Trinity Laban student Giulio Potenza has just returned from Lugano, Switzerland, where he had been invited to perform by legendary Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich.

Argerich, who is known for her generous support of young musicians, first heard Giulio perform in 2014. She was so impressed that she offered him a solo recital in the 2015 edition of her Martha Argerich Project, which includes concerts and masterclasses and serves as a showcase for outstanding musical talent from around the globe.

At his recital on 15 June, Giulio performed Janacek’s Sonata 1.x.1905 and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. For the grand finale, he joined forces with Trinity Laban piano professor Gabriele Baldocci, who is an Ambassador for the Martha Argerich Project, and himself performed four times during the event. Their performance of Schumann’s Ballszenen was a big hit with the enthusiastic audience.

In addition to his solo recital, Giulio was also selected to take part in a performance of Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen, performing with world-famous pianist Daniel Rivera. Also taking part in that recital was a third Trinity Laban pianist in the shape of José Menor, Trinity Laban Junior Fellow in Piano Accompaniment.

Trinity Laban Director of Music Claire Mera-Nelson commented: “This is just the latest in a long line of successes for our pianists, who are making a real impact on the world stage. Trinity Laban is firmly established as a world-leading centre for piano study, and I’m looking forward to hearing about further success from Giulio, Gabriele, Jose and our other extraordinarily talented students, staff and Junior Fellows.”

All the performances received a wonderful reaction from both audience and critics, and were broadcast live on radio and online. For more details, please visit the Lugano Festival website.

Giulio Potenza was supported in 2014-15 by a Jacqueline Williams Scholarship. This scholarship was generously set up by Jacqueline Williams, a music alumnus, through a bequest in her will for the provision of an endowed scholarship.

This week, students from Trinity Laban’s Centre for Advanced Training in Dance (CAT) are in Copenhagen, presenting a new work as part of the young people’s performance platform at the 13th World Congress, Dance and the Child International (daCi). 

The 20 students are performing a piece commissioned from Lee Smikle which takes a personal look at what makes us us. Layering material created using their own unique fingerprints as stimuli, the dancers explore and share their identities through movement.

The talented young performers are also taking part in classes and creative sessions with over 365 other participants from 32 countries. Elsewhere in the conference, Trinity Laban staff members Veronica Jobbins (Head of Learning and Participation, Dance) and Emma Redding (Head of Dance Science) are presenting papers as part of the Professional Forum.

Trinity Laban’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) offers young people with exceptional talent and potential in dance the opportunity to access high quality training. The challenging and supportive programme of classes provides intensive and rigorous dance training taught by a highly experienced team of professional teachers and artists. It aims to actively seek out and identify talented and motivated young people who have the potential for a career in dance and to guide them as they make decisions regarding their furture training and higher education.

Many congratulations to jazz sax alumnus Phil Meadows, who has won the Jazz Rising Star Award in the London Music Awards, announced last night (Thursday 11 June 2015) at Camden’s Roundhouse.

Phil was nominated along with three other alumni – Leo Richardson (also in the jazz category), Laura Jurd in the composition/ songwriter category and pianist Mikhail Shilyaev as classical rising star.

The London Music Awards, which were set up by the Mayor’s Music Fund, celebrate the achievements of London’s aspiring musicians. The nominees were selected as the most promising musicians the capital has to offer and were judged by the London Music Award’s judging panel, which included composer and Trinity Laban staff member Errollyn Wallen MBE.

Phil also won the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award in 2013, and is involved in a myriad of exciting projects. As a saxophonist he performs with the Phil Meadows Group, whose acclaimed debut album Engines of Creation toured throughout the UK with support from Jazz Services. Phil is also the musical and artistic director of the 20 piece Engines Orchestra, a community of musicians who come together to challenge conventions and push the boundaries of creative music making. Their first album, Lifestyles (2014), attracted rave reviews, including four stars from John Fordham in the Guardian, who called the album “inventive and expressive”.

Trinity Laban’s world-leading Jazz Department is a vibrant community of teachers of international repute and talented students, intent upon developing their music with skill and individuality. Our jazz students are much in demand, and regularly invited to perform at leading venues and festivals in London and beyond.

Photo: Phil Meadows

www.philmeadowsmusic.co.uk