Concerts

The Academy’s busy schedule of chamber music, ensembles and orchestras is administrated by the Concerts Department.

Head of Events:
Nicola Mutton BA, Hon ARAM

Concerts Administrators:
Hannah Melville-Smith BMus, Hon ARAM
LizWilliams BMus, Hon ARAM

Concerts Assistant and Prizes Administrator:
Gemma Burdett BMus, MA

Orchestral Assistant:
Ailsa Manktelow BMus

External Bookings Co-ordinator:
Jane Hunt BMus

International Chair of Conducting and Orchestral Studies:
Sir Colin Davis CBE, Hon RAM

Principal Guest Conductor, Symphony Orchestra
Yan Pascal Tortelier Hon RAM

Principal Guest Conductor, Concert Orchestra
Trevor Pinnock CBE

The Academy’s orchestral programme prepares students for an increasingly demanding and rapidly-changing profession.

First-year undergraduate string players take part in String Orchestra. Wind, brass and percussion first-year students participate in a series of weekly classes with staff and visiting orchestral specialists to introduce them to some of the staples of the orchestral repertoire. From the second year onwards, students progress to the Concert Orchestra, which performs lunch-time concerts with distinguished guest conductors to large and appreciative audiences, concentrating on standard orchestral repertoire. Students who are interested in historical performance may elect to join the Modern Instrument Baroque Orchestra, a small chamber orchestra which introduces period style.

The Period Instrument Baroque Orchestra and the Becket Ensemble, a classical orchestra, have become firmly established, giving regular concerts under the direction of Laurence Cummings and visiting baroque specialists, including Margaret Faultless, Simon Standage, Monica Huggett, Pavlo Beznosiuk and ElizabethWallfisch.

The Studio Orchestra and Media Music Ensemble offer students live session experience directed by an experienced professional session musician.

Intensive ‘orchestral project weeks’ take place several times a term as well as one day orchestral workshops. The Academy regularly welcomes eminent conductors for concerts and workshops with the
Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia (sponsored by 3i PLC), Manson Ensemble (contemporary music) and Opera Orchestra. Sectional rehearsals are taken by principal players from the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and other major orchestras.

Valuable partnership schemes also exist with the Philharmonia and London Symphony Orchestra which enable students to take part in rehearsals and concerts. In the past these have led to work as ‘extras’ and often to auditions for full-time appointments. There is also a strong relationship with the European Union Youth Orchestra, of which Academy students form a substantial contingent.

As orchestral opportunities become less and less predictable, students are encouraged to become versatile and experienced chamber musicians. Specialist contemporary music coaching is given by principal players from the London Sinfonietta. Chamber music coaching is offered with Siegmund Nissel of the Amadeus Quartet, Matthew Souter and David Smith of the Alberni String Quartet, Martin Outram of the Maggini Quartet, Howard Davis and Michael Dussek and many other teaching staff listed throughout this Prospectus. Visiting professors who give specialist chamber music coaching include Hartmut Rohde, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Thomas Brandis, the Skampa Quartet and the Vanbrugh Quartet. Performances by chamber groups form an integral daily part of the Academy’s lunchtime and early evening concert programme. Students are also invited to perform specific works in themed series, high profile ‘free on Fridays’ concerts and annual composer festivals (in 2005 featuring the Academy composition professor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, presented in association with the South Bank Centre).

Larger ensembles include symphonic wind and brass ensembles and the Royal Academy Soloists, sponsored by The British Land Company PLC. The Soloists, an elite string ensemble of fourteen players, have performed with their dynamic director Clio Gould at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and at festivals all over the UK. Brass ensembles combine chamber and brass band repertoire. The Brass
Soloists, a ten-piece ensemble launched in 2001, perform concerts around the country.

2005–2007 Highlights

Concert at the BBC Proms with the Academy Symphony Orchestra and Juilliard School Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
Max—a festival celebrating Peter Maxwell Davies in association with the South Bank Centre and major performing organisations.
Royal Academy Opera productions of Judith Weir’s A Night at the Chinese Opera conducted by Dominic Wheeler, Rameau’s Dardanus conducted by Laurence Cummings, and a double-bill of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta conducted by Steuart Bedford.
Composition and performance projects with London Sinfonietta, concluding in performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Period Instrument Baroque Orchestra, Royal Academy Soloists and Manson Ensemble performances at Spitalfields Festival.
Orchestral concerts with Sir Colin Davis, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Mark Elder,Thierry Fischer, Edward Gardner, Diego Masson,Tadaaki Otaka andYan PascalTortelier.
Period Instrument Baroque Orchestra concerts with Laurence Cummings, William Christie and Trevor Pinnock.
Performance workshops with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Repertoire sessions and masterclasses with Pierre-Laurent Aimard.
Series of lunchtime concerts at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Bury St Edmunds Festival and Colston Hall, Bristol.
Recordings of the complete Strauss repertoire for wind.
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