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Ballencrieff Castle visit
A few photos of the visit to Ballencrieff Castle on Saturday 23rd July where John Kitchen gave a harpsichord recital and all had a very interesting and enjoyable time. Thanks goes to Joy and George Sypert who made visitors very welcome and excelled in providing gorgeous refreshments.
Click on picture to enlarge
A few photos of the visit to Ballencrieff Castle on Saturday 23rd July where John Kitchen gave a harpsichord recital and all had a very interesting and enjoyable time. Thanks goes to Joy and George Sypert who made visitors very welcome and excelled in providing gorgeous refreshments.
Click on picture to enlarge
Introducing Ruthanne Baxter: Museum Services Manager
Ruthanne took up her appointment as Museum Services Manager for Edinburgh University in February. She has particular responsibility for St Cecilia’s Hall and further duties with the Centre for Research Collections. Ruthanne is hugely sympathetic to all the purposes and activities associated with St Cecilia’s Hall and is impeccably qualified for her post, since she holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music, and a postgraduate qualification in Cultural Management.
Ruthanne hails from Northern Ireland. She began her career managing her own school of music, and teaching and examining in County Fermanagh. In 2007 she moved to Scotland to become arts education manager for East Lothian Council. In 2012 the Museums and Galleries division of City of Edinburgh Council enticed her to join them, first as development officer then as commercial and visitor services manager. Her wealth of experience and professional contacts make her an ideal person to promote St Cecilia’s as a unique cultural resource in Edinburgh and as a primary attraction for visitors to the city.
It is obvious to everyone who meets her that Ruthanne is wholly enthusiastic about her new job. She looks forward to welcoming you to St Cecilia’s and sharing its heritage treasures.
Ruthanne took up her appointment as Museum Services Manager for Edinburgh University in February. She has particular responsibility for St Cecilia’s Hall and further duties with the Centre for Research Collections. Ruthanne is hugely sympathetic to all the purposes and activities associated with St Cecilia’s Hall and is impeccably qualified for her post, since she holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music, and a postgraduate qualification in Cultural Management.
Ruthanne hails from Northern Ireland. She began her career managing her own school of music, and teaching and examining in County Fermanagh. In 2007 she moved to Scotland to become arts education manager for East Lothian Council. In 2012 the Museums and Galleries division of City of Edinburgh Council enticed her to join them, first as development officer then as commercial and visitor services manager. Her wealth of experience and professional contacts make her an ideal person to promote St Cecilia’s as a unique cultural resource in Edinburgh and as a primary attraction for visitors to the city.
It is obvious to everyone who meets her that Ruthanne is wholly enthusiastic about her new job. She looks forward to welcoming you to St Cecilia’s and sharing its heritage treasures.
From the Chairman’s Desk 2017
We are surely in a time of rejoicing! After two years and eight months of well-wishers’ waiting, St Cecilia’s Hall has re-opened in transformed and revitalised condition. At celebrations in early May the concert hall organ was heard for the first time in decades, following its splendid restoration which was funded by so many Friends in response to our appeal. John Kitchen’s recital programme also featured the 1755 double-manual Kirckman harpsichord, an appropriate choice, not only to suit the music played, but also because in 1971 that superbly veneered instrument was the earliest acquisition substantially funded by The Friends. In his introductory speech thanking all major donors to the redevelopment project, the Principal of Edinburgh University duly recognised the support given by The Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall over a period of forty-five years. Current committee officers felt proud to represent our organisation at this event.
The curators had been working heroically to ensure that the instrument galleries looked magnificent. The displays are very striking, enhanced by excellent lighting. The keyboard galleries are more beautifully set out than ever before, while the collections of historic wind, string and percussion instruments, transferred from the old museum in the Reid Hall, are breathtakingly impressive in newly designed display areas on the lower level of the building. The Sypert Concert Room itself looks amazing! The double tier of perimeter seating gives wonderful sightlines, while the central seating, upholstered to match, gives so much more comfort than previously. Best of all, the acoustic is excellent: “zingy”, but also sensitive and responsive to performers, whether vocal or instrumental. All in all, a great space for making and hearing music. I hope that our Soundboard photo feature will give Friends who live at a distance a sense of the exciting changes, and inspire those who live closer to come to see for themselves.
Please put the date of Saturday 29th July in your diaries. We hope that on that afternoon many Friends will join curators and committee for an exclusive “At Home” gathering, to explore the building, hear a recital by John Kitchen, share refreshments and socialise together. If you would like to attend this free event, please reserve places in advance, so that sufficient catering supplies can be organised! (further information on p. 24).
Before then, an organology conference will take place at St Cecilia’s, and the Sypert concert series will return to enliven the middle of the year. I do hope all those who live in travelling distance will support the Sypert concerts on 4th and 17th June and on 9th July. A fine line-up of artists has been arranged, including Il Rossignolo ensemble, the Brook Street Band, and violinist Ruth Slater who will appear with John Kitchen.
In recognition of the significance of the re-opening of St Cecilia’s Hall, the official Edinburgh International Festival is programming six attractive recitals there in August. Unless you have already obtained your tickets, however, you will be disappointed, as they have completely sold out! But don’t despair… In The Friends’ own Festival Fringe afternoon series you will have several opportunities to experience the Concert Room’s fine acoustic. We are inaugurating our season on Wednesday 9th August with a spirited performance of harpsichord duos by John Kitchen and David Gerrard, featuring the brilliant Taskin and Goermans-Taskin harpsichords. (Friends who attended our AGM in November will have pleasurable memories of David’s engaging presentation.)
On Wednesday 16th August the Polish keyboard artist, Martyna Kazmierczak, will give a recital on the lovely Kuhlbors fortepiano from the Mirrey collection. We are indebted to the Keyboard Charitable Trust for sponsoring this outstanding young international player to appear in our series. On Saturday 19th August John Kitchen with oboist Gerry McDonald and soprano Sally Carr will evoke the atmosphere of Lord Carnarvon’s musical household in the early 18th century. The Thomas Barton harpsichord will feature on that date.
Following an established pattern, our series will also illustrate repertoire created for historic guitars. Saturday 12th August will see the return of the highly praised and much recorded classical guitarist, Gordon Ferries, with his special guest, soprano Petrea Cooney. In addition to works by Giuliani, Gordon’s own settings of Romantic and modern poetry will be performed. Bringing our series to a melodious conclusion, on Wednesday 23rd August guitarist Stephen Morrison and soprano Jenny Nex will delight listeners with a programme of Schubert, Beethoven and 19th-century contemporaries. Stephen is much respected by regular Festival-goers and by private students. His partnership with Jenny is the subject of our interview profile in this edition of Soundboard. While the other side of Jenny’s professional life is her role as curator at St Cecilia’s Hall, she relishes maintaining her singing career.
I ask all Friends to give tremendous support to our Fringe concerts. Please help to make this our most exciting, best attended season by persuading others also to come to hear our fine artists, and to experience in full the sensory impact of the rejuvenated Hall. Further cause for rejoicing is that on 9th August, at the recital by John Kitchen and David Gerrard, we shall officially launch Martin Hillman’s new book about the fortunes of the Edinburgh Musical Society and our cultural forebears who began the whole history of St Cecilia’s Hall. Until then copies are available at a special rate (see enclosed leaflet).
Although the committee’s attention for the last six months has been mainly taken up with the completion of the redevelopment project, we have not neglected the encouragement of early music students. The recipients of our Bursary Awards for 2017 are Motoko Fukuda, Federico Filippi de Bord, and Eric Thomas. Their plans, projects and specialisms are described later in this newsletter.
Finally, let me give you advance notice of this year’s AGM which will be held on Saturday, November 18th. We shall be back in St Cecilia’s Hall once more, with appropriate musical entertainment to follow the business meeting. Please try to attend, if you can.
I wish you a happy and musical summer, and very much hope to see you at our Fringe concerts in August.
Pam Jackson
We are surely in a time of rejoicing! After two years and eight months of well-wishers’ waiting, St Cecilia’s Hall has re-opened in transformed and revitalised condition. At celebrations in early May the concert hall organ was heard for the first time in decades, following its splendid restoration which was funded by so many Friends in response to our appeal. John Kitchen’s recital programme also featured the 1755 double-manual Kirckman harpsichord, an appropriate choice, not only to suit the music played, but also because in 1971 that superbly veneered instrument was the earliest acquisition substantially funded by The Friends. In his introductory speech thanking all major donors to the redevelopment project, the Principal of Edinburgh University duly recognised the support given by The Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall over a period of forty-five years. Current committee officers felt proud to represent our organisation at this event.
The curators had been working heroically to ensure that the instrument galleries looked magnificent. The displays are very striking, enhanced by excellent lighting. The keyboard galleries are more beautifully set out than ever before, while the collections of historic wind, string and percussion instruments, transferred from the old museum in the Reid Hall, are breathtakingly impressive in newly designed display areas on the lower level of the building. The Sypert Concert Room itself looks amazing! The double tier of perimeter seating gives wonderful sightlines, while the central seating, upholstered to match, gives so much more comfort than previously. Best of all, the acoustic is excellent: “zingy”, but also sensitive and responsive to performers, whether vocal or instrumental. All in all, a great space for making and hearing music. I hope that our Soundboard photo feature will give Friends who live at a distance a sense of the exciting changes, and inspire those who live closer to come to see for themselves.
Please put the date of Saturday 29th July in your diaries. We hope that on that afternoon many Friends will join curators and committee for an exclusive “At Home” gathering, to explore the building, hear a recital by John Kitchen, share refreshments and socialise together. If you would like to attend this free event, please reserve places in advance, so that sufficient catering supplies can be organised! (further information on p. 24).
Before then, an organology conference will take place at St Cecilia’s, and the Sypert concert series will return to enliven the middle of the year. I do hope all those who live in travelling distance will support the Sypert concerts on 4th and 17th June and on 9th July. A fine line-up of artists has been arranged, including Il Rossignolo ensemble, the Brook Street Band, and violinist Ruth Slater who will appear with John Kitchen.
In recognition of the significance of the re-opening of St Cecilia’s Hall, the official Edinburgh International Festival is programming six attractive recitals there in August. Unless you have already obtained your tickets, however, you will be disappointed, as they have completely sold out! But don’t despair… In The Friends’ own Festival Fringe afternoon series you will have several opportunities to experience the Concert Room’s fine acoustic. We are inaugurating our season on Wednesday 9th August with a spirited performance of harpsichord duos by John Kitchen and David Gerrard, featuring the brilliant Taskin and Goermans-Taskin harpsichords. (Friends who attended our AGM in November will have pleasurable memories of David’s engaging presentation.)
On Wednesday 16th August the Polish keyboard artist, Martyna Kazmierczak, will give a recital on the lovely Kuhlbors fortepiano from the Mirrey collection. We are indebted to the Keyboard Charitable Trust for sponsoring this outstanding young international player to appear in our series. On Saturday 19th August John Kitchen with oboist Gerry McDonald and soprano Sally Carr will evoke the atmosphere of Lord Carnarvon’s musical household in the early 18th century. The Thomas Barton harpsichord will feature on that date.
Following an established pattern, our series will also illustrate repertoire created for historic guitars. Saturday 12th August will see the return of the highly praised and much recorded classical guitarist, Gordon Ferries, with his special guest, soprano Petrea Cooney. In addition to works by Giuliani, Gordon’s own settings of Romantic and modern poetry will be performed. Bringing our series to a melodious conclusion, on Wednesday 23rd August guitarist Stephen Morrison and soprano Jenny Nex will delight listeners with a programme of Schubert, Beethoven and 19th-century contemporaries. Stephen is much respected by regular Festival-goers and by private students. His partnership with Jenny is the subject of our interview profile in this edition of Soundboard. While the other side of Jenny’s professional life is her role as curator at St Cecilia’s Hall, she relishes maintaining her singing career.
I ask all Friends to give tremendous support to our Fringe concerts. Please help to make this our most exciting, best attended season by persuading others also to come to hear our fine artists, and to experience in full the sensory impact of the rejuvenated Hall. Further cause for rejoicing is that on 9th August, at the recital by John Kitchen and David Gerrard, we shall officially launch Martin Hillman’s new book about the fortunes of the Edinburgh Musical Society and our cultural forebears who began the whole history of St Cecilia’s Hall. Until then copies are available at a special rate (see enclosed leaflet).
Although the committee’s attention for the last six months has been mainly taken up with the completion of the redevelopment project, we have not neglected the encouragement of early music students. The recipients of our Bursary Awards for 2017 are Motoko Fukuda, Federico Filippi de Bord, and Eric Thomas. Their plans, projects and specialisms are described later in this newsletter.
Finally, let me give you advance notice of this year’s AGM which will be held on Saturday, November 18th. We shall be back in St Cecilia’s Hall once more, with appropriate musical entertainment to follow the business meeting. Please try to attend, if you can.
I wish you a happy and musical summer, and very much hope to see you at our Fringe concerts in August.
Pam Jackson