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Alumni profiles
Kate McDermott
Graduate of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland MMus with Distinction and Co-Principal Clarinet of Gothenburg Opera
I chose to return to Scotland after completing my undergraduate degree in London because of the incredible amount of performance opportunities in Glasgow. With two symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies, and a chamber orchestra in nearby Edinburgh, it seemed the ideal place to launch my career as an orchestral musician.
Coming from a London college meant I was able to compare the two experiences, and in my opinion one of the biggest advantages the RCS offers is having one of the country’s top accompanists on hand when you need him. After an undergraduate spent searching for, and paying for accompanists, this was a privilege that removed a lot of the stress from preparing for performance classes and recitals.
The apprenticeship schemes meant I got to experience orchestral auditions early on – something that is crucial for those hoping to secure an orchestral position, and which helped me personally with the many auditions I did after I left. My apprenticeship with Scottish Opera was particularly valuable to me as I got to perform my first opera with them, something I now do as a full time job!
My best memories of my time at the RCS include symphony orchestra concerts in City Halls, and performing John Adams’ ‘Gnarly Buttons’ as a concerto soloist. Some highlights of my career since leaving the RCS have been playing principal clarinet in orchestras such as the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; English National Opera and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As well as my job in Gothenburg I am also a regular guest with orchestras around Scandinavia and the UK, where I often come across fellow alumni from the RCS, who are playing with orchestras all over the world.
Fraser Langton
Graduate of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland MMus with Distinction and recently appointed sub-principal Clarinet with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
I chose to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland because the quality of the woodwind faculty is amongst the best anywhere. The woodwind staff are top players from Scotland’s professional orchestras and with the orchestral scene buzzing in Glasgow, there are so many chances to see your teachers perform. Already, I have had some fantastic opportunities, which I may not have experienced, had I decided to study elsewhere.
The Royal Conservatoire operates three apprenticeships in conjunction with the RSNO, BBC SSO and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. This has given me the chance to appreciate the subtleties of the profession first hand. Those opportunities included experiencing playing 2nd clarinet in a professional orchestra, taking part in the complete run of a full opera production as part of the Scottish Opera collaboration. I was also the concerto soloist with the BBC SSO performing Francaix’s Clarinet Concerto, which was an unbelievable experience!
There are also many performance opportunities within the Conservatoire itself. The orchestral programme is diverse and highly developed and there are many other specialist chamber ensembles such as the Stevenson Winds Ensemble that brings in leading artists to direct. There are also regular performance classes and masterclasses given by amazing artists, which heighten your development as a musician.
Fraser is currently on trial for principal positions with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Graeme Brown
Photo credit. BBC / Reuben Paris
Graduate of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Bassoon Principal No.2 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Woodwind Department is ‘ simply the best’. From the word go opportunities are abound for the aspiring woodwind player – and during my time here I have been given many, which I strongly believe would never have been offered to me elsewhere. The woodwind staff are extremely friendly and supportive in helping you to become the musician you want to be.
The early years in the department are a great opportunity to build on existing technique and understand your instrument more, particularly as we are offered a generous weekly 90minute lesson on our principal study and a further 30minutes on our related instrument (in my case, Contra). It prepares you well for the growing performance opportunities, and initial appearances in the Royal Conservatoire’s Symphony and Wind Orchestra’s helped me to build my understanding of orchestral technique early on – a valuable skill.
As a bassoonist, I was also able to do lots of work on reed-making before it ‘ really mattered’. All double reed players know that making your own reeds is very important and at the Royal Conservatoire the Woodwind Department has some of the best provisions for this in the UK. We have a double reed room for exclusive use of double reed students for personal practice and lessons. It also houses the Conservatoire’s reed-making equipment where we received regular reed-making classes.
As you develop through the course more opportunities arise in the form of competitions, concerto performances, large scale symphonic orchestral programmes with internationally renowned conductors, three professional orchestral training schemes, larger scale chamber music, opera orchestra, contemporary ensembles…the list is endless. Everything, I believe, is here for the aspiring woodwind player – great opportunities in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Graeme is currently on trial for the 2nd Bassoon position at the Royal Opera House.
Lewis Banks
Saxophonist and graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BMus and MMus degree programmes.
One of the key advantages of studying at the RCS are the sheer amount of performance opportunities afforded to you on a weekly basis. Within the first month of study, I had played in two performance classes, a wind orchestra lunchtime concert and a saxophone department showcase concert. Over the course of my two degrees I performed in countless performance classes, public recital/masterclasses, 3 concerto performances, contemporary music ensembles, orchestral concerts…the list is endless. I now realise that this constant exposure has really allowed me to develop a comfort in being on stage in many different performing scenarios, and this has stood me in very good stead when working in the profession.
The close relationships that the conservatoire has with professional ensembles such as the RSNO, BBC SSO and Red Note resulted in me taking part in a number of side by side schemes with professional musicians. Not only were these fantastic learning experiences for me, they also allowed me to make connections with musicians and conductors who later asked me to work with them on a professional basis.
The environment at the RCS is very demanding, but does allow enough flexibility for each student to pursue the avenues in which they are most interested. As a saxophonist, most of my focus is on solo playing and one of the highlights from my years at the RCS was the opportunity to perform Ibert’s Concertino da Camera with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Many musicians will never have the chance to perform a concerto with an internationally regarded orchestra during their whole career, but thanks to the RCS I was able to realise this ambition as an undergraduate student which was absolutely brilliant!
Since graduating I’ve been working on my own solo project with composer and fellow RCS Woodwind graduate Jay Capperauld, which is due to be premiered in September 2019. My other activities since graduating have included playing with the BBC SSO on a TV recording, guesting on lead alto with the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, and I’m due to make my London debut recitals at the Purcell Room and St Martin in the Fields in 2019. I’m also returning to the RCS in 2019 as the soloist in Santiago Baez’s l’Arlessienne Fantasy Concerto’ with the composer at the piano.
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Woodwind department collaborations
The Woodwind department is proud to present a number of events throughout the UK in association with distinguished partners each year. Details of our recent collaborations include:
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Clarinet Competition Sponsored by Buffet Crampon
14 October 2018
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Buffet Crampon held a day of masterclasses, concerts, workshops and talks all in celebration of the clarinet.
The festival featured international Buffet artists, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Maximiliano Martín and our acclaimed RCS teaching staff: John Cushing, Yann Ghiro, Lawrence Gill and Josef Pacewicz.
The event welcomed more than 200 clarinettists from around the globe and included concerts, a competition, collaborative performances and interactive sessions for every age and stage to enjoy.
Our festival image has been designed by RCS Woodwind Graduate Victoria Lopez. See more of her work at fagotina.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Clarinet Competition Sponsored by The Wind Section
June – October 2018
Young clarinettists from all over Europe applied to take part in the Conservatoire Clarinet Festival. Four finalists from Scotland, England, Lithuania and Croatia were selected to perform in a live final as part of the Conservatoire Clarinet Festival. The winner was awarded a £2000 voucher from The Wind Section.
RCS Woodwind collaboration with Chetham’s School of Music
September 2018
RCS Woodwind Tutors John Cushing and Stephen West accompanied by two of our current students, spent an inspiring day working in collaboration with Woodwind students at Chetham’s School of Music. Read what Chetham’s had to say about our visit here.
Collaboration with Crowther’s of Canterbury
21 May 2018
We welcomed back Crowther’s of Canterbury as the generous sponsor of our annual double reed concert and masterclass series. Oboist Steven Hudson (Royal Northern Sinfonia) and bassonist Graeme Brown (BBC SSO /RCS Woodwind Graduate) were this year’s guest artists.
“This long standing collaboration is always a highlight of the RCS Woodwind calendar and includes double reed masterclasses with the two invited artists performing in the concert, as well as Crowthers’ well stocked display of music, accessories and instruments.” Stephen West, RCS Oboe Tutor
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Chamber Music
Chamber Music
Chamber music is embedded in the training of RCS Woodwind students, providing a supportive and creative environment for young groups to hone their skills.
Chamber performance experiences include:
- Performance opportunities alongside professional musicians in both our Mondays and Fridays @ one concert series.
- Our prestigious ensemble Stevenson Winds affords high profile performance opportunities both within and out with the RCS.
- The unique opportunity to rehearse and perform side-by-side with members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Winds.
- Contemporary ensemble opportunities to perform in RCS MusicLab and Plug Festival (premiers of works by RCS composition students).
- Student led ensembles are given specialist professional coaching throughout their studies.
Chamber Music Alumni Profiles
Aisling Agnew
Flautist and graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
The Agnew McAllister Duo is internationally recognised as one of the leading Flute & Guitar Duos. Since the duo’s first concert together at the Harty Room in Belfast in 2000, Aisling Agnew and Matthew McAllister have performed extensively around the world earning the highest admiration from audiences. The duo has released two Duo CDs, ‘Recital’ and ‘Bidla’ and has featured on various other recordings as well as enjoying numerous broadcasts on radio including Classic FM, RTE Lyric FM, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Scotland. The duo performs regularly around Europe and has also recently toured in North/South America and Asia.
“Chamber coaching was a hugely important part of my studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I had 4 years of consistent tuition for my flute and guitar duo (as well as various RCS wind ensembles). Studying with different instrumentalists was enlightening and helped us realise the importance of rising beyond our individual parts, no matter what challenges they bring. We also had excellent sessions from our individual teachers David Nicholson and Allan Neave. One of the earliest pieces Matthew and I worked on as a duo was Eddie McGuire’s ‘Improvisations on Calderon’ and our tutor Stephen West went to the trouble of getting Eddie in to work with us (who we’ve had the pleasure to work with many times since). From this experience, we started to work with other composers and this became an important part of our ensemble in terms of sourcing and expanding repertoire and getting to the core of the music. It also helped in my journey as a contemporary musician and is something I do constantly in my work with Hard Rain Ensemble.
During our studies, Matthew and I developed a very wide-ranging repertoire and a strong sense of ensemble so that when we embarked on our early professional concert tours, we were already a confident and established duo. We are now fast approaching 20 years of concerts and international tours together. At the RCS we had many opportunities to perform in student concerts, performance classes, masterclasses and also concerts outwith the Conservatoire. In addition to my duo, I also toured with my RCS wind sextet around Scotland giving workshops and concerts, and the performances we gave of Poulenc Sextet were of lasting benefit, especially when I had the chance to perform it at Wigmore Hall the following year.”
Genovia Quartet is an innovative and dynamic bassoon quartet comprising current and recent RCS students – Rhiannon Carmichael, Gillian Horn, Victoria Lopez & Ana Rodriguez Garcia. The ensemble has performed to critical acclaim on the international stage.
“The most essential part of evolving and learning as a chamber group is to have as much platform time as possible, in order to try out ideas and put your hard work into practice. The RCS Woodwind department offers numerous performance opportunities including its Mondays and Fridays at One concert series, as well as links to external engagements (such as the Westbourne Music concert series). We were ‘Highly Commended’ in the RCS Governors’ Recital Prize for Chamber Music and we were honoured to receive the Mary D. Adams Prize for outstanding achievement in chamber music.
In terms of preparing for performances, we received high quality tuition sessions throughout the year from experts including David Hubbard, RSNO and Alison Green, SCO. We were also able to perform in the weekly performance classes, open days, education workshops, and participated in masterclasses with prominent musicians such as Joost Bosdjik from the London Symphony Orchestra.
Having access to the top quality recording studios in the RCS was a huge bonus, as we were able to put together a CD for promotional use.
Performing chamber music is one of the most fun and beneficial learning experiences you can have as a musician. Programming your own concerts, discovering new repertoire, organising your time/members and most importantly being dedicated to your ensemble – these are all skills we learned within the Conservatoire and have been putting into practice ever since. If you make good use of the facilities and excellent tuition, you can build on these skills to become autonomous and well-prepared to enter the profession.”
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