News

Our monthly round-up of some of the successes for Trinity Laban alumni.

The experimental quartet Bastard Assignments, made up of alumni Timothy Cape, Edward Henderson, Caitlyn Rowley, and Josh Spear appeared at the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival on May 19. 

Many dance alumni performed at Resolution Dance Festival, The Place’s celebration of new dance works and artists. These included Trinity Laban Innovation Award winners Laura Engholm (2020) and Tough Boys Dance Collective (2021). 

Two alumni performed at Prom Praise in the Royal Albert Hall with the All Souls orchestra; Michael Andrews conducted, and Maria Marchant performed excerpts from Rhapsody in Blue. 

The Rameau Project Orchestra, featuring Daisy Walford, Ben Vonburg-Clark, Hilary Cronin, and Emily Gray, performed the premiere of a reconstruction of Rameau’s Castor et Pollux at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. 

Several jazz alumni took to the stage at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival this month. Nubya Garcia appeared alongside Joe Armon Jones, Daniel Casimir, and Sam Jones, Conor Chaplin’s appearance with Iain Bellamy was reviewed along with Moses Boyd’s concert, and Laura Jurd’s performance with Elliot Galvin, Conor Chaplin, Corrie Dick, and Martin Thompson also impressed.  

The Jazz at Morley College series, for which Mark Kavuma is artistic director, ran this month. Nicky Iles performed. 

Phillip Leslie appeared at the Perth Festival as one of the Cross Trust Artists of the Year. 

Femi Koleoso has been on tour with Gorillaz throughout May.  

Catherine Sleeman debuted at the Brighton Fringe with Unfold the Shutters, a hopeful response to the climate crisis created in collaboration with dancers including fellow alum Joeley Gibson. 

Iris Athanasiadi and Olivia Thynne have been performing in Our Labyrinth at the Tate Modern, a piece centered on the performers sweeping grains of rice into patterns. Choreographed by Lei Mingwei, it is inspired by the sweeping of temple paths in Myanmar. 

Several alumni performed at Manchester Jazz Festival towards the end of May, including Daniel Casimir, Xhosa Cole and his quartet, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, and Rebecca Nash. 

Ayanna Witter-Johnson headlined a performance at Wigmore Hall, with guest performers including Heloise Werner and Stephen Upshaw. 

Ayanna has also joined the board of trustees for Awards for Young Musicians, and has been named an ambassador and trustee of London Music Fund. 

Kokoroko played an Apple Music Home Session this month, covering William Onyeabor’s Body and Soul. 

Laura Jurd released her new single Little Opener this month. 

Reuben James’ new EP Tunnel Vision Mixtape was reviewed in London Jazz News. 

Oscar Jerome released his new single Sweet Isolation, which was covered in Clash magazine. 

Tomorrow’s New Quartet, with Deschanel Gordon on piano, released their new album All Together, Now! this month.  

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾, in which alum Tom Self features, earned a 4-star review from The Stage. 

Matthew Bourne was involved in the production of Sondheim’s Old Friends, a tribute performance to the late musical theatre legend which The Stage described as “a moving experience”. 

Cloudgate Dance Theatre’s performance of Send in a Cloud was reviewed in the Taipei Times. Artistic director Cheng Tsung-lung has been hailed as successfully living up to the legacy of the company’s founder. 

Dance scientist Dr Lucie Clements’ study was recently featured in the Guardian – revealing that arts workers are twice as likely to have depression than the general population. 

Heloise Werner was featured in Gramophone, ahead of the release of her first solo album. 

Harp alum Siobhan Swider was interviewed by Sussex Life, discussing her recent performances for animals and their owners. 

Seed Sessions, founded by Isie Potter, was covered by Musicians Union. 

Mike Dixon’s book Turn Around and Take a Bow, chronicling his life and career as a leading musical director, was published on June 28. https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/turn-around-and-take-a-bow/ 

Coming Up: 

CRUISE returns to the Apollo Theatre in August, with movement direction by Sarah Golding. 

John Savournin is directing a new production of Iolanthe for the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.