GROVES HALL, SUTTON VALENCE SCHOOL

Saturday 18 January 2020

ROTARY CLUB of

MAIDSTONE DAWN PATROL

Programme

MAIDSTONE YOUNG MUSICIAN

COMPETITION

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Introduction Welcome to the Maidstone Young Musician of the Year 2020 competition. We hope you enjoy the evening. Congratulations to the eight finalists, their parents and teachers. Selection was made at the preliminary round, Maidstone Music Festival. Our three judges now have the task of choosing a winner and a runner-up plus a ‘young musician of promise’. We are honoured that the Mayor of Maidstone, Councillor Marion Ring, has agreed to present the awards. The event is also the gateway to competing at district, regional and national levels for the title of Rotary Young Musician, and for this the best instrumentalist and vocalist of the evening have the opportunity to go forward. As well as organizing this competition, Dawn Patrol is raising funds this year for BRCA Kent (BReast CAncer Kent / a mutation of a faulty gene) and KDCS (Kent Deaf Children’s Society) as well as other good causes. We also help in the local community through practical acts of service. Enquiries about the club and Rotary membership are welcomed. Our meetings are over breakfast. The two other local Rotary clubs are Maidstone (meeting at lunchtime), and Riverside (meeting for supper). Together we co-operate as ‘Rotary in Maidstone’.

Clinton Davis, MYM project leader, Rotary Club of Maidstone Dawn Patrol

Rotary Rotary is one of the world’s largest and most successful global membership and humanitarian service organisations, with 1.2 million members in over 200 countries. Rotary fights disease. Since 1985, its key humanitarian priority has been to rid the world of polio. Rotary spearheaded the campaign at a time when there were over 1,000 cases a day in 125 countries, paralysing and even killing children. Today, the number of cases is down by 99.9%. Providing clean water and hygiene facilities is another aspect of Rotary work, as is the expansion of quality healthcare, protecting children from disease and building sustainable health solutions.

Another important role of Rotary is in the context of natural disasters, ensuring that money raised goes to local Rotarians directly bringing relief to people in need. The stock of shelter boxes, providing families with the main items they need for their initial months, is constantly replenished. Education is another major interest, Rotary’s goal being to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy around the world. This has also resulted in the various youth competitions run nationally, including Rotary Young Musician. Rotary seeks to promote world peace, advancing goodwill and understanding across the world by training local leaders to support long-term peacebuilding.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Maidstone Rotary Dawn Patrol is grateful to the following for their help and support:

Sutton Valence School for the venue and all the help from the events staff and the head of music, Phil Horley Advertisers Aford Awards, Earl Street Employment, Kent College Canterbury, Gullands, Interconnected Solutions, and The Piano Shop

The Maidstone Music Festival for holding the first round of the competition

Nancy Litten for acting as music consultant and compiling the programme

Chas Bedford for photography

Elaine Craven for the use of her boardroom as a venue for the photo-shoot

The Mayor

of Maidstone

Councillor Marion Ring As Mayor of Maidstone I am delighted to have the opportunity to watch the talented young people perform in the 2020 Maidstone Young Musician competition. I am keen to promote young people in our Borough and encourage them to achieve their best. I wish the performers the very best of luck and hope the winner goes on to achieve further success in the national competition.

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JUDGES

Trevor Brearley Trevor Brearley was born in Bexley and educated at Taunton School in Somerset where he held a music scholarship and developed a passion for music of many different kinds. He then studied organ with Richard Popplewell, piano with Ian Lake and flute with John Francis at the Royal College of Music in London where he was awarded the Stuart Prize for organ playing. He undertook post-graduate studies at London University Institute of Education and was later awarded an MA with distinction in Music from Kent University. He was accompanist for the Young Musician of Medway for twenty years and he has very happy memories of working with so many outstanding young players and singers; since stepping aside from the position of accompanist he has often been on the panel of judges so he is particularly delighted to be asked to be a judge for the Maidstone Young Musician. Trevor’s wide musical interests include experience as a conductor of choirs and orchestras, organist, harpsichordist, piano accompanist, orchestral player, adjudicator and choral singer. He has held posts as organist of several parish churches in Kent and is at present organist in the parish of Otham and Langley. He is also the accompanist and deputy conductor for Bearsted Choral Society and for Energize, a local community choir. He held posts as Head of Music in two Kent comprehensive schools before moving to Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School in Rochester where he taught Music and Mathematics for nearly thirty years, holding the post of Director of Music from 1981 to 1998 after which he held various administrative posts. Since his retirement from teaching he has worked locally as a freelance musician and has given numerous fundraising concerts and recitals. Trevor has lived in Bearsted for over 40 years and his three children still live nearby. His interests include cooking, swimming, reading, walking and trying to speak foreign languages; he also works as a volunteer for the Kent Association for the Blind. He is a keen traveller and his ambition is to see as much of our planet as possible while he is still on it.

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Martyn Clements Martyn Clements MA, PGCE, FISM started learning the piano and became a chorister at the age of seven and took up the bassoon when he started secondary school. Whilst at school he co-founded a barbershop octet and directed the music for a number of school revues as well as occasionally conducting the Chapel Choir. He was already playing bassoon in the Essex Youth Orchestra when he went up to Cambridge to read for a degree in music. There he was a member of the University Orchestra, conducted by Sir David Willcocks, and a Choral Scholar at Trinity College. Following graduation Martyn moved into music education, working for over thirty years at a large London day school, where he taught music to A level, conducted choirs, bands and orchestras, and tutored sixth form music students. Many of his former pupils have gone on to become professional musicians. Musical theatre has always been one of Martyn’s passions and he has conducted over fifty Musicals with various schools and local amateur societies in London, Essex, Kent and Melbourne, Australia Martyn has been a member of Rochester Cathedral Voluntary Choir for nearly 20 years as well as serving as a deputy lay clerk. He is also to be seen accompanying various local amateur choirs in the Medway area.

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Kathryn Ridgeway

Kathryn Ridgeway graduated with a BMus (Hons) from Sheffield University and LRAM from the Royal Academy of Music. She trained as a violinist under the Lindsay String Quartet, Martin Milner and Lionel Bentley. She pursued her playing and teaching career in the Southeast as Head of Instrumental Studies for Mid-Kent, performing with local orchestras and chamber ensembles; she later became Head of Strings at Trent College. Her ideology of making music accessible to all, resulted in the inauguration of a Residential Summer Holiday Music Course for young string players in Kent. She worked with the Kent County Youth Orchestra and toured Brazil, Holland and France and conducted at the Benenden Summer School. She then extended her experience and expertise to music education in schools. As Director of Music at Invicta Grammar School, Bromley High School and Blackheath High School, she re-energised the music departments and Creative Arts subjects, improving results and extra-curricular provision and making the subject engaging and successful at all levels; this excellence was recognised nationally by Chris Woodhead and Ofsted. She has directed choral concerts in major London venues and staged musicals. One of the highlights of her career was directing and conducting a performance of Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall for Bromley High School’s 125th birthday celebrations. 200 singers, 150 dancers and an orchestra of 100, with fireworks on the last chord, made the centre spread of the Evening Standard the next day! Bromley High School was the first school in the south-east to stage the schools production of Les Miserables. Kathryn continues to perform regularly in the Southeast and is closely involved in music in local primary schools; she is currently the Music Director of The Maidstone Singers and West Malling Community Choir. Her commitment to the power of music has inspired her to establish a ‘singing for well-being’ group – Healing Voices – in the local area.

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PARTICIPA

PARTICIPANTS

Exceptional academic results at A Level and IB

Scholarships available for Academic, Art, Design,

Drama, Music, and Sport

Closing date for year 9 and 12 Scholarship Entry

30th January 2020

An outstanding co-educational independent school for ages 0-18

To find out more or to visit us contact kentcollege.com or call 01227 763231

Kent CollegeCanterbury

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PARTICIPANTS

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SIENA BARR is 15 years old. She attends Highworth Grammar School where she is studying for her GCSEs. On Saturdays she attends the Junior Department at Guildhall where she is taught by Derek Hannigan. Aged 9, she earned a place in the National Children’s Orchestra, in which she played for 4 consecutive years. She was principal clarinettist of the NCO London Regional Orchestra during this time. Siena is also a member of Kent County Youth Orchestra. In 2018 she achieved her ABRSM Diploma. In 2019 she won the Gold Medal in Woodwind at the Hastings Festival and won the Canterbury Festival Bursary Competition. Siena also plays piano, jazz saxophone and flute. In her spare time, she loves painting and drawing. Mozart: Concerto in A, (Allegro exposition) Messager: Solo de Concours Accompanist: Jamie Rogers

LEONIE CARRETTE started classical singing at age 7, entering local music festivals and taking ABRSM Grades 1-7. In 2018 she won the Lynn Coveney Award at North Kent Music Festival for the best junior vocal performance. As a chorister in the Girls’ Choir, she sings 3-4 times a week at Canterbury Cathedral. Her singing lessons are with Nancy Litten in Maidstone. She is a student at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School and at age 15 is preparing for 9 GCSEs which she will sit in May. She hopes to study Music, German, Classical Civilisation and English Literature at A level and would love to pursue a career in Opera. Her other interests include reading, drawing and expanding her collection of miniature cacti. Trad: Early One Morning Gluck: Del Mio Dolce Ardor Gershwin: Summertime Accompanist: Nancy Litten

Giordani: Caro Mio Ben Skin: Rag ‘n Bone Man

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EMMA COURTNESS My date of birth is 10/12/02. I am currently studying Music Performance at West Kent College of Further Education, in Tonbridge. At the end of the 2 years I will have hopefully achieved an extended national diploma in the course. This will allow me to go to the University of my choice to study music. My tutor at College is called Joseph Gibson. I have singing lessons and have done for the past 6 years. My teacher is called Ms Anna Nicolaus Evans. I am a member of Kent Youth Choir, which meets three times a year. I enjoy playing sport, especially hockey. I am enjoying helping with the Cub Scouts and going out with my friends to watch music performances. Torelli: Tuo Lo Sai Bernstein: Somewhere Accompanist: Mark Bromley

FINN GAPE is a music scholar in Year 13 at Kent College, Canterbury, preparing for music, maths and physics A Levels. He studies piano with Sarah Bailie and also attends masterclasses with Julian Jacobson at the Royal College of Music. He has recently enjoyed successes in the Kent Competitive Piano Festival, Thanet Arts Festival and Maidstone Music Festival, coming first in many classes. Last April he made his debut playing with a professional orchestra at his school’s Easter concert at the Colyer Fergusson Hall. He is working towards an ABRSM piano diploma, having achieved distinction at every grade, and preparing for a spring concert where he will play Grieg’s Piano Concerto. In addition, he is starting to teach beginners. He plays saxophone and will take Grade 8 next term. He is a member of the school orchestra, jazz band, saxophone quartet and senior choir.

Rachmininoff: Prelude in C minor Op. 3, No. 2 Debussy: Pagodes, from Estampes

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OLIVER MOH is 8 years old in year 4 at Junior Kings School in Canterbury. He began having regular cello lessons 3 years ago and made such rapid progress that he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Music in September 2019 where he has cello lessons with Bozidar Vukotic and piano lessons with Tadashi Imai. Oliver got a high distinction in his ABRSM grade 5 cello exam. He enjoys ensemble playing and is a member of the National Children’s Orchestra under 10s. He currently plays a 1/2 size cello and is preparing to take his grade 8 exam. In his free time Oliver enjoys playing with his toys, football, and speed-cubing (solving different types of Rubik’s cubes in competitive settings). Maria Theresia von Paradis: Sicilienne Saint- Saëns: Allegro appasionato Accompanist: Tim Frost

DANIEL PENGELLY is 14 years old and is a music scholar at Tonbridge School where he takes part in a variety of ensembles and choirs. He has played the flute for six years and has achieved his ATCL with Distinction. He also has Grade 8 on the recorder, Grade 7 on piano; he plays the drums, and sings. He has lessons with his teacher, Dr Jessica Quiñones, on Skype, and he plays a Haynes Q3 flute which has been generously supported by the H R Taylor Trust. He is currently awaiting the result of his Licentiate diploma. He enjoys arranging, composing, and performing music, and he very much hopes to be a professional musician when he is older. Andy Scott: Salt of the Earth Pietro Morlacchi: Il Postore Svizzero

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She is currently working toward

ELIZA RUFFLE is 13 years old. She was a TV commercial model for five years, after which she started to concentrate on piano. She passed her LRSM diploma exam at age 11. She has won many prestigious piano competitions in the UK, Hong Kong, Italy, Vienna, America and Poland. In October 2019, she won the keyboard position as the youngest player of National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO). She has performed in Europe, Asia, and the USA, (the Carnegie Hall in 2015, 2016, and 2017.)

When Eliza is not playing piano, she enjoys reading and writing adventure stories, drawing pictures, camping, making her own science experiments, and eating sweet things… Haydn: Sonata in C major Hob XV150 Chopin: Etude Op. 10, No. 5 (Black Key)

ASHLEY SOLANO HERNANDEZ

Ashley Solano Hernández has been a prize winner in the Beckenham Festival, Bromley Festival, Dulwich Music Festival, Maidstone festival Bromley Summer Piano Course, and Kent International Piano Courses. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Murray McLachlan, Joanna MacGregor, Stephen Dandridge, Penelope Roskell and Cristina Ortiz, and has performed in venues across the UK (Southbank Centre, St. Alfege's Church, Ripley Arts Centre, Amaryllis Fleming Hall and Steinway Hall) and in Greece. He is 16 years old and studies piano with Natalie Tsaldarakis. He is currently working towards his A levels. Beethoven: Sonata Op. 2, No. 1, mov. 4 Rachmaninov: Polichinelle

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GUEST ARTISTS

Matthew Hua, winner 2019

Since winning the Maidstone Young Musician Competition in 2019, I have had many new opportunities, including public performances and accompanying. Last September I accepted a place to study Music and Sound Recording at the University of York. I have also released my debut EP “Untold Emotions” which I really enjoyed finishing over the summer. With the help of my teacher, Nancy Litten, I have recently gained the ARSM diploma with distinction, and I am planning to continue my studies of piano to achieve the DipABRSM exam in the summer.

Scarlatti: Sonata in F minor Kp.239 Debussy: La Cathédrale Engloutie from Preludes Book 1 Billy Mayerl: Marigold

Trio from King’s School, Rochester

Damien Dimitrov, violin Carolina Ferreira, violin John Mountford, piano Shostakovich: 5 Pieces for two violins and piano op.97d Damien will be taking up a place at Guildhall School of Music, London in the autumn of 2020, while Carolina will move to Glasgow to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. John Mountford has been the Director of Music at Kings Rochester since September 2017. He directs the school's choral society 'King’s Chorus' and also Rochester Choral Society.

King’s School musicians conducted by John Mountford

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Maidstone Young Musician Winners

1996 Fiona Wight Previously the lead singer of Riverdance, and of her own Celtic band Legend, Fiona is a professional performer, composer and PR writer www.fionawight.co.uk 1997 Robert Simmons Graduate of RNCM, violinist, member of Estilo String Quartet, Royal Ballet Sinfonia (Birmingham Royal Ballet) and freelance for shows and orchestras https://encoremusicians.com/Robert-Simmons 1998 Chris Spencer Professor of Clarinet at the UAE Armed Forces School of Music; freelance clarinettist and saxophonist. Previously Principal clarinettist in the Band of the Grenadier Guards, he featured regularly as a soloist. 1999 Natalie Holt Violinist; film and TV composer. Natalie won an Ivor Novello award in 2015, was made an associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2017 and nominated for an Emmy award in 2017 for the music for ‘Victoria’. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Holt

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2000 Harry Winstanley Studied at Cambridge and RAM. Previously a in the Hong Kong Sinfonietta; now a busy freelance flautist based in London; guest principal with major orchestras at home and abroad. http://www.harrywinstanleymusic.com 2005 Lucia D’Avanzo London-based solo violinist, violist, ensemble player and teacher https://econotes.co.uk/notes/ 2006 Elspeth Robertson Has a master’s degree from the Royal College of Music. Concerto recorder soloist and Baroque oboe player https://handelhendrix.org/musician/elspeth-robertson- 2007 Grace Scott Deuchar Oboist, currently teaching and playing in London. Plays modern and baroque oboe. https://encoremusicians.com/Grace-Scott-Deuchar 2008 Kirsty Nimmo has a BMus from Manchester University and MMus from TrinityLaban. Flute teacher at Roedean School, Brighton, and Woodwind Specialist at Surrey Arts https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-nimmo-4401583b/?originalSubdomain=uk 2009 Sarah Hughes Organist, pianist, cellist, singer. Multi=talented, (she played cello in the National Youth Orchestra) Sarah studied at Brasenose College, Oxford where she was organ scholar https://encoremusicians.com/Sarah-Hughes 2010 Joe Atkin-Reeves Freelance clarinettist, saxophonist and flautist (classical and jazz), specialising in theatre and session work; also a composer, arranger and producer. Studied at RWCMD https://www.joeatkinreeves.com 2011 Sarah Johnson Oxford and RCM graduate; freelance chamber and orchestral horn player (including the Southbank Sinfonia); holds the horn Chair in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra https://www.southbanksinfonia.co.uk/musicians-profile/10035/sarah-johnston 2012 Tabitha Reynolds Opera and oratorio mezzo-soprano, winning scholarships to continue further studies at the Royal Academy of Music http://www.tabithareynolds.com 2013 Laurence Long Organ and piano soloist; Auxiliary Organist at All Saints Margaret St., London. Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music. Won the Stephen Corry Award in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. encoremusicians.com/laurencelong 2014 Will Scott Classical and electric guitarist based in London, he graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal College of Music. https://www.willscottguitarist.co.uk 2015 George Harrington After achieving outstanding A-level results in 2017, George is studying Philosophy at Southampton University, where he is on the committee of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra.

(the competition was in abeyance 2016-17)

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2018 – Joseph Pickard continues his studies at Junior Trinity on trumpet and composition. He plays principal trumpet for Maidstone Wind Symphony. 2019– Matthew Hua See what Matt has been doing since his win last year on page 14.

Maidstone Music Festival

Nov 21-22 2020

Adjudicators:

PIANO Nancy Litten

WIND Paul Harris

STRINGS Roy Robinson

SINGING Benjamin Costello

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