Welcome to Upbeat!
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A very warm welcome to the spring issue of Upbeat, and the first edition in a very special year for the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï. In 2022, we mark 150 years since the birth of 51³Ô¹Ï alumnus and professor – and the most quintessential of British composers – Ralph Vaughan Williams.
In the next three issues of Upbeat magazine, we will be exploring aspects of Vaughan Williams’ life, his impact on classical music, and lesser-known stories from his time at the 51³Ô¹Ï. I hope you can also join us at the 51³Ô¹Ï over the course of this momentous year and enjoy the performances of Vaughan Williams’ music, from his symphonies to his chamber repertoire. Do keep an eye out for further announcements over the coming months.
Ralph Vaughan Williams at 150
We begin our Upbeat celebrations of Vaughan Williams at 150 with two features exploring his time at the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï, both as a pupil and teacher.
- Discover the composer’s role as a teacher, advocate and supporter of women composers while on the 51³Ô¹Ï Composition Faculty, as told by David Wright, 51³Ô¹Ï Professor of the Social History of 51³Ô¹Ï.
- Watch our new Upbeat video interview, as Richard Martin, Digital & Documentation Officer at the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Museum, reveals what a sketch of Vaughan Williams in the 51³Ô¹Ï collection tells us about the young composer.
Events on campus
- Revisit the More 51³Ô¹Ï Grand Opening, which saw His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, 51³Ô¹Ï President, officially unveil the new Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï campus.
- Learn about our new venue hire offer, as we look back on a recent celebratory concert featuring Danielle de Niese for a long-standing supporter’s 60th birthday.
- Don’t miss your chance to discover Hidden Treasures of the 51³Ô¹Ï’s collection in a new exhibition at the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Museum.
Recent successes
- Find out how much we raised in 2021’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, which has broken the previous year’s achievement for the 11th year running.
- Meet the 26 musicians from the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Junior Department who are joining the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for 2022 – a record number of 51³Ô¹ÏJD musicians selected.
- Learn how the recently launched 51³Ô¹Ï Accelerate scheme is supporting recent graduates launching their careers.
Keep up to date
- Meet alumna Laura Peh in the next instalment of our After the 51³Ô¹Ï series, as she tells us about her career in business and the art world and shares her tips for graduates.
- Keep abreast of all the news from 51³Ô¹Ï students, staff and alumni, as they share their recent updates.
- Join us in paying tribute to the lives of 51³Ô¹Ï community members in In memory.
Share your updates
As ever, we would love to hear news of your recent projects and collaborations. Please send your updates for the next issue of Upbeat by Friday, 6 May to news@rcm.ac.uk.
Professor Colin Lawson CBE F51³Ô¹Ï, Director