A roundup of alumni news, performances and updates in May.

As lockdown measures continued to ease for many, alumni delighted audiences with live and recorded performances.

Femi Koleoso, Flo Moore, Artie Zaitz and Peter Daley celebrated the music of The Meters in a performance at Kansas Smitty’s, while Laura Jurd’s Dinosaur were livestreamed from Ronnie Scott’s and Emilia Mårtensson performed at the 606 Club.

Moses Boyd was joined by Artie Zaitz and Renato Paris in his NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, recorded at the Church Studios in North London.  Elliot Galvin performed the premiere of Moss Freed’s Parellells as part of Lancaster Jazz Festival.

John Savournin shared his take on Tom Lehrer’s classic comic song ‘Poisoning Peacocks in the Park’, while Duo Furioso (cellists Helena Švigelj and Urška Horvat) performed in a livestream with Conservatoire Concerts.

Theo Jamieson’s U.ME: The Musical received its critically acclaimed world premier earlier this month and is now available to listen to and watch via BBC Sounds and BBC World Service.

Soumik Datta shared the latest instalment of his Silent Spaces series, which celebrated the resilience and diversity of England’s North East in a piece filmed in Gateshead that showcased local artists.

Evie Demetriou combined personal confession with humour and movement in WHO CARES, performed at Bipod Festival.

Composer and electronic music artist Dan Samsa shared his instrumental writing during a Social Convention ARTPARTY screening, while 2CELLOS released their take on Imagine Dragons’ hit song, ‘Demons’.

Cecilia McDowall’s choral and organ compositions were celebrated in a recording with the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, as Dai Fujikura’s original music accompanied the world premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s digital duet, Neo.

This month saw alumni collaborate to create new work.

Choreographer Yukiko Samui developed brand new work Dream Deprivation in collaboration with graduating students at The Place, exploring where the dreams we have while sleeping meet the dreams we aspire to while awake.

Director of Barrowland Ballet Natasha Gilmore worked with choreographer Robbie Synge to reimagine rural family life through dance, filming with her children in the outdoors.

As the theatre industry returns to in person shows, new castings were announced this May with Luke Walsh cast alongside Ramin Karimloo and Samantha Barks in new musical film Tomorrow Morning. Zoe Rogers will be joining the cast of the new musical adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Shaftesbury Theatre.

Alumni featured in the media this month.

Emily Jenkins talked about the impact of dance on women affected by cancer in Positive News.

Luca Silvestrini discussed making work for the outdoors in Greenwich Dance’s Talking Moves podcast while his company Protein was nominated for Best Modern Choreography for The Little Prince at the 21^st National Dance Awards. Also nominated is fellow alum Oona Doherty, who has been shortlisted for Outstanding Female Modern Performance ,

Coming Up

Taking place on 3 and 4 June, ‘Groundmarks’ is an immersive performance from TL Innovation Award Winner Hannah Wallace. Get tickets.

Malik Nashad Sharpe will perform their distinctive choreography with Brownton Abbey, hosted by the Battersea Arts Centre 18-20 June.

Curated and created by Evie Oldham, ‘The Evening’ will celebrate the art of screendance, music and visual art in collaboration with Deptford Does Art, on 26 June.

The AmserJazzTime Festival 2021 will see Laura Jurd perform with pianist Huw Warren on 5 June.

 

 

A roundup of updates, news and projects from Trinity Laban alumni.

Alumni performed for digital audiences throughout April.

Laura Jurd and Elliot Galvin did a livestream from The Vortex Jazz Club, while Rachael Cohen was accompanied by Mark Kavuma, Deschanel Gordon, Daniel Casimir and Shane Forbes at Ronnie Scott’s, where Empirical also performed later in the month.

Trumpeter Jay Phelps featured in the Jazz Exchange International Jazz Day celebration, who later accompanied Reuben James with Ruben Fox in the first instalment of the We Are Listening series.

Soprano Nardus Williams joined English National Opera to delight home audiences with a performance of Handel’s Messiah, streamed from the Coliseum, while Millie Cranston performed in the ensemble of new musical feature film In Pieces.

Commissioned by Gauthier Dance, Elisabeth Schilling’s Oloris Oram premiered on the Theaterhaus Stuttgart YouTube channel as part of The Dying Swans Project.

Digital pieces and performance films remained a popular medium for alumni to share their work this month.

Soumik Datta kicked off the new Silent Spaces series with Messengers, featuring fellow alum Yasmin Ogilvie on saxophone and filmed in the British Museum during lockdown.

2CELLOS returned with their dynamic sound in a cover of Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, while The Public Bungalow took a funk twist on Miley Cyrus’ ‘Midnight Sky’. Big Smoke Brass, with Innovation Award Winner Gabriel Askew, also shared a take on well known pop with their rendition of ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’.

Online festival Solid Air, created by Sarah Matry-Guerre, provided a platform for 34 companies and freelance artists from around the world, exhibiting a new generation of choreographers and dance artists throughout April.

Fellow dance alum Jean Abreu took listeners on a journey through London in a podcast exploring his urban inspirations, as Sir Matthew Bourne OBE featured in the first instalment of new podcast, Bourne to Dance.

Pianist GéNIA released brand new solo piece ‘Claude’, while Emma-Jean Thackray shared ‘Say Something’ from her debut album Yellow.

‘Everything Changes’, the first track from Theo Jamieson’s new BBC commissioned musical U.Me The Musical, was revealed this month. Also in the theatre world, it was announced that Rebecca Wickes will join the cast of Heathers the Musical UK Tour while Jake Lomas will play Bob in the brand-new West End production of Billionaire Boy.

Alumni continued to share their knowledge throughout the month of April.

Alanya Bridge featured on a panel of international artists with new musical theatre works at the Tin Pan Alley 2 Concert Series, while co-founder of audio branding agency DLMDD, Max De Lucia, uncovered the importance of a sonic identity in a study looking at purchasing power. The agency recently unveiled ‘The Sound of Singapore Airlines’, which will be experienced throughout every passengers’ journey with the airline.

Musician Mikaela Livadiotis and dance artist Yanaëlle Thiran of Company Concentric teamed up with yoga teacher Katrina Madrilejo to offer company yoga classes for dancers and yoga for musicians.

Alumni appeared in interviews and features from media outlets last month.

Fashion house Bottega Veneta has swapped Instagram for an online magazine, showcasing their new pieces amongst a star-studded line up of contributors. Issue 1 featured Nubya Garcia, who later in the month discussed Wayne Shorter’s The Soothsayer on Classic Album Sundays.

Cassie Kinoshi spoke to Composer Magazine about writing for dance, theatre and bands, as she uncovered elements of her creative process and the importance of storytelling, while John K Miles discussed music in schools in The Music Education Podcast and touched on music favourites with Jazz South.

Fellow jazz alum Moses Boyd performed at the Barbican where he gave an interview prior to the livestream, expressing his eagerness to get back on stage.

The first episode of Black Lives in Music saw Zeze Millz talk style, heritage, joy and more with Ayanna Witter Johnson and 2018’s BBC Young Jazz Musician winner and TL student Xhosa Cole. Fellow TL alumni Mark Kavuma and Ruben Fox discussed their improvisation styles and the importance of the Blues in an episode of online series, The Forum.

Varsity outlined what made John Powell’s score for feature film How to Train Your Dragon so powerful, while The Strad named Dai Fujikura’s new quartet piece Aquarius premiere of the month.

Coming up

Book your place on the Play As You Are_2 workshop (8 May) for musicians and musical-bodies, held by movement artist and alum Alexandra Baybutt and musician Maya Felixbrodt.

Get tickets for Christina McMaster’s World Meditation Day Concert (23 May) at Kings Place, with violinist Lana Trotovšek.

Don’t miss Reuben James at Ronnie Scott’s (20 May).

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

March saw International Women’s Day marked across the cultural industries, with alumni celebrated by various outlets. Jazzwise gathered interviews from many trailblazing artists, including Nubya Garcia, Cassie Kinoshi, Nerija, Emilia Martensson, Emma Jean Thackray and Laura Jurd, while Lucy Drever interviewed Cassie Kinoshi as part of the Edinburgh International Festival Digital Composers Project.

We ran our own five-day celebration for #IWD, featuring  many of our alumni across our social media channels, sharing their work and the women who inspire them. Check out our IWD webpage for the full roundup.

Alumni continued to release new work and perform for virtual audiences.

Sarah Golding and Yukiko Masui’s dance film Transit-20 streamed in a mixed bill of film work from The Place, while fellow dance alum Anna Stereopoulou’s audio visual work, WATCH LIVE, premiered at the Women in Experimental Online Festival and is now part of the British Library Sound Archive.

The Chapel Hill Duo recorded their EDM and Irish folk fusion of Tiësto’s ‘The Business’, as The Public Bungalow’s latest arrangement took a modern jazz twist on Ineza’s ‘Healing’.

Héloïse Werner featured in a take on Bach’s epic Chaconne, filmed live across five floors of the Barge House on London’s Southbank. KOKOROKO performed old favourites and new work live at Boiler Room.

SEED Ensemble performed a live concert streamed from the Grand Junction, while Daniel Casimir and Nubya Garcia previewed music from Daniel’s new album in a Jazz Re:freshed live stream. Nubya also recorded a brand-new performance at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House for the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.

Yuki Negishi and The Altheus Trio performed a programme of Bach, Chopin and Enescu in a digital concert at the end of the month, while actor and musical director Tom Self featured in A Night of Music, streamed from the Hazlitt Theatre.

Audiences enjoyed classics from Ellington and Sinatra as Len Phillips Big Band, with Musical Director Joe Pettitt and featuring players Gemma Moore and Jon Stokes, performed at London’s Abbey Road Studios.

Vocalist Sahra Gure released her new single ‘I’m Alright’, as Moses Boyd teamed up with producer and artist Alewya for new single ‘The Code’. Christina McMaster also released music in March, as her monthly Debussy Preludes series continued with ‘Danseuses de Dephes’.

The BBC announced it has commissioned Theo Jamieson to write the music and lyrics for new production U.Me The Musical.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson composed the music for Brown Sounds, a short film released in March that was produced in collaboration with LA Opera, the African American Art Song Alliance, Aural Compass Projects, Black Opera Alliance, National Association of Negro Musicians and the Philadelphia Dance Company. Ayanna also discussed her recent work on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour and appeared alongside Nitin Sawhney on BBC 2’s Later… With Jools Holland.

Also interviewed this month were dance alumni Lucy McCrudden, founder of Dance Mama, and Jessica Ward, principal of Elmhurst Ballet School. The pair discussed maternal responsibilities and the dance skills that double as parental qualities in a Dance Mama interview. Both Lucy and Jessica also made the shortlist for the AWA Dance Women in Dance Awards.

Fellow dance alum Takeshi Matsumoto spoke to DanceEast about his background and inspirations in dance, while Joseph Houseal spoke to Japanese dancer Heidi Durning in his latest feature in Buddhist Door.

Alumni received nominations, awards and funding in March.

Led by CEO Chrissy Kinsella, the London Music Fund was named Outstanding Musical Initiative in the Music and Dance Education Awards 2021.

Oberon White received financial support through Help Musicians’ Transmission Fund, enabling them to develop their skills in electronic music production and song writing, while choreographer Maciej Kuzminski was nominated for a Professional Performing Arts Award from the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, recognising exceptional contributions to stage art.

TL alumni shared their knowledge and insights through projects and teaching, as Jean Abreu led a week of morning classes with Independent Dance and Ivors Academy Board Director Emily Saunders shared her thoughts on redressing imbalances in the music industry.

Parable Dance, led by Artistic Director Natasha Britton, launched their inclusive dance film, Inclusive Practice is Good Practice, bringing together 42 of the UK’s most experienced inclusive dance artists and companies. Natasha also contributed to a panel discussion hosted by South East Dance’s Mind The Gap programme, sharing insights into making work more accessible.

Coming up:

Moses Boyd performs live from the Barbican Centre on Sunday 18 April, 20.00. Get tickets.

Curated by Aline Derderian, online conference Dancing beyond memories: Armenian cultural heritage & corporeality. South Caucasian approaches to creative practices will take place on Tuesday 6 April. The symposium brings together an eclectic community of inspiring choreography, movement, performance, visual artists and researchers.

Millie Cranston performs in the ensemble of brand-new musical feature film In Pieces, available to stream 23-26 April.

Don’t miss pianist Harriet Stubbs’ concert series, streamed from her home every Wednesday and from Coach House Pianos on Fridays at 17.00.

Funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund TL Ignite will provide 24 one-off grants of £750, along with bespoke professional support, to South East London creatives who are in the first five years of their careers.

Newly graduated and early-career artists are entering an increasingly challenging arts landscape due to Covid-19. Creative professionals have had to adapt their practice and find new ways to connect with audiences, build their networks and monetise their work. TL Ignite is specifically designed to help emerging artists develop their expertise to navigate this changed environment and establish sustainable careers.

TL Ignite is open to dance, music and musical theatre artists over the age of 18 living in Bexley, Bromley and Southwark, as well as Trinity Laban’s home boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham.

The scheme aims to reduce the financial barriers for artists entering the industry, nurture creative innovation and life-long learning, and empower early-career creatives to identify and realise development opportunities.

The one-off grants are available in three distinct areas:

• Continued Professional Development – including training session and attending industry conferences.
• Project Realisation – funding services, such as website development or studio hire, that will enable the delivery of a project.
• Digital Ready – investing in equipment or software that will support online work and digital creation.

Applicants are asked to demonstrate the impact of the award on their work and also the wider social and economic benefit of their work. We welcome applications from those who are currently underrepresented in the dance, music and musical theatre industries.

Through a curated programme of knowledge exchange Trinity Laban will strengthen its ties with a network of local artists, building a community of support. It will also enable conversations about artistic practice and the role of the arts in post-pandemic recovery, both socially and economically.

The scheme grows Trinity Laban’s reputation for supporting entrepreneurship, building on the Trinity Laban Innovation Award and Go DigiTL initiatives.

Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne comments –

“It is a particularly challenging time to establish a career in the performing arts, which is why we’re so proud to be launching TL Ignite. A direct response to the needs of our local artistic community, and need to future-proof the sector, the award will help to enhance the skills, resilience and adaptability of early-career artists through the sharing of knowledge. We’re also excited that it will facilitate a supportive community of artists who will contribute to the post-pandemic arts ecology.”

Applications closed on Thurs 29 April.

A roundup of February’s news and projects from TL alumni.

In the face of ongoing restrictions for many, digital performances continued to entertain audiences this month .

Musical Theatre alum Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy performed in the cast of The Colour Purple, streamed from Curve Theatre Leicester. Trombonist Rosie Turton’s concert was live streamed on Jazz re:freshed, while fellow alum Lana Trotovsek performed a programme of Beethoven streamed from Wigmore Hall.

Social Convention, co-founded by Cimeon Ellerton, premiered their digital ghost opera Concerto for Having Fun with Elvis on Stage, described as a “memetic hologram of the endless purgatory of celebrity afterlife” and Masshysteria’s mh4v&a_1.prologue was presented as part of the V&A Friday late series.

Valentine’s Day saw the Stradivarius Trio perform a programme of love classics, while the Libre Piano Trio performed in a live streamed concert from Thibault Blanchard-Dubois’ Europik Music.

Alumni exhibited their creativity through innovative projects and initiatives throughout February.

Dance alum Eva Stone premiered her film Violet crumble at CHOP SHOP: Bodies of Work, a contemporary dance festival that she founded and co-curates, while Janine Harrington’s video essay how sometimes we cannot believe where we have been screened in a mixed bill of film work at The Place.

Junior Trinity alum and Honorary Fellow Debbie Wiseman composed the score for SkyCinema’s To Olivia, the Roald Dahl biopic that was released in February.

LGBTQ+ History Month saw Vince Virr produce Beyond Shadows, a dance film that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Bradford’s LGBTQ+ community.

Double bassist Valentina Ciardelli continued to uncover the music and background of Puccini in the ten-episode project How I Met Puccini, as The Public Bungalow shared a rendition of George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’.

Emily Jenkins and Lucy McCrudden’s community organisations, Move Dance Feel and Dance Mama, both secured funding to support their important work through online programmes.

Alumni continued to share their knowledge throughout February, contributing to books, discussions and campaigns.

Dr Alan Taylor published his first book, The Imagination of Experiences, which explores musical invention, collaboration, and meaning, while Kay Charlton co-authored a chapter on music in Inspiring Primary Learners: Insights and Inspiration Across the Curriculum.

One Dance UK’s ongoing campaign surrounding dancer’s mental health included a panel discussion with Dr Lucie Clements, while fellow TL alum and current PhD candidate Uchenna Ngwe spoke in Art-Making in the Anthropocene, exploring inclusive art practices in a time of ecological crisis. Uchenna also contributed to a BBC Radio 3 documentary hosted by TL composition tutor Errollyn Wallen CBE which unearthed the story of classical music across the British Commonwealth.

Kerry Nicholls launched The Coaching Circle 2021, an initiative for early career artists providing one-to-one coaching to evolve their dance practice, and Alexandra Baybutt continued her online vocal and movement classes with Barefoot Opera.

Congratulations to our alumni who received awards and industry recognition this month.

Maria Marchant received a Classical Digital Music Award for the best Digital Project by a Musician in 2020 for her contemporary music project #7Notesin7Daysat7pm, while Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti was nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Dance artist Zara Sands was selected for a residency at UKNA City Takeover, where she will explore the role of the performer as choreographer and how this offers insight into the identity of an artist in front of an audience.

This February, TL alumni were featured in online articles.

An interview with Camilla George spanned a three-page spread in Jazz Quarterly, where the saxophonist also featured on the front cover. Fellow jazz alum Sheila Maurice-Grey discussed the Kokoroko writing process in Reverb, while the Carducci String Quartet uncovered how they tackled the challenges of lockdown in The Strad.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson talked about diversity in the music industry with Alternative Classical, as percussionist and Irish music specialist Kieran Leonard discussed life after TL in the Fermanagh Herald.  

Composer Dominic Veall was interviewed by Matthew Schellhorn, discussing his approach to writing sacred music, while Nubya Garcia featured in the Creativity Issue of Vogue.

Jools Holland’s late-night show featured special guest Moses Boyd, who discussed and played music with the presenter and selected his favourite clips from the show’s archives.

Protein Dance Company’s Luca Silvestrini discussed the origins and process of his work May Contain Food with The Upcoming, while Duncan Ward and London Symphony Orchestra’s pre-recorded concert was given a five-star review in the Guardian.

Coming up:

Don’t miss Yuki Negishi and The Altheus Trio in their digital concert on 26 March. Enjoy works by Bach, Chopin and Enescu.

She Said Jump, with alum Maisie Whitehead, are launching online collaborative project When Grief Came to Stay 7-13 March. Enjoy a series of six videos by six different artists from circus to song, illustration, clown and new writing and free online talks and workshops throughout the week.

Len Phillips Big Band, led by  Musical Director Joe Pettitt and featuring Gemma Moore and Jon Stokes, will stream their Abbey Road Studios concert on 20 March.  Expect Sinatra, Ellington and more.

A roundup of January’s news and projects from TL alumni.

Online performances from TL alumni entertained digital audiences throughout January.

Pianist Yuki Negishi streamed an online concert on the Absolute Classics YouTube channel, while musical theatre alum James Darch featured in West End Bares online, performing in the Discovery Channel segment.

Choreographer Maciej Kuźmiński shared a preview of his dance-theatre piece, Plateau. More TL alumni choreography was displayed in FKA twigs’ latest music video release, Don’t Judge Me, co-choreographed by Theo TJ Lowe.

Directed by alum Lydia Davidson, Armour: A Herstory of the Scottish Bard streamed as part of the Swallow Theatre Online Archive Season.

The Public Bungalow released a video of Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’, arranged by alum Toby Carswell and the Carducci String Quartet shared a performance of Dmitri Shostakovich String Quartet No.7 III alongside drummer Cristián Tamblay.

Dance alum Jesse Kovarsky shared insights into the creative process of La MaMa’s Resident Artist Bobbi Jene Smith in a showcase of excerpts from her upcoming work.

Alumni featured on the big screen as Hollywood film composer John Powell scored Doug Liman’s new HBO film, Locked Down and musical theatre alum Daniel Smales starred in the feature horror film No Reasons, now available to stream on Amazon Prime.

TL alumni were also featured in print and digital media throughout the month.

Betty Acorsi uncovered how exploring Greenwich inspired her Cutty Sark Suite in an interview with Morning Star, while fellow alum Ayanna Witter Johnson discussed the release of her new EP Rise Up with The Voice.

The Guardian outlined their top picks for culture in early 2021, featuring TL faces Oona Doherty, Sir Matthew Bourne and Made Kuti, alongside Rosie Kay Dance Company’s work with dance alumni Mayowa Ogunnaike and Patrick Webster.

Vince Vurr appeared on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, discussing his work teaching and choreographing for the Beijing Acrobatic Troupe.

Jazz alum Moses Boyd delved into Miles Davis’ Nefertiti in an episode of My Classic Album, while Nubya Garcia uncovered her artistic process in a short film that kickstarted the My Process series and spoke about her inspirations and upbringing with Gregory Porter on his podcast, The Hang.

Dance alum Emily May interviewed dance film director Alla Kovgan for the fourth episode of her Terpsichore podcast, released in January.

Max De Lucia shared his predictions for the sonic branding sector this year, outlining the tech trends to watch, while fellow alum Lucy Drever also shared career insights in an interview with Varsity, discussing her experiences as a workshop leader in prisons and care homes.

Heloise Werner’s Coronasolfège for 6 was commissioned by The Gesualdo Six who performed the work on BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show.

Jazz vocalist and alum Emilia Martensson was featured in The Look of Jazz, a collection of 90 photographs and exclusive interviews with musicians taken by photographer David Harvey, while BBC Sounds’ Freak Zone Playlist featured saxophonist Mark Lockheart.

Alumni continued to share their knowledge and teach via digital platforms in January.

Sarah Golding taught a professional dance class as part of South East Dance’s Mind The Gap 2021 programme, while fellow dance alum Dr Imogen Aujula lead a One Dance UK CPD session for dance teachers in schools. Matthew Harding and Urban Interface Dance UK launched their online hip hop classes for juniors and teens.

A creative workshop inspired by Luca Silvestrini’s The Little Prince was made available online, providing entertainment for families and a way to keep children active in lockdown.

Countertenor Alexander Pullinger received funding from Sound Connections to research and write an article exploring the challenges faced by transgender vocalists in the classical music industry.

We were delighted to see our alumni receive awards and commissions last month.

Robbie Synge’s dance film Forest Floor, filmed in The Cairngorms and exploring physical access challenges in a rural setting, was named as one of the Dance Camera West Drive-In’s Best of the Festival.

Co-founder of Levantes Dance Theatre Eleni Edipidi was selected for a Jerwood Circus Residency, during which she will develop a new ensemble piece exploring society’s fascination with true crime.

Fellow dance alum Joss Arnott received a commission to develop new work as part of Greenwich Dance’s ArtsUnboxed initiative, launching in the spring, while HOME’s Push Festival commissioned Holly Rush to develop her work Superhero Alter Ego.

Saxophone alum Rhiannon Jeffreys won a Young Innovators Award, supporting her online music theory tutoring service Starling Academy of Music. Sahra Gure, Héloïse Werner and Sheila Maurice-Grey also received funding to support their music projects, awarded by the PRS Foundation. Percussionist and Irish music specialist Kieran Leonard received financial support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to purchase his own timpani.

Coming up:

Catch Emilia Martensson’s concert on 15 February, streaming live from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

The Carducci String Quartet will perform as part of the LIVE from London Spring festival on 28 February.

Dance alum Vanessa Michielon is launching her online yoga course for stress relief at the beginning of February, running for five weeks.

All-female dance collective MassHysteria present a newly commissioned digital work as part of V&A’s Friday Late series on 29 February.

A roundup of TL alumni news, performances and creative projects in December.

December saw many alumni feature in national and international media.

Deschanel Gordon discussed his musical inspirations on Jamie Cullum’s The Jazz Show, while fellow jazz alum Ayanna Witter-Johnson talked with Jess Gillam about the music they love on BBC’s This Classical Life. Radio listeners also enjoyed an interview with saxophonist Camilla George on the Soho Radio channel.

In an insightful interview with The Dance Enthusiast, alum Dante Puleio discussed the challenges of leading a dance company during the pandemic, while Sam Yo talked to Popsugar about the benefits of Pilates and his Peloton classes that launched in December.

TV audiences enjoyed dance performances from TL choreographers this festive season, with screenings of Ballet Lorent’s Rumpelstiltskin and Sir Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet and The Red Shoes on Sky Arts.

TL alumni were featured in best of 2020 lists as the year came to its close. Nubya Garcia’s album Source appeared in the top ten of NPR’s albums of 2020, while fellow jazz alum Laura Jurd’s latest offering with ensemble Dinosaur was featured in The Guardian’s top ten jazz album selections. John Powell’s iconic score for animation film How to Train Your Dragon was highlighted in Variety’s picks for the best classic film albums of 2020.

Congratulations to alumni who received industry awards last month. Dance alum Luca Silvestrini received a prestigious Premio della Critica by the Associazione Nazionale Critici di Teatro, for his company’s work in championing diversity. Protein also won an LA Film Award for their dance film The Sun Inside, created with alum Roswitha Chesher, which was named the Best Musical/Dance Film of December.

TL alum and violinist Lana Trotsvek was awarded a Prešeren Fund Prize, announced by the Culture Ministry of Slovenia in recognition of artistic accomplishments, and Dominic Veall won the Schellhorn Prize for Sacred Music Composition 2020 for his composition Dormi, Jesu. Listen to Dominic’s previous work performed by the BBC Singers.

Conductor Duncan Ward’s concert received critical acclaim in the Guardian, who also praised the Gorillaz collaborative performance featuring TL alum and drummer Femi Koleoso in a review last month. Bass-baritone John Savournin and Charles Court Opera’s pantomime Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown also found critical success, described as having its ‘own zany wit and musical dexterity’ by The Hackney Citizen. The pantomime  went on to receive an OnComm Award, a commendation that recognises excellent online work from fringe theatres.

In the face of ongoing restrictions, alumni continued to create digital and audio-visual projects throughout December.

Alum Antigone Gyra’s work with mature dancers was celebrated in the ΚΙΝ.Ω documentary. Fellow dance alum Amina Khayyam premiered her self-directed, written and choreographed dance film, CATCH THE BIRD WHO WON’T FLY.

The 12 Days of Christmas campaign, coordinated by Elliott DeVivo, saw numerous TL alumni perform festive favourites, while Musical Theatre alum James Darch continued to star in the ongoing YouTube series, On a List.

On the big screen, dance alum Flora Grant starred as Scrooge’s sister in the dance adaptation of A Christmas Carol, alongside cast members such as Martin Freeman and directed by Jacqui and David Morris.

December also saw alumni sharing knowledge through digital platforms. Roswitha Chesher shared her insights into capturing dance on film during her webinar Filming Dance for Screen, while fellow alum Erin Sanchez discussed supporting dancers’ wellbeing in this Psychological Skills Training podcast and Maciej Kuźmiński took part in the choreographers’ round table at the CLASH! Festival.

During her time as artist-in-residence at Flux Laboratory Athens, choreographer and alum Chloe Aligianni explored the astronaut experience through her work The Space Cadet. Find out more.

TL alumni continued to perform their work during a uniquely challenging festive season.

Pianist Matthieu Esnult gave a concert with Stradivari violinist Yury Revich at the beginning of December, while fellow piano alum Yuki Negishi’s Boxing Day recital continued the CityMusic Live festive series.

The English Chamber Orchestra’s series of specially arranged carols saw TL alum Bethany Horak-Hallett perform ‘I Saw Three Ships’ at Cadogan Hall. Watch the recorded performance.

The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel, dedicated to sharing the best of musical theatre performance, streamed Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, recorded in 2012.

Saxophonist and jazz alum Leo Richardson played at Hampstead Jazz Club, alongside Damien Flood and Ciyo ‘Guitar’ Brown, while Reuben James streamed a performance from the Metropolis Studios, described by CLASH as ‘a privilege to behold’.

Dance collective masshysteria premiered their latest online work, feet4music2grass3feetrev2.mov, co-produced by Dampfzentrale Bern.

TL alum Karen Hill choreographed Lockdown Live, a piece from Nova Grace Productions performed in the latter part of the month. More TL choreography was shared during December with Rosemary Lee’s work featuring at First Light Lowestoft’s Winter Solstice event.

Coming up:

Get tickets for the Open Online Festival 2021 which runs 1-6 February. The festival is led by Artistic Director Joumana Mourad and features choreographic work by alum Daisy Harrison.

Catch James Newby performing a world premiere commission by Judith Bingham, as part of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama digital spring programme on 29 January.