony between
“With somebody young like Rowan
audience by singing La ci darem text and music. Pierce, who is promising, you take
la mano, from Don Giovanni, with
“Singers come in all sorts of different the voice quality for granted.
Royal College of Music student
Rowan Pierce. categories with sub-divisions of “Success can often rest on whether or
voices. I am very much a sub- not you can make yourself heard.
Sir Thomas has sung more than division! I am not a bass, I am
50 roles at the Royal Opera House “The ones who don’t make it, who
in Covent Garden, making Don may have all the right qualities, are
Giovanni his signature role, and At 15, my the ones who can’t fill the house with
the enchanting duet highlighted their voice.
his pleasure at being able to give a voice was not “I encourage Rowan to grow and she
talented young singer the chance to
take centre stage. so different always surprises me.” (see page 14)
Sir Thomas also reminded me that
He also told the audience how
thrilled he was to have been
as it is now singers have to be tough and endure.
appointed Chancellor of Durham He said: “I have had to survive. I
a baritone – although not just a remember in the late 80s, the great
University in 2011 – although he baritone, I am a lyric baritone with
insisted that he did not see himself Italian director Giorgio Strehler was
dramatic tendencies; a high baritone rehearsing Don Giovanni at La Scala,
as a teacher but as someone who who occasionally take roles that are
could ‘give young people guidance’. in Milan. I went straight to wardrobe
associated with a tenor. It is quite and was in rehearsal costume for the
When I met Sir Thomas in London, I complicated. next month.
asked him if he was understating his
“At 15, my voice was not so different “He looked at me with my fair hair
role, but he explained: “From Day
as it is now – it is really quite a and almost dismissed me there and
One when I stood on a platform as
natural one. then, saying ‘It is not possible’ and
a 15-year-old to sing as a baritone,
accused me of being a ‘Viking’.
I knew instinctively what to do and “With youngsters I might be able to
how to tell the story, so that wasn’t steer them in a direction and say ‘you “But I had to convince him. You
something I could coach.
“There were lots of things I had to
learn but that part of it came easily,
it was a natural thing to do.
“Further on in my career, when I
was at the Royal Opera House in
Covent Garden, many colleagues had
students but I never had a desire to
teach anyone how to sing – I prefer Sir Thomas
to encourage the whole the craft of Allen became
what we do, sharing techniques of Chancellor
acting and how to use words and of Durham
interpret them. University in
2011 and has
“It really works when someone has found himself
discovered how to match the words continuously
with the music; it then becomes surprised by the
entirely natural. You are not aware of hunger for music
any technique that is involved, just and arts in the
somebody that’s speaking to you, but region
12LARKmusic
Sir Thomas Boaz Allen
Born September 10, 1944,
Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham
Honours
1984 Hon MA, Newcastle; 1988
Hon DMus, Durham; 1988 Fellow
Royal College of Music
2000 President of British Youth
Opera
October 2011 Appointed
Chancellor of Durham University
n Sir Thomas will be performing
as Mirko Zeta in The Merry
Widow with the Metropolitan
Opera Company in New York,
USA, in December 2017.
Visit metopera.org
Sir Thomas takes time out in his shed to build intricate scale model ships
have a choice, go home and cry,
or stick up for yourself. I rose to the
“Durham University also supports a
Samling Academy where 20 schools,
No end to talents
challenge – you have to fight. students and undergraduates from It is Sir Thomas’s sublime baritone
“He did it to everyone but I wasn’t Northumberland, Newcastle and voice and natural extraordinary
going to let anyone do me down. I Durham come together at weekends. acting talent that sets him apart as
also did it for my dad who taught me We try to engage with outreach one of the finest operatic performers
to fight my corner.” programmes because it is so easy for of our age but there seems to be no
castle walls to seem intimidating. end to his talents.
The author of Billy Elliot, Lee Hall,
says his story of a boy who came “One lass told to me ‘I love acting and He has a golf handicap of 3, he paints
from a mining community in north- every time I go to the academy I learn and is a skilful craftsman, having
east England to dance Swan Lake something new’. made several large, detailed model
was inspired by Sir Thomas’s story. ships. He said: “In this business, you
“These kids are so passionate and they have to find ways to switch off and
Sir Thomas said: “My wife hates that come out of the woodwork saying ‘I switch on to something else, so I go
reference to Billy Elliot because I was want to sing Schubert’s Lieder’. It’s down to my shed.
an only child and fortunate in having such a surprise. It is easy to make
loving and understanding parents, assumptions about a region but people “I listen to Radio 4 or the Test Match
although I did I grow up in a are hungry for music and the arts.” and make model ships, big period
Durham village where most men vessels including Nelson’s naval
worked in the pits. No wonder then, that Sir Thomas’s ships and the Vasa warship. I went to
encouragement of young performers Stockholm to see the Vasa because
“It is also true that when I came now ranks highly in his continuously I could not quite work out how one
down to London I found it very busy life. certain piece of rope should be fixed.
hard, but the similarities end there.
My father didn’t work at the mine Modesty prevails from the man “I said to Jeannie (Sir Thomas’s
because he lost a leg in a motorcycle who has sung for the ‘great and wife Jeannie Farquharson, a former
accident when he was 21. the good’ including the night that Hardy Amies’ model) let’s go and
Diana, Princess of Wales, wore her take a look. It was amazing to see
“Lee Hall and I met at an event at the ship and I was able to finish my
famous black taffeta strapless dress
the Observer newspaper offices and model – although it took 16 years!
we have been in correspondence at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1981, as well
since then because there was a as performing to 12,000 guests “My great grandfather was skilful
threat to withdraw arts funding at Buckingham Palace during the and made middle rigger models so I
in the Newcastle region and Lee Queen’s Jubilee party. grew up looking at them, although I
orchestrated an arts campaign. He said: “The Queen is remarkable. was never allowed to go too close. He
When I received the Queen’s Medal made pit mining engines and marine
“There is such a pool of talent in the
for Music in 2013 we had a terrific engines, too, and I think they are in
North East and things are changing.
conversation for about 45 minutes. storage in Sunderland Museum.
The Arts Council has granted
£6 million to build a performance She is well-informed so we had quite “I have been intending to get in touch
centre in Sunderland and that will a chat about the Scottish National with the curator for some years. It is
make such a difference to the area. Opera.” on my list …”
13larkinsurance.co.uk
Tom’s so
ridiculously
modest
C
ongratulations to soprano
Rowan Pierce who
graduated this summer
after six years at the Royal
College of Music.
Yorkshire-born Rowan, from
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, says Sir
Thomas Allen has been a great
inspiration to her.
She said: “Tom is one of the UK’s
most treasured artists, one of
the world’s best, and yet he is
ridiculously modest and he really
cares about what he does and the
people who work with him.
“He always remembers a name and a
face and he has interests that go way
beyond singing.
“Our job can be all-consuming and
some people live their lives bound
up in it all but Tom has interests,
knowledge and a fantastic life outside
his work and I always admire that.”
Rowan, 27, whose parents and
brother are amateur musicians, Rowan Pierce says Sir Thomas Allen 'really cares about people he works with'
explained: “Tom is a wordsmith and
adapts to any repertoire he is given. Malcolm Martineau at the Oxford
He can act just as well as he can sing Lieder Festival.
and so I learn from him on stage; the
way he moves and the scenarios he “To be side by side with such
creates for the audience, even when inspirational artists makes you CONCERT DATES 2017
he is not singing – it is so engaging. understand how it should be done,” Sept 15 Mozart and Mahler
she said. in Lammermuir Festival with
“Tom is always happy to listen and
BBCSSO, Scotland
give advice. I have been so lucky to As a Britten Pears Young Artist,
work with him and learn from him.” Rowan performed Drusilla in Oct 18 Short recital at the
Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione Queen’s Gallery Buckingham
At 16, Rowan travelled between Palace, London
di Poppea under the direction of
Saltburn and London every Saturday, Oct 26-27 Schumann’s Requiem
Richard Egarr at Snape Maltings.
to study at the Junior Royal Academy with Scottish Chamber Orchestra,
of Music, (flute and singing). At 18, Other operatic roles include Susanna
Edinburgh and Glasgow
she became a teaching assistant in in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro,
Nov 9 Samling Artists at
a Stockton-on-Tees comprehensive Miss Wordsworth, Emmie and Cis in
Wigmore Hall, London
school and worked for two years Britten’s Albert Herring.
Dec 8 Messiah with CBSO
before being promoted to Unqualified She has performed live on BBC Chorus, Symphony Hall
Classroom Teacher, teaching music to Radio 3’s InTune from the V&A and Birmingham
11-14 year olds in classes of 30, then Wigmore Hall, at the Royal Albert Dec 9 JS Bach’s Christmas
moving to London at the age of 21 to Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Sage Oratorio Winchester Cathedral
start at the RCM. Gateshead and the Queen’s Gallery, Dec 16 Handel’s Messiah with
She says she ‘fully appreciated’ the Buckingham Palace. Rowan was the Edward Higginbottom, Oxford
opportunity to sing with Sir Thomas winner of the Van Someren Godfery Dec 29 The Four Seasons by
at West Green Opera last summer, Prize and made her Proms debut on Candlelight with Raymond
and along with another Samling August 1, 2017 with William Christie Gubbay, Barbican, London
Artist, Timothy Langston, she sang and the Orchestra of the Age of Visit rowanpierce.co.uk
with Sir Tom, Ann Murray DBE and Enlightenment (OAE).
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15
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.www.larkinsurance.co.uk David Hamilton with The Three Degrees 16
LARKmusic
I discovered
them first!
RADIO ONE CELEBRATES ITS Charles famously said they were his
50TH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER favourites but I always say ‘remember
AND JULIE WEBB TALKS TO I found them first! I still keep in
BROADCASTER ‘DIDDY’ DAVID touch with the lead singer Sheila
HAMILTON WHO PRESENTED HIS Ferguson.
AFTERNOON SHOW DURING THE
“When records ‘went gold’ and sold
HEYDAY OF POP MUSIC
A
half a million copies, disc jockeys
lmost every pop music fan who backed the music would also
listened to Radio One in receive a gold disc.
the late 1960s and early
“I was so pleased to receive one for
1970s – it was the only
the single Do You Really Want to
station dedicated to the genre, apart
Hurt Me from Culture Club because,
from ‘pirate’ Radio Luxembourg
at the time, in the early 80s, they
which was restricted to evening
were very different and ahead of their
hours.
time.
In 1973, Radio One bosses had
“The bosses at Radio One didn’t
a reshuffle in preparation for
know quite what to make of them.”
competition from stations such
as Capital and LBC and David
Hamilton landed his afternoon show. How did you come
David said: “Tony Blackburn and I to love music?
both got the first three-hour slots.
Tony presented the breakfast show That’s an easy one – as a
from 9am to noon and I took the teenager growing up in the late
afternoon slot from 2pm-5pm with 1950s, Peggy Lee and Bing
Johnnie Walker in between with the Crosby were always on the radio
lunchtime show. and then, all of a sudden, great rock
“I always had a record of the week, ‘n’ roll songs by Buddy Holly, Little
called Hamilton’s Hotshot, and a Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were
single would be played on air every being played. It was an incredibly
day which could often launch a exciting time.
singer or group’s career. We didn’t want our parents’ music,
we wanted our own sounds and the
“When I was doing the voiceover
music of the 60s and 70s was the
for Sunday Night at the London
very best in my opinion.
Palladium an American female trio,
The Three Degrees, had to step in I actually came into the music
for singer Clodagh Rodgers who had industry by accident. At 18, I was
been taken ill. working as a television scriptwriter
but got called up for National Service
“I thought they were sensational and
in the RAF and was posted to
the next day persuaded my producer
Cologne, in Germany.
to change the Hamilton’s Hotshot to
their single Year of Decision and it I told my commanding officer I
went straight into the Top 20. was a writer and asked if there was
anything I could do to make myself
“Their next single, When Will I See
useful.
You Again, went to No 1 across the
globe and The Three Degrees went By good fortune he offered me the
on to achieve 13 Top 50 hit singles job of reading the football scores on
between 1974 and 1985. Prince British Forces Network. I was
17larkinsurance.co.uk
pleased about that as I am a
Fulham FC fan but the music on that
the singer had never seen a game
of ‘soccer’. I was the man on the
Diddy and Doddy
station was for the officers - all old mic so at half-time, I announced ‘Diddy’ David, who is now a
stuff. Michael was in the ground and in grandfather to nine children aged
the blistering heat, with a Fulham two to 17, got his nickname from
I asked if we could add some rock ‘n’
umbrella to give him some shade, he comedian Ken Dodd.
roll music to the programme, such as
walked around the edge of the pitch
Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, He was working on Ken’s Saturday
to half-hearted applause because
but I don’t think he knew what I was night TV show and Ken asked him
the fans thought he was a lookalike.
talking about. ‘Do you mind if I call you Diddy? I
Once they realised it was Jacko, the
Elvis was serving in Frankfurt at place erupted! think it might stick.’
the time. I didn’t get to see him but The show was broadcast to millions
Connie Francis came to our base,
promoting her song Lipstick On My Michael Jackson of viewers and he was right, says
David, “I have had the nickname for
Collar and I was star-struck.
After National Service, I came back
came to see a game 45 years!”
At 79, David continues to work on
to the UK and continued to work in
the pop industry. Cliff Richard was
at Fulham but the the radio with daily four-hour shows
for The Wireless and he can also be
one of the first singers I worked with
to promote the song Move It.
fans thought he regularly heard on BBC Sussex and
BBC Surrey.
We were both teenagers and he was was a lookalike He said: “Radio has really changed
a really good guy – and wow, what a since Radio One started in 1967.
career he has had. I spent 18 seasons at Fulham, a When I started there really was
I was also lucky enough to conduct glorious time for the club which only Radio One because offshore
one of the first TV interviews included three promotions, a Radio Luxembourg was restricted to
with The Beatles in 1963 and later European final and their longest ever evening and night hours. Now there
introduced them when they run in the top division, and still attend is so much choice for the listener
topped the bill in Urmston, as many home matches as I can. with around 600 music stations
Manchester. to choose from, catering for every
possible taste and genre.”
A year later I compered The Rolling
Stones at the Palace Theatre, in
Manchester. Unfortunately, I parked
my little red MGB sports car outside
and when I got back a Mick Jagger
fan had scratched a message in big
letters ‘I love you Mick’ – obviously
thinking it was his car.
It took me a week to get the repairs
sorted so I did feel a bit odd driving
around with that written on the
bonnet.
I was also lucky to be working on Top
of the Pops during the 1970s, they
were such fun times. I compered
many concerts for big-name stars
like David Cassidy.
David always hated the girls
screaming over his music. He wanted
them to hear him sing – he had a
great voice. One night he put cotton
wool in his ears to block the screams
but that meant he couldn’t hear the
band. Nobody seemed to notice …
I also met Michael Jackson after he
came over to London to open the
Harrods sale in 1999.
At the time, Mohamed Al-Fayed was
the owner of Harrods and Fulham
Football Club.
He had invited Michael along as David Hamilton with his Mini Cooper, complete with Diddy number plate
18LARKmusic
David in the studios at Radio One in the mid 1970s
Favourite track? during the war but when I was 15, my
grandfather retired and the farm was
“We became friends and 10 years ago,
when he decided to move, I bought the
“I have so many favourite tracks but if sold. house from him. Mrs H and I moved
I have to be pinned down it would be from Barnes, in south-west London
“Years later I met Junior Campbell,
John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s and now love living in West Sussex
of Marmalade (Ob Bla Di, Ob Bla Da
The Long and Winding Road. with our cocker spaniel Amber.
fame) and when he told me where he
“I stayed on my grandparents’ farm, lived, I realised his house was on my “A wonderful long and winding road
at the end of a long and winding road, grandfather’s farm. of life.”
ON TOUR
David Hamilton is now touring
towns across the UK with his
own show, David Hamilton’s
Rock ‘n’ Roll Back the Years,
which features a band and three
singers plus David as compere.
It celebrates rock ’n’ roll through
to the 1960s and runs until
October 2017.
Visit rocknrollbacktheyears.
co.uk
NEW BOOK
David Hamilton’s book The
Golden Days of Radio One:
Hotshots, Big Shots and Potshots
has just been published and
tells the story of the station
and its stars including Terry
The cover picture from David's book, The Golden Days of Radio One, features Wogan, John Peel, Dave Lee
stories about the DJs during the height of the radio station's popularity. Travis, Kenny Everett and Noel
How many do you recognise? Edmonds.
From left, standing: Ed Stewart, Dave Lee Travis, Emperor Rosko, Alan Price £9.95.
Freeman, Annie Nightingale, John Peel, Johnnie Walker and Terry Wogan. Visit ashwaterpress.co.uk
Front: David Hamilton, Noel Edmonds and Tony Blackburn
19larkinsurance.co.uk
A End of an era
s you can probably
tell from this packed
magazine I’ve been
attending wonderful
music events and meeting some
incredibly talented people who are
dedicated to music.
It was fun to chat to ‘Diddy’ David
Hamilton, who I grew up listening
to his show on Radio One in the 70s,
when the station was reaching 24
million listeners. His knowledge of
popular music is forensic – I even
went home and dug out one of his
vinyl albums in my garage. Should I
be embarrassed? No very proud!
David talked about how, after a
career in London, he loved moving
back to his grandfather’s farm in
West Sussex – and he is not the only
one who goes back to his roots.
It was heart-warming to learn I popped along to say hello, but not goodbye, to Malcolm
that both Gordon Back, Artistic Singer who has retired from his post as Director of Music at
Director at the Gower Festival, and the Yehudi Menuhin School. Malcolm has worked with young
Sir Thomas Allen, Chancellor of the musicians throughout his career, including Tasmin Little,
University of Durham, also return to and has composed music for many performers.
the places of their childhood to put Best wishes go to the school’s new head, Kate Clanchy, who
time into supporting music and the will arrive from Westminster School, London, in January.
arts in regions that deserve support.
Top treats
Regular visits to the Royal College
of Music continue to be a treat,
from watching Nicola Benedetti
and Maxim Vengerov masterclasses
(twice!) to witnessing BBC Young
Musician of the Year 2014,
pianist Martin Bartlett, play an
extraordinary recital during a Lark
Music evening in the Parry Rooms.
Our talented Lark Scholar Alex
Lomeiko is moving on after
graduation from the RCM and we
wish her every success (see my
Lark Ascending blog), while we will
continue to support flautist Renate
Sokolovsko as she studies for her
MPerf.
Left: Julie and David Hamilton with
his gold disc, received for promoting
Culture Club's 1982 single Do You
Really Want to Hurt Me, which
saw sales of more than 500,000
20
20LARKmusic
MUSICAL NOTES
News from Julie Webb
Lark Private Client Director
London calling
Those who read my Lark Ascending
blog at larkinsurance.co.uk will
know the Francis Baines’ 100th
anniversary concert at the Cadogan
Hall, in London, was an absolute
knockout. It was a great privilege to
learn more about the talented, but
rather modest, Annette Isserlis who
organised the event (see next pages).
King’s Cross, or N1C as it is now
known, continues to grow as a
creative quarter and we were
proud to partner the PRS for Music
Foundation as percussionist Dame
Evelyn Glennie started her new
role as King’s Cross Musician in
Residence to explore new music
with people who live, work and
study in the London postcode area.
I’ve also attended some fascinating
private music evenings as well as the
Royal Philharmonic Society Awards
where I met many familiar faces.
I even found time to drop into the
Howard Hodgkin: Absent Friends
Exhibition at the National Portrait
Gallery. Curator Paul Moorhouse
was brave to present the preview a
fortnight after the artist’s death and
took time to talk to me about Portrait
of the Artist, Hodgkin’s last work.
And guess what, at the V&A’s
fabulous Pink Floyd: Their Mortal
Remains exhibition, who did I see,
drummer Nick Mason!
The Lark music team will be at the
British Violin Makers Association
Conference in Oxford on September
16 and 17, as well as dropping in to
Blackheath Conservatoire in south-
east London during the same month.
If you would like to join me at any of
the Lark Music events get in contact
at julie.webb@larkinsurance.co.uk
Best wishes
PS For those following my return to
learning the flute, I have passed my
Grade 3 with merit – but I’m not yet
ready to take to the stage!
Top: Lark's Isabella Valentini and Julie Webb with Sir Thomas Allen; Centre left,
Read my Lark Ascending blog Alex Lomeiko and the RCM's Fiona Rose; Julie and Gordon Back. Above, Martin
at larkinsurance.co.uk Bartlett with his mother Hazel, right, and music agent Gillian Newson
21
21Serendipity 22
LARKmusic
Annette Isserlis was introduced to the baroque viola by Francis
Baines and it changed her life. She tells Lark Private Client Director
Julie Webb how she was inspired to mastermind a posthumous
100th birthday celebration in his honour
A
fter many years of latter’s dismay Francis encouraged Francis’ 100th birthday on April
‘enthusiasms’ Annette me to take up the baroque viola – 11, 2017 so I wanted as many music
Isserlis found her true and I found that my viola and I loved lovers as possible to join a fond
musical identity when Brian the gut strings! celebration of his life; he was a great
Richardson, the enlightened head friend, inspiration and extraordinary
“Francis would say ‘come and play musician of many parts.”
of music at Chiswick Polytechnic, Purcell or Gibbons’ and his love
invited Francis Baines to become a for the music radiated out to his And that she did – the concert
viol tutor. students. featured music composed by Francis,
She immediately loved the repertoire including the Hoffnung Festival
“He not only had a profound Fanfare, his Grounds for double-bass
of the 17th and early 18th centuries. understanding and conviction of the
“It was complete serendipity,” said and a Fantasy for six recorders; plus
music but a sparky imagination and Lawes, Consort a 6 in F; Purcell,
Annette. “I had flirted with the idea humour – his generosity and creed of Suite from King Arthur; Hurdy-
of being a dancer, and a painter, democracy was in the purest form. gurdy dances; Haydn, Symphony 82
but when I left boarding school I
“At informal music sessions at in C and J.S. Bach, O Jesu Christ,
felt intuitively that my destiny was
meins Lebens Licht.
as a musician. I played the piano Francis and June’s home in Barnes,
seriously, but I’d wanted to play a south-west London, he initiated The whole evening was a triumph as
stringed instrument as well, and many who subsequently became friends also took to the stage to
so embarked on the viol and the leading players of the early music remember Francis’ wonderful
‘straight’ viola simultaneously. revival of the 1970s and 1980s. Many eccentricity – regaling stories of him
of us still play together and took part from coming in late for a Beethoven
“Two years later, I got into the Royal symphony rehearsal but rather than
in his centenary concert in April.”
College of Music on the strength of joining in mid-way he played the
my piano audition, and when Francis Annette was the driving force behind whole part from the beginning while
became Head of the Early Music the Francis Baines centenary concert the rest of the orchestra played on
department he started a baroque at the Cadogan Hall which celebrated – to celebrating his versatility on the
ensemble and it went from there. his life, compositions and playing of double-bass and the treble viol, the
the double-bass and the treble viol. French bagpipes (musette), pipe and
“Although I studied mainstream
viola with Bernard Shore, to the She said: “It would have been tabor, shawm and hurdy-gurdy.
Left, Annette Isserlis in her ancient wood (Picture: Ian West) and above, the Isserlis family at the Abbey Road Studios in
London. From left, Steven, parents George and Cynthia, Annette and Rachel
23larkinsurance.co.uk
Francis Baines was a composer
Francis Baines remembered best for his charis-
matic playing of the double-bass
and the treble viol. Amongst
Remembered
other instruments he also played
the hurdy-gurdy, pipe and tabor,
bagpipes, and shawms.
A MUSICAL Featuring Dame Emma Kirkby,
Fretwork, Sir Nicholas Kenyon,
EXTRAVAGANZA Andrew Parrott, Roy Goodman,
The Hanover Band, Pavlo
Beznosiuk, Alison Bury, Stephen
Preston, Lisa Beznosiuk, Chi-chi
Nwanoku MBE, and many other
highly distinguished musicians.
Join us
for
celebrati a fond Programme to include: Baines,
on o Hoffnung Festival Fanfare;
extraord f this Lawes, Consort a 6 in F; Purcell,
inary Suite from King Arthur; Baines,
and ecc Grounds for double-bass;
entric Hurdy-gurdy dances; Gibbons
musicia madrigals; Haydn, Symphony
n
many p of 82 in C, ‘The Bear’; J.S. Bach, ‘O
arts. Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht’.
Cadogan Hall
5 Sloane Terrace, London
SW1X 9DQ
Tuesday 11th April, 7.00 Left: Francis Baines centenary flyer illlustrated by Ben Hoffnung.
www.cadoganhall.com
Box Office: 0207 730 4500
Cadogan Hall Above: Rachel, Annette and Steven with Jan Schlapp, right,
Tickets: £30, £25, £20 & £15
playing in Ton Koopman's Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
A place to unwind
T
o source the energy to the woodland is for keeps!” and a variety of birds, and I do all I
arrange such a huge musical can to encourage diversity by leaving
Annette’s woodland in the Weald
event Annette gained piles of deadwood.”
of Kent, a few miles from her home,
inspiration by spending
becomes a carpet of wood anemones It seems the enchanted wood
time in a Kent wood – not any old
in early spring, followed by swathes certainly gives Annette amazing
wood, but her own piece of ancient
of bluebells. Foxglove spires shoot powers.
woodland.
up near the pond and dusky pink
It is a place where she goes to think hellebores bow their heads in the She was well-connected through
and it was here she contemplated dappled shade. being a founder member of
the concert, thought through the Orchestra of the Age of
the arrangements and wrote the Enlightenment and Sir John Eliot
programme notes. I had always Gardiner’s English Baroque Soloists,
in addition to many other baroque
Annette bought the six-acre wood with
money bequeathed by her father and dreamed of owning ensembles, and many distinguished
performers were happy to give their
she finds it place of ‘sanctuary and
peace’. She said: “Perhaps I should a wood to conserve services for the concert including
Michael Chance, Fretwork, Sir
have done something sensible like
invest in property but I have a cottage wildlife Nicholas Kenyon, Colin Lawson,
Andrew Parrott, Roy Goodman, the
and find that enough to look after.
She said: “There’s a seat and a swing Hanover Band, Pavlo Beznosiuk,
“I had always dreamed of owning a that are made from a dead tree, so Alison Bury, Philippa Davies, Lisa
wood, to help conserve wildlife, be anything I add is natural and from Beznosiuk and Chi-chi Nwanoku.
closer to nature and watch the seasons the wood. I have created a pond,
change. Annette felt happy that she’d fulfilled
cleared some space and planted. New
her aim of acknowledging Francis’s
“It’s a peaceful place but social, too, life is springing through; I just want
to preserve the wood for its natural achievements, introducing him as
and I come here with my family and a composer and above all making
friends – we cook over a fire and I’ve beauty and wildlife.
it into a reunion party for all who
occasionally camped, in spite of the “I don’t have central heating at home loved him. Many present who hadn’t
numerous wood-ants! so it provides me with plenty of fuel known him said they came away
and there is a chestnut coppice so I wishing they had. In addition she was
“I’ve had lots of three to five year
pick up fallen chestnuts and roast able to make a donation in his name
enthusiasms in my life; getting my
them and give them to friends. I try to the Donkey Sanctuary (donkeys
private pilot’s licence, photography
to make use of everything I can. being his favourite animals), as well
and keeping chickens (including hen
Dorinda who was interviewed about “It is a magical place; I have seen a as bringing out a book about him,
Haydn’s ‘La Poule’ for the OAE!), but hare in the wood, as well as badgers collated by Tim Crawford.
24LARKmusic
Born into a
musical family
A
nnette and her younger
siblings Rachel and
Steven learned to play
the piano around the age
of three and she remembers them
having to sit on piled telephone
directories to reach the keys.
Annette explained: “We were brought
up listening to classical music, and
the third programme, Radio 3, was
always on. Rachel went on to be
a busy professional violinist and
Steven is well known as a cellist and
has been awarded a CBE.
“Music was in the family. My pianist/
composer grandfather Julius was born
in Kiev and was one of 12 Russian
musicians who left Odessa to come to
Europe – and never went back.
“My father, George, then aged
five, was smuggled to Vienna to be
with his parents. He became an Annette indulging in one of her 'enthusiasms', flying a Vickers Viscount
accomplished violinist, studying chartered from British Air Ferries (from the co-pilot's seat) while travelling with
alongside members of the Amadeus the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists in the early 1980s
Quartet, but it was wartime and as
there was a shortage of scientists a
career in metallurgy was suggested
as being more stable.
About Annette Francis also had a long-standing
commitment to encouraging young
musicians, though he was dismissive
Annette Isserlis is Professor of
“He had a Viennese charm and of his abilities as a teacher. For many
Baroque Viola at the Royal College of
continued to enjoy concerts, years he had supplemented his
Music, Royal Academy of Music and
socialising with his refugee friends income as a lecturer in schools, and
visiting tutor at the RNCM. She was a at one time was ensemble coach to
and to play, rejoicing in the feeling founder-member of Orchestra of the
that he was ‘better than average’. the Oxford University Music Club.
Age of Enlightenment and principal
Some of my earliest memories are He founded the Chamber Music
viola for Gardiner’s EBS for more
of lying in bed and hearing him Club of the Mary Ward Settlement in
than 20 years.
practising downstairs – Paganini, London where he was a lecturer from
Tchaikovsky and Brahms. She has toured, recorded and 1948-1950. He loved to compose,
broadcast extensively, as well as although composition took a back
“My mother Cynthia was a pianist
appearing as a soloist and chamber- seat as he became more in demand
and teacher, so the viola was the
musician. Annette is a regular as a bass-player in baroque and
obvious instrument for me to take
participant at IMS Prussia Cove classical orchestras.
up for family chamber music, to
Open Chamber Music and a member
complete the Isserlis Piano Quintet.
of Sir Andras Schiff’s Cappella
“Classical harmony was a language Andrea Barca.
we absorbed at the same time as
learning to speak and read. We
played as a piano trio from an About Francis Concert dates 2017
Annette will be peforming with
early age and ensemble was always Francis Baines was a frequent the OAE, Clemenza di Tito (dir
intuitive. That was a great advantage, performer at Aldeburgh Festival Robin Ticciati) at Glyndebourne
having learned to play the piano and in the 1950s-1960s, displaying on Aug 3, 6, 8, 11, 13,16,19, 21,
accompany people. versatility on the viol and violone, 24, 26 and 28
“We enjoyed chamber music and that the French bagpipes (musette), pipe Sept 15-17 IMS Prussia Cove
teaches you to co-operate – it is a and tabor, shawm and hurdy-gurdy. Sept 22 OAE at Kings Place,
conversant way of playing music. London, CPE Bach and
He worked with several leading Boccherini (dir Christoph Coin)
“It also gave me a practical London chamber orchestras before Sept 24 OAE Saffron Walden –
understanding of music-arranging deciding to concentrate on early Sally Beamish premiere
later on.” music.
25Land of The Gower Festival goes
from strength to strength as
world-class musicians accept
Artistic Director Gordon Back’s
invitation to play at the unique
summer event held in churches
across the land of King Arthur
Arthur's Stone on Cefn Bryn on the Gower Peninsula, inset, Gordon Back
T
he Gower Festival takes Norman font created from a piano world. Their mesmerising
place on summer evenings stalagmite. performances of Schubert’s Fantasy
in beautiful churches across in F minor for piano four hands and
Jamal is fast-becoming one of
the Gower Peninsula, in Divertissement for piano four hands
the most sought-after cellists and
south-west Wales. were nothing short of astonishing.
following the concert he returned
This year, every one of the 14 venues to London to prepare for his debut So how does such a remote region
was a sell-out, bar a couple of tickets, performance at the BBC Proms, attract such highly regarded
and Lark was delighted to support celebrating composer John Williams’ musicians? Well, each church has
a concert at St George’s Church in 85th birthday. fine acoustics, the settings are
Reynoldston, featuring pianist Craig sublime but, according to locals and
At St Cenydd’s Church, which
White and cellist Jamal Aliyev. the musicians, it’s all down to the
overlooks the sea at Llangennith,
The evening of romantic cello music Russian piano duo Pavel Kolesnikov hard-working festival team who are
saw 105 people packed into the pretty and Samson Tsoy also demonstrated led and inspired by Artistic Director
church which has an interesting why they are such stars of the Gordon Back.
26LARKmusic
legends
27
Picture courtesy of City and County of Swansea, visitswanseabay.com
Gordon, himself an internationally He said: “I am trying to broaden the legend and Arthur’s Stone stands tall
acclaimed pianist, has been putting appeal of the festival by introducing on Cefn Bryn. It’s said King Arthur
back everything he loves about music younger performers such as Jamal found a pebble in his shoe, threw
in his former home county. and Pavel to create a wider audience it across the Burry Estuary and it
base.” landed on Cefn Bryn. The stone grew
He said: “Gower is a small but and grew and was held up by the
unique festival and it has become a The plan appears to be working with other smaller stones in admiration.
great passion of mine – a home from cello students such as Ellie Medwell,
15, in the audience at Reynoldston. It seems Gordon Back is becoming
home.” a 21st century legend across Gower,
Gordon ensures there is music for Ellie said: “This is my first live ensuring exciting music is performed
all from string quartets to jazz, concert. I will remember this evening to the highest standard in a part of
the Wales International Academy for the rest of my life and Jamal has the world where music has always
completely inspired me!” been so important.
of Voice singers and the Yehudi
Menuhin School Orchestra. The Gower Peninsula is a place of Gordon has worked with artists
27larkinsurance.co.uk
Home from home
including Yehudi Menuhin, Maxim musicians in the world. A special “A pianist played Beethoven’s
Vengerov and Yo Yo Ma. He took over memory was performing with Sarah ‘Emperor’ concerto and that was it. I
as Artistic Director of the festival in Chang, aged 10. She played Elgar’s said to my parents, ‘I want to play the
2013. Salut d’Amour at St James’s Palace piano’. It was an evangelical moment.
for Prince Charles and I thought
Jamal Aliyev, winner of 2017 Sir Karl ‘where does this music come from?’. “The local chapel organist was my
Jenkins Music Award and Prince’s It was incredible. first teacher and I started to take
Company Competition, was quick to part in Eisteddfod competitions.
“That’s what I want to bring home to
praise Gordon’s dedication. He said: “Wales still has the National
the Gower Festival – amazing talent
“It was my first time at the Gower Eisteddfod; it is one of Europe’s
and amazing music for everyone.
Festival and from the moment I largest cultural festivals of music,
arrived, I couldn’t have had a better “I did not come from a privileged song and poetry. This gave me lots of
time; everything was happening so family with a musical background. opportunities to perform. First prize
flawlessly that I didn’t have to worry My father developed polio when I was two guineas (£2.10) but it felt
about a thing. was two and he was paralysed for
like £2,000, a huge amount!
the rest of his life. My mother was a
“Gordon had arranged everything hairdresser. “I went to Neath Grammar School
to such perfection that myself as where the head teacher was crazy
an artist and the audience had a “When I was seven we spent a
about rugby and music. There were
wonderful time.” holiday in Aberystwyth; I pushed
my father in a wheelchair to a Royal 800 pupils and the orchestra had
Gordon said: “I am lucky enough to Philharmonic Orchestra concert with 120 members. Luckily, if you were
have accompanied some of the best conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. in a youth orchestra you were given
instruments.
“I started playing violin at 11 and that
definitely helped me in my career
as an accompanist. My speciality
is playing with violinists and those
skills were picked up during school
times because, technically, if you
know how something works it’s
easier to accompany. It’s a sort of
sixth sense.
“Around the age of 13, one of my
great experiences was to accompany
Welsh male voice choirs. You would
get music thrown in front of you,
music you had never seen, but the
more you do it, the more you learn.
“Having flexibility was important
and that skill, as an accompanist, is
more important than people realise.
“I was fortunate to have played 20
concertos with the Glamorgan Youth
Orchestra by the age of 18, before I
went to the Royal Northern College
of Music, Manchester.
“I assumed that I was heading for a
solo career but when my professor
heard me accompany a singer in the
Richard Tauber Competition at the
Wigmore Hall. He said, ‘that was
amazing – you have got such a talent
as an accompanist’. I was unaware
Top: Jamal and Craig receive an encore; above, early evening drinks at St because it was so natural to me– it
George's, Reynoldston; above right, Ellie Medwell, 15, and grandmother Susan was part of my life.”
28You can also read
