Iconic Scottish institutions deliver 5 star training to next generation of performing artists and hospitality professionals
Iconic Scottish institutions deliver 5 star training to next generation of performing artists and hospitality professionals
Published: 06/03/2017
One of the largest and most ambitious symphony orchestra performances from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland musicians and singers is taking place in Glasgow this month in partnership with the iconic Gleneagles hotel.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Gleneagles Gala Concert on March 17 in the City Halls plays a key role in the 170th anniversary celebrations of Scotland’s national conservatoire. More than 200 performers will take to the stage in what promises to be a magnificent evening of music, held as part of a city-wide focus on Scotland’s most eminent composer, Sir James MacMillan.
The programme presents MacMillan’s The Death of Oscar and The World’s Ransoming, featuring oboist Clara Lafuente GarcÃa, winner of the first Royal Conservatoire of Scotland MacMillan Concerto Competition in 2016.
The concert also features Royal Conservatoire alumni, soprano Kate Valentine, mezzo-soprano Penelope Cousland and tenor Jamie MacDougall. They are joined by the Royal Conservatoire’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus as well as young people from the Junior Conservatoire Music programme, led by Sir James MacMillan, a Royal Conservatoire Honorary Visiting Professor, and Royal Conservatoire Artistic Director of Conducting, Garry Walker.
To highlight the ground-breaking partnership which promotes excellence in Scotland’s performing arts and hospitality and to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week (March 6-10) young musicians from Scotland’s national conservatoire joined forces with some of the Gleneagles apprentices who are also set to play vital roles in this month’s glittering occasion.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland students Clara Lafuente GarcÃa and Colin McKee will perform at the concert and are pictured at the world-renowned Perthshire property alongside Gleneagles’ hospitality apprentices Lewis Hunter, Cameron Baxter and Callum Rees, part of the front-of-house team who will ensure sparkling service on the night.
Concierge Callum, guest services co-ordinator Cameron and head waiter at Gleneagles’ Strathearn restaurant Lewis, are undertaking the three-year Scottish Apprenticeship in Hospitality, a prestigious, industry-led programme led by Gleneagles and other Scottish hotel groups. Gleneagles has 35 apprentices who work across all areas of the hotel including guest relations, housekeeping, professional cookery and greenkeeping.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Gleneagles partnership was launched in 2016 to provide opportunities to celebrate, showcase and support the next generation of world-class performing artists trained at the national conservatoire.
A scholarship has been designed to support an exceptional performance student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Gleneagles also supports the work of the Royal Conservatoire through the sponsorship of a range of gala performances at high-profile locations, including the City Halls concert venue and the famous Gleneagles ballroom, which hosted a gala dinner in November last year.
Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland said:
“We’re delighted to work in partnership with Gleneagles who share our passion and commitment to be excellent and inspiring in what they do. We look forward very much to our inaugural gala concert in Glasgow’s beautiful City Halls where our emerging artists and their apprentices will help showcase the exceptional next generation of talent that’s being nurtured here in Scotland.”
Bernard Murphy, Gleneagles’ Managing Director, said:
“The partnership between Gleneagles and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a celebration of our shared values both organisations believe in developing outstanding talent and delivering excellence in the guest and student experience.”
Tickets for The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Gleneagles Gala Concert are available from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland box office or call 0141 332 5057.
