In response to the climate emergency, Trinity Laban String Ensemble reimagines Vivaldi’s iconic masterpiece The Four Seasons and revives Hollie Harding’s immersive and eco-political Melting, Shifting, Liquid World, exploring the seasons as they should be and contemplating what they may become.

Read the full programme here

From the bird song of Spring to the cracking ice of Winter, Vivaldi captures the extraordinary sounds of the changing seasons. In this new interpretation, our String Ensemble combines music, sound and movement to bring Vivaldi’s score to life as never before.

Blending innovative audio technology, promenading musicians and field recordings of Arctic sea ice, Hollie Harding’s Melting, Shifting Liquid World forefronts the consequence of rising temperatures and ocean pollution. The work is the first composition to incorporate the use of Shokz open-ear, bone-conduction headsets alongside live instruments, creating a multi-layered sonic environment for the audience to explore.

On her inspiration to create the work, TL alum and lecturer Hollie comments –

“Sometimes, art is a more arresting way of dealing with issues like climate change as it presents information in a way that can really move people.”

Devised by violist, conductor and Trinity Laban Head of Strings Nic Pendlebury, the thought-provoking programme reframes the climate crisis through an artistic lens to examine the fragility of our modern world. The staging of the Vivaldi Four Seasons is directed by theatre director Anna Morrissey and designed by Carla Goodman, and features original soundscapes by Jamie Elless.

As the UK’s only music and dance conservatoire, we support a wide range of innovative and collaborative activity that pushes the boundaries of art forms and promote the development of new artistic media.

Opening at London’s National Maritime Museum (19 & 20 March), the ensemble will tour to Stoller Hall, Manchester and Shipley Arts Festival, before heading to Latitude Festival this summer with their environmental agenda.

This spring, the American violist is set to engage with music and dance students in a series of projects, concerts and workshops

Having held the Trinity Laban Carne Trust Junior Fellowship 2016-17, accomplished violist Stephen Upshaw returns to the conservatoire this spring to inspire the next generation of talented young musicians.

Stephen is a noted interpreter of contemporary music as both a soloist and chamber musician. He 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.

With a strong interest in synthesizing music with other fields, Stephen’s expertise will be exercised during CoLab, our annual festival of collaboration that sees students and stuff from across our faculties unite for a fortnight of experimental and creative projects.

Alongside fellow Solem Quartet musicians, he will work with students from Trinity Laban’s string, composition and dance departments to co-create Bela Bartok Now: Song & Dance. The project is inspired by the Solem Quartet’s Beethoven Bartok Now concept, which uniquely reimagines classical works with music from composers of today. It will weave existing music from Bartok, Beethoven and living composer Jasmine Morris, culminating in an hour-long performance side-by-side at Blackheath Halls (17 Feb).

In April, the quartet will return to coach chamber groups and give a lunchtime concert.

Stephen will also work with Trinity Laban composition students over four workshops in spring to create new works for viola, cello, mezzo-soprano and soprano, alongside his colleagues from the Riot Ensemble. And he will share his understanding of contemporary music with string students in a masterclass at the end of February.

Reflecting on his relationship with Trinity Laban, Stephen shares –

“My time at Trinity Laban as a Carne Trust Junior Fellow was an invaluable period of discovery with the amazing support and resource that the College had to offer.

“I’m so excited to be returning to Trinity Laban for so many projects this year. My career is now focused on chamber music and contemporary music – both aspects I’ll be exploring through the upcoming projects with Riot Ensemble and The Solem Quartet.

“I can’t wait to work with the wonderful students in string, composition and dance departments across the next few months and am thrilled to once again return to the Trinity Laban community.”

Image credit: Matthew Johnson

Trinity Laban and Nubian Jak Community Trust unveil Blue Plaque honouring the 16^th century court musician.

Royal-court trumpeter John Blanke served two kings and contributed to some of the greatest spectacles of the Tudor age. Playing in the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, he was amongst the highest-paid musicians working at Greenwich Palace.

Blanke is believed to be the earliest known Black Briton for whom we have both an image and a record, featuring twice in the Great Tournament Roll of Westminster, a 60ft manuscript depicting the royal procession and tournament to celebrate the birth of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon heir on New Year’s Day 1511.

On Friday 14 January 2022, over 500 years since the sounds of John Blanke’s trumpet filled the air in Greenwich, Trinity Laban and Nubian Jak Community Trust unveiled a commemorative blue plaque to honour the musician.

Speaking at the event to share insight into Blanke’s life and work were historian and National Director of the John Blanke Project, Michael Ohajura, Inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic England, Jane Sidell, The Reverend Simon Winn of St Alfege Church, Greenwich, and Dr Jak Beula, CEO of Nubian Jak Community Trust.

In a contemporary nod to Blanke’s musicality, Trinity Laban trumpeters played African-American composer Gary Powell Nash’s Enigmatic Fanfare, while writer Mark Thompson shared his poem John Blanke in which he responds to how the musician has and will be remembered.

The blue plaque has been installed at Trinity Laban’s Faculty of Music at the Old Royal Naval College, the site of the former royal residence.

In attendance were local dignitaries, representatives from the College of Arms, The National Archive and Historic England, and Trinity Laban staff.

Havilland Willshire, Trinity Laban’s Director of Music, comments –

“As the current guardians of King Charles Court, Trinity Laban treasures and celebrates the building’s unique history. It is a privilege for us to host the John Blanke plaque at our Faculty of Music as part of our Black Culture 365 series, our year-round commitment to celebrating Black history and art.”

Dr Jak Beula, CEO of Nubian Jak Community Trust, comments –

“The Trust is delighted to receive the support of Historic England, Trinity Laban, The John Blanke Project and other stakeholders, to celebrate and blow the trumpet of a pioneering 16th-century musician, who just by his very presence has forced us to rethink what it was like to be a Black Briton over 500 years ago and beyond.”

Michael Ohajura, National Director of the John Blanke Project, comments –

“This plaque dedicated to John Blanke marks him out in our history not just as the first Black Briton for whom we have both an image and a record but a sign of how diverse this island was and is, and how we celebrate our diversity today.”

Dr. Miranda Kaufmann, Author of Black Tudors. The Untold Story comments –

“It’s fantastic that the life of John Blanke, about whom scholars including Professor Imtiaz Habib, Dr. Onyeka Nubia, and myself, have discovered so much more over the last fifteen years, is being celebrated in this way, 510 years after John Blanke married in Greenwich in January 1512. I hope he will inspire the students who pass by the plaque every day.”

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Image credit Stephen Berkley-White; L-R: Mark Thompson (poet and educator), Michael Ohajura (National Director of the John Blanke Project), Jane Sidell (Inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic England), David Bahanovich (TL Assistant Director of Music), Jak Beula (CEO of Nubian Jak Community Trust)

The social music platform has gifted five Harmony and Heritage guitars to our Music Performance and Industry Students

The first of its kind for a London conservatoire, our BA (Hons) Music Performance and Industry launched this academic year and provides diverse musical artists with a world-class place to be a Changemaker.

And now, students on the programme have access to further enhanced resources, thanks to BandLab’s gift of five Harmony and Heritage guitars.

The gift equips singer-songwriters and instrumentalists with the high-quality tools to match their ambitions, supporting them to be curious, experimental and collaborative in developing their own artistic identity.

Joe Townsend, Head of BA Music Performance and Industry, comments –

“Trinity Laban is a future-focussed and socially engaged destination for young artists in the heart of southeast London’s creative music scene. While studying with us, our talented students deserve the very best equipment so they can succeed in and shape the musical landscape.

“We’re thrilled that this donation creates the opportunity for our students to play on instruments of this quality, giving students from all backgrounds a voice through the expression of music. We are deeply grateful for this support and expression of confidence from BandLab Technlologies.”

With a mission to break down the technical, geographic and creative barriers between creators, collaborators and community, BandLab is a free and unlimited social music platform enabling creators to make music and share the process with musicians and fans.

Meng Ru Kuok, Group CEO of BandLab Technologies, comments –

“Like Trinity Laban, BandLab is committed to supporting the next generation of music makers and empowering music creation through technology. We are very excited about the BA Music Performance and Industry programme launch and hope our gift of Harmony and Heritage guitars offers extra inspiration for the programme in its inaugural year. Best of luck to these students — our future hitmakers, songwriters, producers and performers — as they take this next step in their creative journey.”

BA Music Performance and Industry student Maddie Goode explains how the instruments have provided a new chapter in her song writing –

“This is the first time properly playing electric guitar. I’ve always played acoustic and I like playing electric now because it’s a warmer tone, which really adds to some of my songs.”

Fellow student Taliesin is using this opportunity to better understand the mechanics of guitar improvisation better in order to improve his song writing and stage performance.

Find out more about popular music at Trinty Laban.

Composer Sir George Benjamin and pianist Philip Fowke receive the conservatoire’s highest honour

Foremost English composer and conductor Sir George Benjamin CBE, and pianist and Emeritus Fellow of Piano at Trinity Laban Philip Fowke, have both received Honorary Fellowships from Trinity Laban in recognition of their contributions to music.

From his first orchestral piece Ringed by the Flat Horizon, which featured in the BBC Proms when he was only twenty years old to his most recent works, Sir George Benjamin has consistently produced music of outstanding creativity and invention. Notable for his innovative use of percussion and attention to detail, in each of his scores sensuous, alchemical sounds are underpinned with rigorous architecture, never more so than in his series of operas including the ground-breaking Written on Skin.Premiered at the Royal Opera House in 2012, the opera has since been staged by over 20 international houses, winning multiple awards and enjoying in excess of 100 performances.

Recent awards include the 2015 Prince Pierre of Monaco composition prize (for Written on Skin) and the 2019 Golden Lion Award for lifetime achievement from the Venice Biennale.  As a conductor Benjamin regularly works with some of the world’s leading orchestras, and over the years has developed particularly close relationships with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Ensemble Modern as well as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He was awarded a C.B.E. in 2010, made a Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2015, and was knighted in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

On receiving the award, Sir George Benjamin commented –

“To receive this award – within the spectacular setting of Trinity Laban – was both a huge pleasure and a great privilege.”

L-R: Havilland Willshire, Sir George Benjamin, Wozzy Brewster OBE, Alan Davey

Known for his many BBC Proms appearances, numerous recordings and broad range of repertoire, Philip Fowke is amongst Britain’s most outstanding pianists and distinguished musicians. His appearances with leading orchestras together with his many broadcasts and recordings have earned him international respect, admiration and the affection of audiences. Philip is a champion of less-known repertoire including British music by Scott, Bax, Delius, Bliss, Ireland, Hoddinott, Finzi and McCabe.

He has also enjoyed a distinguished teaching career beginning at the Royal Academy of Music where he was a professor from 1984 to 1989 and was awarded the F.R.A.M. After teaching at the Welsh College of Music and Drama he became Head of Keyboard at Trinity College of Music in 1994, and is currently Professor Emeritus at Trinity Laban. He is widely acclaimed for his imaginative teaching in which he explores students’ potential, encouraging them to develop their own individuality and to find ways of practising effectively and economically.

On receiving the award, Philip Fowke commented –

“I was delighted to be awarded a Trinity Laban Honorary Fellowship. As Havilland read out an outline of my career, I did wonder who he was referring to. It all seemed rather unreal, and I felt it was talking about someone else. The evidence of the photographs seems to prove otherwise, and the whole occasion was beautifully organised and presented.”

Philip Fowke holds Honorary Fellowship scroll

This year’s Honorary Fellowships were presented by Trinity Laban Chair Alan Davey at our recent graduation ceremonies for 2020 and 2021 music students.

Also in attendance at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich were Dr Anthony Bowne (Trinity Laban Principal), Havilland Willshire (Trinity Laban Director of Music) and Sara Matthews (Trinity Laban Director of Dance), alongside guest speakers Rebecca Allen (President of EMI Records) and Wozzy Brewster OBE (Founder & Executive Director of The Midi Music Company).

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Image credits: JK Photography

David Cohen will join London Symphony Orchestra from September 2022 

Trinity Laban cello and chamber music professor David Cohen has been appointed principal cello of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), alongside Rebecca Gilliver. 

The former principal cello of the Philharmonic Orchestra, Cohen is the artistic director of the Melchoir Ensemble and the founder and artistic director of the chamber music festival Les Sons Intensifs in Lessines, Belgium. 

Before he takes up his new role, Cohen will play for two concerts conducted by LSO principal conductor Sir Simon Rattle on 8 and 9 December 2021. 

On the appointment, Cohen comments –  

“I am hugely honoured to be joining the LSO. I feel beyond excited by the prospect of working with an orchestra with such a broad repertoire of work, unflagging energy and topflight musicians. I am also looking forward to continuing my commitment to working with young musicians at all stages of their development and throwing myself into this activity with the team at LSO Discovery.” 

Trinity Laban’s Head of Strings, Nic Pendlebury, comments –  

“David Cohen’s appointment with the LSO is incredibly well-deserved and testament to his skill as a performer.  

“He is one of many inspirational musicians who comprise our diverse teaching roster, including accomplished soloists, eminent chamber musicians, and leaders and principal players of our country’s major orchestras. It is their abilities as performers, and links with the industry, that mean our students benefit from a huge range of support and skills.” 

Discover more about our Strings department.  

Our students are mixing up their performance schedule to help lead change for the future of jazz.

Driven by a desire to “break down barriers” and “bring awareness”, bands from our celebrated Jazz Department are combining their regular gig schedule with touring local schools to connect with grass-roots musicians and inspire the next generation of music makers.

The interactive performances introduce pupils to instruments and music of jazz from 1930s jazz ‘Big Band’ to the present day. They also explore the building blocks of jazz, including improvisation, chord sequences and riffs.

Hans Koller, Trinity Laban’s Head of Jazz comments –

“The emphasis of Jazz on Tour is on performance. To inspire, to bring in our role models, to open ears, to show the quality of jazz and how it all started and still swings.”

After kicking things off at St Dunstan’s College in Lewisham, the Trinity Laban Fletcher Henderson Project is visiting Greenwich’s Middle Park Primary and Tower Hamlets’ William Davis Primary, as well as secondary schools John Roan School (Greenwich) and Pimlico Academy (Westminster). From January, Richard Henry’s Studio Band and the Trinity Laban Jazz Orchestra will take over the tour.

At secondary schools, aspiring musicians are given the opportunity to join the bands and play alongside conservatoire students, offering a taste of big band playing and full immersion in jazz performance.

St Dunstan’s students expressed how welcoming and engaging the session had been –

“I haven’t really improvised before, so it was interesting trying it out, especially in front of an audience. It was scary but fun.”

“It was really nerve-wracking cause everyone was really good, but everyone was really nice and really encouraging. So even if I did something wrong, which I did, I tried!”

Malcolm Earle-Smith, who leads the Trinity Laban Fletcher Henderson Project, explained –

“Every week the band gets great pleasure playing this wonderful music and we wanted to get out there and share it. There are all sorts of things you can learn about melody, harmony and form from earlier types of jazz; and, of course, the importance of rhythm, and how to make music ‘swing’. Being close to the blues, it also teaches us about personal expression. The element of improvisation gives you a chance to put your personal stamp on the music.

“Our undergraduate students have really benefitted from playing music from the 1930s and we want to show other young musicians they can too. This music has great vibrancy and energy. Once you start to understand it, it opens all kinds of doors.”

Other opportunities to see Trinity Laban Fletcher Henderson Project this year will be at the EFG London Jazz Festival (Sun 21 Nov) as part of The London Line-Up at The Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall. Also on the bill is The Jazz Hang @ Trinity Laban with Tomorrow’s Warriors. Now in it’s second year, the programme is a partnership between the conservatoire and Tomorrow’s Warriors, offering a weekly get together for aspiring young musicians focusing on sparking creativity and harnessing a love of jazz.

Alongside visiting local schools, musicians from the Jazz Department have also been celebrating NHS heroes with a series of lunchtime concerts at St George’s hospital in Tooting. The performances form part of the hospital’s initiative to thank staff and show gratitude for their astonishing work over the past 18 months.

To find out more about Jazz at Trinity Laban.