Author Archive

Message of condolence following the death of The Queen

Posted 9 September 2022 No Comments

Anthony Bowne, Principal of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance has written a message of condolence to Trinity Laban’s Patron His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The message says:

Sir,

On behalf of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

During the seven decades of Her Majesty’s reign, The Queen was a constant in the life of the nation and beyond, and her passing will have a profound impact on the United Kingdom and the world.

Our thoughts and sincerest prayers are with you and your family at this time of loss and mourning.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Anthony Bowne

Principal

montage of photos promoting Trinity Laban's autumn music and dance events

Launching TL’s Autumn Season 22

Posted 5 September 2022 No Comments

Running from September to December, Trinity Laban’s autumn season includes an experimental festival of new music and performance in response to the climate crisis, a musical comedy murder mystery, two birthday anniversary celebrations for composers Leonardo Salzedo and Mike Gibbs, the concert and album launch of Rūtsu: Chamber Music 2.0, and a masterclass focusing on Polish composers.

Festival

Taking place across various spaces at Kings Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, Rude Health Composition Festival (12-16 Dec) is an experimental festival of new music and innovative performances from Trinity Laban’s acclaimed composition students. This year the festival presents creative responses to the climate crisis, so expect the unexpected with installation, multimedia events and music at the cutting edge of sound.

Production

Trinity Laban’s BA Musical Theatre third year students, perform Holmes, Ebb and Kander’s musical Curtains, a comedy send-up of backstage murder mystery plots, set in 1959 Boston, Massachusetts. When Jessica Cranshaw, the supremely untalented star of ‘Robbin’ Hood of the Old West’ is murdered during her opening night curtain call, it’s up to Lt. Frank Cioffi, a police detective moonlighting as a musical theatre fan to solve the case and save the show, without getting killed himself of course!

6, 7, 8, 9 Dec at 7pm

Sat 10 Dec at 2.30pm & 7pm

Laban Theatre

Concerts

Join us for two exhilarating performances at Blackheath Halls from Trinity Laban’s BA (Hons) Music Performance and Industry students (4 Nov). Creative Strings Ensemble: A Better Place, (6pm, Great Hall) is a concert of creative voice and strings performance featuring poetry, improvisation and creative repertoire and in collaboration with BMus Strings students, and Life Is A Song (7.30pm, Hearn Recital Room) for a night of innovative, fresh and harmonious live music.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Leonardo Salzedo, Richard Crabtree, professor of viola at Trinity Laban, will play The Viola Concerto, accompanied by Trinity Laban students and conducted by Leslie Howard, a close friend of Salzedo’s. This celebration concert, at Conway Hall (24 Sep, 6pm), also features Baritone Geoff Williams who will sing from the song cycle The Lotus Eater Abroad as well as other works by Salzedo.

Conducted by Ralph Allwood, Trinity Laban Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir perform evensong which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 (28 Sep, 4pm), from The Chapel, Old Royal Naval College.

Trinity Laban String Ensemble perform works by Daniel Kidane, Schoenberg, and a new work by one of Trinity Laban’s composers in the surroundings of the Great Hall, at Blackheath Halls (14 Oct, 6pm).

Chamber music is the backbone of teaching and learning at Trinity Laban, so join us for Rush Hour Concert at Blackheath Halls (12 Oct, 6pm) featuring the Carne Trust Junior Fellow Chamber Ensemble and Waldstein String Quartet. They will be paired with a performance of Dvorak’s Piano Quintet, with Irina Lyakhovskaya performing side by side with an ensemble of Trinity Laban students.

The concert and album launch at Blackheath Halls for Rūtsu: Chamber Music 2.0 (18 Oct, 7.30pm), from Anna Astesano (Harp) and Valentina Ciardelli (Double Bass), explores the deep connections between the influences of Japanese art on Western culture and vice versa. With a talk beforehand (6.30pm), the album features music from Ravel, Stravinsky and Puccini and contemporary compositions, notably Mr Hirano’s Elegy dedicated and composed for the duo.

Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra present a diverse programme of established repertoire, contemporary music, and a newly composed work at Blackheath Halls (27 Oct, 7.30pm) then return to play side by side with Trinity Laban staff (2 Dec, 6pm) to perform two works by Coleridge-Taylor.

Expect spellbinding storytelling and haunting melodies as Trinity Laban vocal students perform scenes from operas in and around King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College (28 Oct & 8 Dec). And Dominic Ellis-Peckham directs an evening of choral performance at Blackheath Halls (15 Nov, 7.30pm) on the theme of journeys, featuring traditional and folk songs performed by Trinity Laban Undergraduate Chorus and Trinity Laban Show Choir.

TL Jazz Orchestra celebrate Mike Gibbs’ 85th birthday year, with a two night residency, conducted by Mike and Josephine Davies, at the Vortex Jazz Club (14 & 15 Nov, 7pm & 9pm).

Our Masterclass: A Focus On Polish Composers (7 Nov, 5pm) at Kings Charles Court, Royal Naval College , includes Trinity Laban students performing works by Polish composers, with masterclass mentoring from Agata Szymczewska (violin) and Wojciech Szymczewska (piano) supported by The PWM Edition, Poland.

Winter Celebrations

As the festive season approaches, our young Junior Trinity students perform in their annual Winter Concerts on the stage of Blackheath Halls (26 Nov, 1pm & 7pm) and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir stage their annual Christmas concert at The Chapel, Old Royal Naval College (12 Dec, 7pm).

There’s also a special performance from Cirque de Pierrot’s all-women Pierrot Ensemble, (14 Dec, 6pm) at Blackheath Halls, who will be presenting the full Schoenberg and Lee cycles based on the sad clown, Pierrot, as part of Trinity Laban’s Rush Hour Chamber Music Series.

For full listings, ticketing info and booking visit our What’s On page.

Prize-winning soprano joins TL as the International Artist in Voice

Posted 10 August 2022 No Comments

We are excited to announce that The Hearn Foundation has generously agreed to fund celebrated Irish soprano, Ailish Tynan, as the International Artist in Voice at Trinity Laban.

Ailish will be joining us in September to provide expert coaching and feedback to TL’s Vocal Studies students. The Hearn Foundation’s generous gift will fund nine sessions across the year, for the next three academic years. She will also work with students on a mini concert, once a year, with one student receiving a bursary award of £500.

Ailish won the 2003 Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, was a member of the prestigious Vilar Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She was also a BBC New Generation Artist, where she recorded and performed prolifically with the BBC orchestras and in recital.

Recent engagements include recitals at Wigmore Hall, Leeds Lieder and New Paths Music; Finzi In Terra Pax with the BBC Symphony Orchestra; Orff Carmina Burana with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Mahler Symphony No.4 with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra; and her return to Garsington Opera as Despina in Così fan tutte.

Ailish joined our judging panel for the final of the Carne Trust Chamber Competition in June, hosted for the first time in front of a live audience, after its launch had been impacted by the pandemic.

On hearing the news, Ailish announced on social media –

“I am thrilled to say that I’ve been appointed International Artist in Voice for Trinity Laban. I could not be more delighted and can’t wait to start in September and join the fantastic team already doing brilliant work.”

Interested in studying Vocal Studies at Trinity Laban? Find out more here.

Alumni Roundup July 2022

Posted 8 August 2022 No Comments

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

Many alumni performed at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival this month. Laura Jurd featured several times, including with her fellow alumni Elliot Galvin, Corrie Dick, and Connor Chaplin as the band Dinosaur. Nubya Garcia also headlined, performing with Deschanel Gordon, Sam Jones, and Daniel Casimir.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival also saw Nubya Garcia headline, and Ezra Collective and Emma-Jean Thackray also featured in the lineup.

Femi Koleoso has been touring with Gorillaz this summer. The band’s European tour begins in August.

Nardus Williams has featured as Contessa Almaviva in Le nozze de Figaro with Glyndebourne Opera.

Elaine Mitchener featured in The Blue Woman, a new opera that was the centrepiece of The Royal Opera House’s Engender Festival this month.

Heloise Werner featured in one of the Barbican Sessions this month, performing ‘Unspecified Intentions’ from her recent album Phrases.

Heloise was also among the alumni with big news announced this month, as she has been commissioned by the CBSO as part of their Sounds New initiative.

Jesse Kovarsky is the movement director for the new off-Broadway play On That Day in Amsterdam, which runs from July 23 to September 4.

Cassie Kinoshi has composed the music for The Tempest at the Globe theatre, running from July 22 to October 22.

Daniel Casimir won Jazz Album of the Year at the 2022 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards, for his album Boxed In.

Stephen Upshaw will be joining the Trinity Laban strings faculty as a full-time member of the teaching staff.

Alumni were also featured in many publications throughout July. Opera Holland Park’s production of HMS Pinafore, with alum John Savournin featuring in the role of Captain Corcoran and as director, appears in the Sunday Times Day Out list for summer 2022. John also appeared on In Tune this month, discussing his directing of Iolanthe at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.

Kokoroko featured in Jazzwise this month, ahead of the release of their album Could We Be More in August.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson was featured in The Strad this month, discussing how she explores her Jamaican heritage in her music.

Joe Armon-Jones‘ collaboration EP with Mala, A Way Back, features on Bandcamp’s Best Electronic Music list for July.

Laura Jurd features as a producer and Elliot Galvin features on keyboard on Mike Soper’s new album Undoing, which featured in London Jazz News this month with a highlight given to both alumni.

Announcing our TL Innovation Award Winners 2022

Posted 28 July 2022 No Comments

The award provides final-year students with a platform to grow as creators, offering significant support in the form of professional development and seed funding so awardees can realise their artistic and business ideas.

Now in its fourth year, the Trinity Laban Innovation Award forms part of the conservatoire’s strategy to help emerging artists develop their voice and innovate in the cultural industries.

We’re pleased to announce that the 2022 winners are:

Phoebe Noble, Natasha Spencer Levy, Ellie Drayton and Holly McConville (Musical Theatre) for 13 Months Theatre
Shaye Poulton Richards (Music) for Upon A Mother’s Death
Iolla Grace (Music) for InsideSound
The Grounding Project: Ruby De Ville Morel, Mila Fernandez and Melissa Heywood (Dance) for The Water Series
Ashley Lim and Isabelle Long (Dance) for Transcendance
Ebony Robinson (Dance) for Diversity in space and styles

The awardees impressed expert panellists Chief Executive of Black Lives in Music Charisse Beaumont, Creative Dance Consultant Theresa Beattie OBE, and Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne with diverse and innovative proposals that span cultural history, boundary-pushing genre development, and the power of the arts for positive change in the community.

Anthony Bowne comments –

“The panel and I were incredibly impressed by the creativity, ambition and scope shown by applicants across dance, music and musical theatre. The Trinity Laban Innovation Award is one of the many ways in which Trinity Laban is nurturing entrepreneurial and project management skills in early career artists and strengthening our connections with the wider industry.”

Charisse Beaumont comments –

“I was impressed by the calibre of the applicants this year. Each demonstrated not just creativity and innovation but the willingness to use their project to impact society. I am deeply inspired and encouraged by the fact that this is just the beginning of their career as future leaders.”

Theresa Beattie comments –

“I was impressed by the entrepreneurial ideas of the students and how each finalist made the case through their presentation as to how they could make a positive civic impact with Innovation Award investment.”

Funded by our Higher Education Innovation Fund allocation, each winning project receives an award of £3,000 to use on development. They will also benefit from a specially tailored 10-month mentorship programme delivered by acclaimed Trinity Laban alumni, who will share their expertise, including:

Flautist and music educator Nicola Tagoe
Artistic Director of Studio Will Dutta and Co-Head of Artist Development at Sound and Music Will Dutta (BMus Piano 2008)
Presenter, workshop leader and narrator Lucy Drever, who is Associate Artist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Head of Musicianship at the Benedetti Foundation, and an Ambassador for the Britten Pears Arts Community team. (BMus Voice (mezzo soprano) 2013)
Dance and movements specialist Yukiko Masui who has worked with international contemporary dance companies such as Art of Spectra, Cathy Waller Company, Christopher Marney and Vuyani Dance Theatre. (DDS 2009; MA Dance Performance 2011)
Matthew Harding, artistic director for Urban Interface Dance UK and the founder and director for Wolfpack Dance Collective UK. (MFA Choreography 2019)

Since its inception in 2019, the Trinity Laban Innovation Award has already supported 18 forward-thinking and socially engaged projects conceived by winners who have achieved remarkable things, contributing to the UK’s rich cultural landscape. These include:

Composer, musician and artist James Layton who founded Into the Ocean, a London-based recording and concert series showcasing experimental new music including an album of works for solo viola in collaboration with Stephen Upshaw.
Multicultural all-female dance collective Mass Hysteria who has created work for Tate Modern, The Place’s Resolution Festival 2020 and V&A’s Friday Late series.
Producing Artistic Director Hayley Huggett, who set up Tilley Peacock Productions, creating shows and workshops for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability.

Trinity Laban Innovation Award Co-founder, Joe Townsend comments –

“Now is the time for finding fresh ways of working together. In these uncertain times, the arts are more important than ever. Fuelled by energy and imagination, combined with Trinity Laban’s excellent creative approach to training, we are proud to support these fabulous artists as they launch their careers in music, dance and musical theatre. There are more collective projects than in previous years, which is a testament to our belief in collaborative working.”

The award gives graduates more than just money to realise a project, the mentoring is a two-way learning relationship that provides a safe space for mentors and graduates to bring ideas into action and to help shape the bigger picture of music and dance.

Dance artists Emma Greene and Sunniva Moen Rorvik used their 2021 award to support their project exploring experiences of dance of the African Diaspora in the London Borough of Lewisham. They comment –

“The Trinity Laban Innovation Award gave us the opportunity to make important connections within the local community. The support from our mentor, really helped us to take on this new challenge with confidence and we are forever grateful for the opportunities that we have had since receiving the award.”

To find out more, visit our Innovation Award webpage.

If you’re interested in studying at Trinity Laban visit our study pages.

Image credit: Juno Snowdon

Trinity Laban student playing the viola and smiling

Introducing new viola staff

Posted 19 July 2022 No Comments

Following Raphael Wallfisch’s appointment as International Chair of Violincello and Chamber Music, we are delighted to announce that Alexandru-Mihai (Sascha) Bota, Malcolm Johnston, Milena Simovic and Stephen Upshaw are joining the conservatoire’s roster of accomplished professional musicians, educators and artists as full-time members of teaching staff.

Of the new appointments Professor Nic Pendlebury, Head of Strings comments –

“I am very excited to welcome Milena, Malcolm, Sascha and Stephen into our already illustrious Viola department. They are all fabulous musicians and teachers and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and a breadth of complementary skills joining Richard, Rivka and Roger to create one of the most dynamic choices of teachers in the country.”

Accomplished American violist Stephen Upshaw has enjoyed a close relationship with the conservatoire since holding the Trinity Laban Carne Trust Junior Fellowship 2016-17, returning frequently to deliver masterclasses and workshops.

With a strong interest interdisciplinary collaboration, he led a project for CoLab 2022 which saw Stephen and fellow Solem Quartet musicians work alongside TL string composition and dance students to co-create Bela Bartok Now: Song & Dance. Inspired by the quartet’s Beethoven Bartok Now concept, which uniquely reimagines classical works with music from composers of today, it wove together existing music from Bartok, Beethoven and living composer Jasmine Morris, culminating in an hour-long performance side-by-side at Blackheath Halls.

Stephen is a member of the innovative Solem Quartet and London’s Riot Ensemble and has worked closely with many of today’s leading composers, including John Adams, George Benjamin and Errollyn Wallen. A noted interpreter of contemporary music as both a soloist and chamber musician, Stephen’s teaching will focus on this repertoire. He comments –

“In recent years I have had the pleasure to work regularly at Trinity Laban with The Solem Quartet, Riot Ensemble and on individually designed projects focused on collaboration and innovation. I am thrilled to be joining the music faculty professorial staff and look forward to creating opportunities within the department to nurture and encourage students in what it means to be a 21st century musician. I am excited to develop a class of violists who are hungry to delve into the world of contemporary music and who are ready to take advantage of the many unique and creative offerings the Trinity Laban curriculum provides.”

Equally at home as a violinist and violist, Serbian musician Milena Simović has an illustrious international career of concerto, recital and chamber music performances. Her playing has been praised in the press as “jaw-dropping, seductive and exciting”. Milena is also a resident viola and a chamber music coach at the annual Culture Festival in Sardinian town of Santulussurgiu.

On her appointment at Trinity Laban, Milena comments –

“I am tremendously excited to be embarking on this new chapter at Trinity Laban from September 2022. I look forward to joining force with students and colleagues, finding new ways of expression and joy in music-making.”

Newly appointed by the Oculi Ensemble and joining the professorial staff of Trinity Laban from this September, Alexandru-Mihai (Sascha) Bota has quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after viola players in London. Since relocating to the UK in 2017, Sascha has been in high demand as soloist, chamber musician and guest principal with symphony and chamber orchestras alike. He joined the Navarra String Quartet in 2018 and Britten Sinfonia in 2021 as co/and leader of the viola section.

On his appointment, Sascha comments –

“I am deeply honoured and thrilled to be joining the professorial staff at Trinity Laban Conservatoire! It is a humbling opportunity for me to share the knowledge and inspire young talented viola players from all over the world in their search for truth and beauty in music.”

Malcolm Johnston currently holds the Sub-Principal viola chair in the London Symphony Orchestra, working with the world’s greatest conductors including Claudio Abbado, Sir Georg Solti, and Sir Simon Rattle. He is also Principal Viola with the European Camerata and has appeared as Guest Principal Viola with the Royal Opera House, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.

As a chamber musician, Malcolm was a member of the award-winning Amernet String Quartet from 1990, performing globally and holding residencies at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, LSU and The New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. More recently, he has worked as guest violist with the Leopold String Trio, the Falk Quartet and participated in the Chamber Music series at the Wigmore Hall with the LPO Chamber Players.

A sought-after educator, Malcolm served as a visiting professor at Trinity Laban for several years. Several of his former students now hold prominent positions in orchestras around the UK.

Malcolm comments –

“I’m looking forward to joining the professorial staff team at Trinity Laban. There is so much on offer at the conservatoire, and I am very excited to be able to be part of that, focusing on all forms of viola playing with special emphasis on the orchestral world.”

Find out more about studying at Trinity Laban.

Image credit: John Hunter

Alumni Roundup June 2022

Posted 7 July 2022 No Comments

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

Alumni took to the stage in many performances in June. The contemporary cello duo 2Cellos, of which alum Stjepan Hauser is one half, performed at Wembley Arena at the start of the month, as part of their farewell tour.

Eleanor Perry’s choreography was featured at the Royal Albert Hall’s Pride 2022 event.

Elaine Mitchener’s performance at the closing concert of the London Contemporary Music Festival 2022 was highlighted in London Jazz News’ review of the event.

Olivia Edgington, Ingvild Marstein Olsen, Natalie Sloth Richter, Johanna Merceron, and Vivian Triantafyllopolou took to the stage at Stamford Arts Centre in a double bill of their exciting new works, SMACK and Spektakel.

Hope 4 Justice, Trinity Laban’s call for action on the climate emergency, took place this month. Alum Sarah Golding was the choreographer for the project.

Bethany Horak-Hallet debuted at Garsington Opera this month, in the role of Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte.

Katarine Karneus’ performance as Kundry in Wagner’s Parsifal is highlighted in the Ikley Gazette’s review of the opera in Leeds Grand Theatre.

New works by alumni were released and premiered throughout June. Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s piece FAIYA! was premiered at the London Symphony Orchestra’s concert in Trafalgar Square on June 11. Ayanna also gave an interview in the Voice, discussing her music and its connection to Jamaican folk song.

Heloise Werner released her new album Phrases, with a launch concert in Wigmore Hall. The album was also featured as Europadisc’s album of the week, and in Gramophone and the Guardian.

Kokoroko, the jazz group led by Sheila Maurice-Grey and featuring Cassie Kinoshi, have released a new single Age of Ascent, ahead of the August release of their album Could We Be More. The single was reviewed in Clash magazine.

Ezra Collective, the jazz-grime fusion quartet featuring Femi Koleoso and Joe Armon-Jones, released their first music video this month, for their song Victory Dance. They have also signed to the record label Partisan.

Joe Armon-Jones released his new single Pray this month.

Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd appear on the XATIVA single Fall Back To You, released this month.

James Layton’s opera saudade premiered in Ostrava, Czechia on June 28.

Hollie Harding’s piece What was scattered has been included on Composers’ Academy 4, recorded by Patrick Bailey and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Manu Delago features on Anoushka Shankar’s upcoming live album Between Us.

Daniel Casimir features on Binker Golding’s new album, Dream Like a Doogwood Wild Boy.

Xhosa Cole appears on On Record, a “sonic love letter to Birmingham” that released this month.

Artie Zaitz and Mark Kavuma’s album Back to Back was featured in Jazz Journal.

Alumni were also given several reviews and features in June. Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy featured as Sarabi in The Lion King at Edinburgh Playhouse, which garnered this review.

Nikki Iles was featured in London Jazz News ahead of a concert with the RNCM Big Band.

Daniel Casimir was interviewed in Reverb magazine, on the making of his album Boxed In.

Laura Jurd was featured in Elbphilharmonie this month.

Matthew Bourne was interviewed by the Telegraph on his revival of The Car Man, a ballet based on Bizet’s Carmen. The ballet premiered this month to rave reviews, including in the Telegraph and the Independent.

Matthew Bourne was also one of many alumni given awards and feature in announcements this month, winning Best Modern Choreography for The Midnight Bell at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2022.

Two alumni were recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Rosemary Lee received an OBE for services to dance, and Harriet Stubbs was awarded a British Empire Medal for services for the community in West London during Covid-19, after the success of her online concert series.

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards took place in early July. Alumni Xhosa Cole, Matt Ridley, Nikki Iles, Deschanel Gordon, and Chelsea Carmichael were nominated, and Daniel Casimir’s Boxed In won Best Album.

Wayne McGregor has been announced as National Youth Dance Company’s Guest Artistic Director for next year.

James Darch has been announced as part of the cast for the upcoming musical Identical, an on-stage rendition of The Parent Trap, which premieres at the Nottingham Playhouse in late July.

Jessie Jing has been awarded a BOH Cameronian Grant for New Productions, in order to develop her piece Nian Gao into a stage production.

Chiya Amos has been named Research Fellow in Sustainability Science at Hiroshima University, Conductor and Music Advisor of Hirodai Symphony Orchestra, and Representative for Music and Culture of the International Council of Environmental Law, being the first classical musician to gain this post.

Alumni Roundup May 22

Posted 6 June 2022 No Comments

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.