Alumni news

Alumni Among Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 Winners

Posted 28 July 2021 No Comments

Female jazz stars took centre stage at the 16^th annual awards.

This year’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards celebrated the increasing number of high-profile women involved in the UK’s jazz scene. These include TL alumni trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey and saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi of KOKOROKO (pictured), who won Jazz Ensemble of the Year, and saxophonist Nubya Garcia, who won Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year.

Also honoured was singer and TL Honorary Fellow Norma Winstone MBE who was presented with the prestigious Services to Jazz Award.

Organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG), the annual awards were announced on Monday 26 July at a virtual ceremony supported by PizzaExpress Live.

Chi Onwurah MP, Deputy Chair of APPJAG, commented –

“This has been another really strong year for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in terms of talent and nominations. The well-deserved recipients are a veritable who’s who of names that have made a real impact on the music and helped make the UK one of the world’s leading jazz territories”.

Find out more about Jazz at Trinity Laban.

Manu Delago Completes ReCycling Tour

Posted 19 July 2021 No Comments

The TL alum cycled over 1500km throughout May and June to perform 18 gigs.

The ReCycling Tour was borne out of Manu Delago’s desire to create an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional concert tours, where every effort was made to reduce the band’s carbon footprint and waste.

Between every venue of the Austrian tour, Manu and five other musicians cycled with their instruments and kit in trailers, using solar panels for power and fuelled by food donations from local fans.

Speaking to Radio FM4 Manu said “I want to take things that we learnt from this amazing experience into future touring. We might not always be able to cycle to all the gigs because we tour internationally, but maybe we can keep some elements such as eating local food. […] I’m hoping that it will inspire many other people to live slightly more sustainable lives.”

Having graduated from Trinity Laban with a Postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Composition in 2011, Manu is an internationally successful musician who has collaborated with artists such as Björk and Anoushka Shankar. As a percussionist, he specialises in playing the Hang, a rare Swiss instrument developed from the Caribbean steelpan.

Check out behind the scenes video blogs from the tour.

Discover more about composition at Trinity Laban.

Announcing our TL Innovation Award Winners 2021

Posted 13 July 2021 No Comments

The unique award sees final-year students pitch artistic and business projects to an expert panel and win professional development support and seed funding.

Launched in 2019 the Innovation Award forms part of the conservatoire’s strategy to help emerging artists develop their voice and innovate in the cultural industries, particularly important as they continue to navigate the ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year shortlisted applicants pitched their proposals to Nikki Tomlinson, Co-director at Independent Dance, Roger Wilson, Co-founder of Black Lives in Music and former Head of Professional Development at National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne in a bid to win one of six awards.

We are pleased to announce that the 2021 winners are:

Myra Brownbridge – Brilliant Corners
Laudine Dard – Alone, Together
Emily Edwards – Musical Theatre Masterclasses
Anna Nicholls – Developing Dance with HAC
Back on The Map Project (Emma Greene and Sunniva Rørvik) – The History of Dance of the African diaspora: A Festival for the young people of Deptford
Tough Boys Disco (Sula Castle, Roseann Dendy and Daisy Hingorani-Short) – Open Dancefloor

The diverse and innovative proposals 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 this year.

“The Innovation Award is one of the many ways in which Trinity Laban are nurturing entrepreneurial and project management skills in early career artists and strengthening our connections with the wider industry.”

Roger Wilson comments –

“This is an important platform for Trinity Laban students to push the envelope and grow as creators. These are tomorrow’s professionals, encouraged to create and realise their ideas with a significant level of support. The impressive scope of creative and innovative ideas assured me that we can look forward to seeing great things from Trinity Laban students.”

Funded by our Higher Education Innovation Fund allocation, each winning project receives an award of £3,000 to use on development and will benefit from a specially tailored 10-month mentorship programme delivered by acclaimed alumni:

Japanese inclusive dance artist, performer, choreographer and dance movement psychotherapist, Takeshi Matsumoto(Transitions 2007)
London-based Polish/German interdisciplinary artist, performer, creative producer, activist, and a Purple Lady Dagmara Bilon (BA 2003)
Independent Arts and Events Manager and co-founder of Black Artists in Dance Joyce Gyimah (BA 2002)
Multi-award-winning saxophonist, conductor and arranger Phil Meadows (BMus jazz sax 2012)
Primary School teacher Annabel Langley (BA MT 2012)
Experimental composer, artist and performer Caitlin Rowley (MMus composition 2013 / MFA Creative Practice 2014)

Innovation Award Co-founder Lucy Nicholson comments –

“Trinity Laban alumni have hugely successful careers across the creative arts industry and over the past two years have given awardees valuable guidance and support as mentors. We are looking forward to welcoming back six more talented alumni to share their expertise with the 2021 winners. It is important for us to continue to strengthen the connections within our creative community to support the future of the performing arts ecology.”

Since its inception, the Innovation Award has already supported twelve 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 have 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.

Dance artist and choreographer Hannah Wallace used her 2021 award to create Groundmarks, a site-specific work supported by London Wildlife Trust exploring the experience of the moving, sensing body within a constantly evolving landscape. She comments –

“The TL Innovation Award was an incredible opportunity to receive at this early stage of my career – it gave me the freedom to take creative risks and supported me to gain valuable experience as an artist and a leader.”

Innovation Award Co-founder Joe Townsend comments –

“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.”

To find out more, visit our Innovation Award webpage.

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

Nominations announced for 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Awards

Posted 7 July 2021 No Comments

TL staff and alumni dominate this year’s shortlist honouring best of British jazz.

Now in their 16^th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards champion the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the UK’s jazz scene.

Trinity Laban staff, alumni and Honorary Fellows have been shortlisted across eight categories, representing the broad cross-section of incredible educators and musicians in our creative community united in their passion and knowledge of jazz.

They are:

Kansas Smitty’s, where jazz drummer and alum Will Cleasby features in the hackney venue’s house band (Jazz Venue of the Year)
Jazz vocal tutor Brigitte Beraha (Jazz Vocalist of the Year)
Jazz saxophonist and alum Nubya Garcia (Jazz Album of the Year for Source, Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year)
Jazz pianist, alum and tutor Deschanel Gordon (Jazz Newcomer of the Year)
Jazz saxophone tutor Tony Kofi (Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year)
Kokoroko led by trumpeter and alum Sheila Maurice Grey and including composition alum Cassie Kinoshi (Jazz Ensemble of the Year)
Pianist and jazz ensemble tutor Liam Noble (Lockdown Innovation Award for Saturday Lockdown Live Sessions)
Musician and alum Steve Rubie has run 606 Club since 1976 (Jazz Venue of the Year, Service to Jazz)
Jazz trumpet and composition tutor Byron Wallen (Jazz Album of the Year for Portrait: Reflections on Belonging)
Singer and Honorary Fellow Norma Winstone (Service to Jazz Award)

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG), with the support of PizzaExpress Live.

John Spellar MP, Co-Chair of APPJAG comments –

“These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who kept jazz flourishing, in spite of the challenges they faced in 2020. In a year of hardship, unparalleled in the last 76 years, these shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene.”

Winners of the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be chosen by judging members of the APPJAG and announced online on Monday 26 July 2021.

Find out more about Jazz at Trinity Laban.

Seated graduates in robes and mortar boards

June Alumni Roundup

Posted 6 July 2021 No Comments

A roundup of alumni news, projects and performances in June.

Krystal Dawn Campbell featured alongside current student Lewis Sharp in new documentary Moving Forward Looking Back #2020 , uncovering the challenges young dancers have been faced with during the pandemic. Laura Rouzet was also among alumni who released new digital work in June, as she launched online exhibition Summer 21 is burning, commissioned by the virtual project space Skelf to make a new artwork as part of their ‘Movement series’ season.

Lucy McCrudden’s Dance Mama launched online dance sessions designed to support parents who work professionally in the dance sector, while Mayowa Ogunnaike wrote and performed Efforts in Action, a video tutorial bringing Rudolf Laban’s theory of basic movement qualities to life.

In June, Manu Delago released the official music video for his ‘ReCycling’ tour, documenting the triumphs and challenges of cycling a total of 1524km to play 18 concerts.

Georgi Mottram’s new single ‘Dream Believe’ topped the iTunes classical music chart, while Emma-Jean Thackray performed her new release ‘Say Something’ on Later… with Jools Holland.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson featured in new video ‘Feel So Alone’, created by the Randal Charitable Foundation and composer Rekesh Chauhan, aiming to raise awareness about loneliness, isolation and mental health issues.

Fellow alum and TL tutor Andrew Matthews-Owen curated and performed in a landmark recording of songs by Welsh composers of the past century and a half, Taliesin’s Songbook.

Alumni performed both in-person and virtually throughout June.

Curated by Evie Oldham in collaboration with Deptford Does Art, immersive experience ‘The Evening’ celebrated the art of screendance, visual art and music, while Leila McMillan’s duet curl of hair dove into the emotions of gaslighting and trauma in a performance at Birmingham International Dance Festival.

Flautist Jade Bultitude performed pieces by Bach, Gluck, Mozart, Chopin and more as part of Dubai Opera’s Music in the Studio series, while Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne’s opera startup Opera Asteria performed a semi-staged adaptation of The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten.

John Savournin’s family friendly Whistle Stop Opera: The Magic Flute, continued its UK tour, as fellow alum and composer Dai Fujikura and librettist Harry Ross received over £9,000 in National Lottery funding for their new opera, The Great Wave.

PYJÆN performed live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, and, later in the month, Deschanel Gordon did a livestream from 606 Club, well-reviewed by London Jazz News.

Other alumni who were featured in the media this month were Nubya Garcia, who was featured in BBC Music Magazine, while Reuben James spoke to London Jazz News about his new music and favourite collaborations.

Coming up:

Book tickets for an evening of new music with Héloı̈se Werner (soprano), Kit Downes (organ) and Colin Alexander (cello) at St John’s Smith Square, 7 July.

Hampstead Theatre will revive Tennessee Williams’ The Two Character Play from 17 July to 28 August, with a creative team including movement director and TL alum Malik Nashad Sharpe.

Choreographer Elisabeth Schilling will bring contemporary dance directly to the heart of the city of Echternach with the TRIOLOGUE project as part of her residence, DANCING THE CITY, from July 12 to 18.

Nardus Williams returns to Glyndebourne

Posted 22 June 2021 No Comments

The TL alum and soprano will join the cast of The Rake’s Progress this autumn.

Stravinsky and W.H Auden’s opera is set to return for the first time in a decade, with Nardus in the role of Tom Rakewell’s betrothed, Anne Trulove. Directed by John Cox, it will be performed first at Glyndebourne before touring to Canterbury, Milton Keynes, Norwich and Liverpool.

The first singer to win Trinity Laban’s Gold Medal competition, Nardus Williams graduated with a BMus (Hons) Voice in 2014. She has since accumulated numerous opera credits, including Countess Le Nozze di Figaro for Opera Holland Park, Mimi La Boheme for English National Opera’s Drive & Live series, Ciboulette In the Market for Love for the Glyndebourne Tour, and the world premiere of Belinda Dido’s Ghost, a co-commission with the Dunedin Consort, Mahogany Opera & The Barbican.

The Rake’s Progress will be at Glyndebourne 23, 27, 30 October 2021.

Discover more about Vocal Studies at Trinity Laban.

Announcing the Recipients of TL Ignite 2021

Posted 21 June 2021 No Comments

Trinity Laban is supporting 24 emerging local artists to develop their entrepreneurial expertise and establish sustainable careers through one-off grants and bespoke professional support. The scheme strengthens Trinity Laban’s ties with the local creative community, building a vital network to help boost the post-pandemic recovery of performing arts in south east London.

Funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund, TL Ignite has been specifically designed to reduce the financial barriers for artists entering the industry and help nurture creative innovation and life-long learning.

Selected from over 100 applications, the 2021 TL Ignite awardees are:

Cherise Adams-Burnett – jazz vocalist and composer
Layla Allen – clarinettist and educator
Marcus Alessandrini – dance artist
Laure Dubanet – dance artist
Ieva Dubova – pianist and composer
Chesney Fawkes-Porter – musical theatre podcast creator
Olivia Fraser – oboist
Greta Gauhe – choreographer and dancer
Olivia Graham – singer and composer
Linn Johansson – feminist theatre maker and facilitator
Nicolas Jones – trombonist and founder of The Reel Folks
Rachel Laird – Co-founder of Sliding Doors Collective
Megan Linnell – singer, composer and arranger
Mikaela Livadiotis – pianist
Martha Mitu – violinist and composer
Ewan Moore – drummer
Laura Marie O’Connor – musical theatre writer
Evie Oldham – dance artist
Calum Perrin – sound artist
Teresa Skamletz – dance artist
Shannon Latoyah Simon – classical guitarist, sound healer and multidisciplinary artist
Monica Tolia – multidisciplinary choreographer and visual artist
Jessica Walker – choreographer, movement director and dance artist
Annys Whyatt – theatre-maker

Through seed-funding and a curated programme of knowledge exchange, TL Ignite aims to empower these newly graduated and early-career creatives to identify and realise development opportunities, find new ways to connect with audiences, build their networks and monetise their work.

The recipients, who are all in the first five years of their careers, will use the award for project realisation, digital creation and professional development, enabling engagement with local communities and the creation of new work.

Recipient Jessica Walker comments –

“It means the world to me to know that Trinity Laban truly believes in the work that I want to produce. This award will provide me with the stepping stones to start my own dance company and provide opportunities for other Black contemporary dancers.”

Fellow awardee Annys Whyatt comments –

“Receiving this award is such an exciting opportunity for me and gives me the means to realise a project I have wanted to create for a very long time. I am looking forward to making new creative relationships with other local artists being able to show and share our work with each other.”

Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne comments –

“These 24 early-career artists represent the exceptional wealth of creativity and home-grown talent thriving in south east London. As a world-leading performing arts institution, it is vital that we share our knowledge and expertise with our wider local community to help emerging creative professionals navigate an increasingly challenging arts landscape. TL Ignite provides an opportunity for these emerging artists to enhance their skills, resilience and adaptability so that they can continue to build and contribute to a vibrant post-Covid arts ecology.”

Alum Curates Exhibition at Sadler’s Wells

Posted 16 June 2021 No Comments

Christopher Matthews presents an immersive multidisciplinary event this June at the iconic London venue.

my body’s an exhibition features over 22 works by international performance makers and artists which explore themes of gender, class structure and pop culture, and examine intersections between classical and contemporary dance. As part of the array of performance and art on offer throughout the Sadler’s Wells building, Christopher will present the world premiere of his own movement-based sculptural installation, My Body’s Number 1, and his work for gallery spaces, Lads.

Choreographer and performance artist Christopher Matthews studied MA choreography at Trinity Laban. Since graduating in 2010 he has presented video and performance work internationally, choreographed for music videos and television, and held resident positions at organisations such as Southbank Centre and Brighton Digital Festival.

Speaking about his latest work in the Sadler’s Wells press release, Christopher remarked: “As a performer, I have had the privilege to perform in theatres like Sadler’s Wells and now I am excited to have the opportunity to be showing my own work here, as well as inviting such wonderful artists I respect.”

my body’s an exhibition will be at Sadler’s Wells 25 & 26 June 2021.

Discover more about Choreography at Trinity Laban.

Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021

Posted 14 June 2021 No Comments

Trinity Laban is thrilled to announce that Director of Strategy and Business Operations Jonathan Peel (pictured) has been awarded an MBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to Higher Education.

Jonathan has worked at Trinity Laban for over 30 years, joining as a junior payroll clerk in 1989. In that time he has held a number of roles at the institution, including Head of HR. In his current role, he has responsibility for overseeing strategic projects and most recently the Conservatoire’s response to Covid-19.

Principal Professor Anthony Bowne comments –

“Jonathan is integral to the ongoing success of Trinity Laban and a colleague well-loved and respected by all. Through his leadership, we have weathered the Covid-19 pandemic in a way that has ensured that students and staff alike are informed, supported and protected while maintaining world class teaching and learning. We are extremely proud that he is receiving this Honour from Her Majesty in recognition of that leadership, and of the countless contributions he has made to Trinity Laban.”

Jonathan Peel MBE comments –

“I would like to thank my brilliant colleagues, without whom my Honour would not be possible. I am very proud to work at Trinity Laban alongside fantastic, committed people. Over the past year we have all worked extremely hard against major challenges, and I have been humbled by our shared determination and resilience. Thank you to you all.”

In the early 2000s, Jonathan played a key role in the merger of Trinity College of Music with Laban, leading the transition on behalf of TCM to bring both institutions together to form Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He has led a number of major strategic projects including the £3m transformation of the Blackheath Halls concert venue, which serves as a major community arts centre in South East London.

Jonathan is also the founder of Generous Records, songwriter and producer of ‘Let the Music Give’. Jonathan is particularly passionate about giving something back through the music he writes and the projects he creates.

Also recognised in this year’s Honours are alumni Emma Gladstone and John Heath Summers who have been awarded an OBE for services to Dance and services to Music and Education respectively.

Emma completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Dance in 1985 at Trinity Laban before performing with Transitions Dance Company. After graduating, she co-founded Adventures in Motion Pictures with Matthew Bourne and David Massingham. Emma has served as Associate Director at The Place Theatre, Artistic Producer and Programmer at Sadler’s Wells and Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella. Emma now focuses on specific areas of programming including talent development projects in the UK and Europe, while continuing as Chair at Siobhan Davies Studios, and in Trustee positions at Aesop and Dartington Hall Trust.

John studied cello at Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban), graduating with LTCL in 1973. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Manchester-based Hallé Orchestra for over 20 years, retiring in July 2020. He also serves as a member of the Board of the Association of British Orchestras and has worked as Lead Adviser for Music to the Arts Council of England.

YCAT welcomes Iyad Sughayer

Posted 11 June 2021 No Comments

For over 35 years, UK-based charity Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) has supported the early careers of over 100 of the world’s most talented musicians, including Ian Bostridge CBE, Alison Balsom OBE and Jess Gillam, allowing them the opportunities to flourish as international performers.

This year, Jordanian-Palestinian concert pianist and TL alum Iyad Sughayer has been selected from 150 applicants to become a YCAT Concordia Artist for 2021.

Chosen as ‘One to Watch’ by International Piano Magazine, Iyad completed his Masters at Trinity Laban in 2018, having won the prestigious Trinity Laban Gold Medal award. His debut album, the Khachaturian Piano Works, was released to critical acclaim in November 2019 with Gramophone describing it as ‘exhilarating and delivered with perfect clarity’.

Iyad comments –

“I’m delighted to have been chosen as a 2021 YCAT Artist and I’m very excited to be working with the wonderful team at YCAT for the next few years! I feel very privileged to have been given this great opportunity to develop my career.”

Supported by the Concordia Foundation, Iyad will work with a dedicated artist management team, enjoy national and international performing opportunities, and receive and digital support.

In YCAT’s recent press release, Chief Executive & Artistic Director Alasdair Tait commented –

“The level of applicants applying for YCAT continues to be astoundingly high. However, I am delighted that the final jury was unanimous in identifying artists of exceptional talent with great potential and personality whom they believe would benefit greatly from YCAT’s support. With the catastrophic disappearance of live performance last year, the overwhelming sense of need for support and advice for these young musicians has never felt more urgent.”

YCAT announced their 2021 selected artists at a private presentation concert at Wigmore Hall on 20 May.

Find out more about our Keyboard Department.

Vocal alum and TL tutor tops classical chart

Posted 2 June 2021 No Comments

Georgi Mottram secures number one within 24 hours of releasing her debut single.

Since graduating from Trinity Laban’s vocal programme in 2013, Georgi Mottram’s versatility as an artist has flourished. She has performed in Opera Galas alongside Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, made her West End debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Adelphi Theatre and appeared on BBC’s Friday Night is Music Night.

Now, her latest success has defined her as a number-one selling artist, having topped the Official iTunes Classical Chart earlier this month with her first solo project ‘Dream Believe’.

Georgi recorded the original track in her home studio in Jersey after returning to the Channel Island last year. This was due to the cancellation of international tour dates with her classical crossover group Ida Girls London, due to Covid-19.

Georgi told Jersey Evening Post –

“All my work had been taken away from me and I had so much time on my hands so I started recording covers and uploading them to YouTube. Shore Records then reached out to me off the back of one of my covers and wanted to sign me. Songwriters Warwick & Young, who wrote my single, also said they wanted to work with me and it evolved from there. Prior to the pandemic I would never have thought of producing a solo single.”

Released on 14 May, the track entered the chart at number two due to a high level of pre-orders before climbing to the top spot the same day.

On making it to number one, Georgi comments –

“I am over the moon at the news about the No.1 in the iTunes Classical Charts. Trinity Laban promotes being a unique artist by finding your authentic voice and being open and receptive to new ideas and new music. This ethos has helped me greatly in the forming of my career. I was especially thrilled to reach No.1 with an original classical crossover song.”

With a successful eight-year career under her belt, Georgi has been inspiring final-year BMus students in her role as a tutor on Trinity Laban’s Artist as Innovator module for the past two years.

Find out more about studying music at Trinity Laban.