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Woking Young Musician of the Year

By George Caird on February 11, 2025 in COMPETITIONS, Woking Young Musician of the Year

On Saturday, 8 February, I had a wonderful evening as Adjudicator of the Woking Young Musician Competition, an event that has been held annually since 1979 as part of the Woking Music Festival, founded nearly 100 years ago. Eight finalists were selected from a large entry that performed at the Festival in the autumn and these finalists presented short programmes of contrasting works in a recital before a full house in St John’s Church, Woking. They were: Rentarou Nito (piano), Liliia Konstantinova (harp), Nicholas Yang (piano), Hanhan Qu (flute), Jerry Liu (piano), Jamaal Kashim (harp), Miriam Grant (violin) and Anxo Garcia (piano).

It was a real responsibility to select the three winners from a very strong group of musicians all of whom played at a high level and with significant potential for the future. In the end, Anxo Garcia’s brilliant Toccata from Pour le piano and Chopin’s Ballade No 3 gained him the third prize whilst a captivating performance by Jamaal Kashim of Marcel Granjany’s Rhapsodie pour la Harpe, Op 10, together with Fire Dance by previous WYM winner, David Watkins, earned him second prize. But it was a thrilling performance of André Jolivet’s Chant de Linos that was decisive in awarding the first prize to flautist Hanhan Qu.

During the evening it was also good to hear other award winners from the festival perform, demonstrating just how much talent there is in this part of Surrey. The event was so well presented under the guidance Christine Loosemore, Susan Nichols and their committee and the event was clearly supported by the community with Deputy Mayor, Amanda Boote, awarding the prizes and Woking’s MP, Will Forster, in attendance.

Best wishes to all those who took part. As I said in my summing up, all are winners and their futures look very bright!

St John’s Church, Woking

Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition

By George Caird on January 26, 2025 in Tertis International Viola Festival and Competition

Sam Rosenthal, viola

It’s been a remarkable week! The 14th Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition has been taking place at The Glasshouse in Newcastle and I have had the pleasure of chairing the jury in a festival of events which has also involved the Cecial Aronowitz Viola Competition for players aged 18 and under, concerts by major viola players (including Timothy Ridout, Thomas Riebl, Françoise Gneri, Robin Ireland, Thomas Selditz), ensembles, violin and viola makers and much more.

This extraordinary week was led by the inspirational Louise Lansdown with a remarkable team including Nicky Footer (Administrator), Kirin Howat, Matthew Hayes, Peter Whitehead, Alex Robinson and many others who coordinated the seven full days of activities with extraordinary precision.

The Tertis Competition featured 39 remarkable viola players (aged under 30) in the final rounds. Playing works by Bach, Paganini or Ligeti in the first of these and then progressing to a major sonata coupled with the set piece, Garth Knox’s The Bridges of Newcastle, each round had its challenges but the players performed at a truly remarkable level and with great assurance. Many perfromnaces were memorised, Garth Knox’s work received multiple characterful interpretations and we heard many great sonatas from the viola repertoire. The accompanists were Anthony Hewitt, Robert Markham and Sophia Rahman who covered all 39 players’ repertoire for the second and third rounds, an impressive achievement.

Eight remarkable players won their way through to the a third round where they performed a complete sonata (Bax, Bowen, Brahms, Bliss, Hindemith) together with a movement of their chosen concerto which included Bartók, Walton, Hindemith’s Schwanendreher. The selected players were Francisca Barradas Vaz Galante (Portugal), Brian Isaacs (USA), Wanxinyi Huang (China), Ami-Louise Johnsson (Sweden), Sam Rosenthal (USA), Yanan Wang (China), Sarah Strohm (Switzerland) and Nicolas Garrigues (France).

It was a hard choice for the jury to select the three concerto finalists but in the end it camde clear that they were to be Ami-Louise Johnsson playing the Walton Concerto, Sam Rosenthal playing the york Bowen Concerto and Nicolas Garrigues playing the Bartók Concerto.

Congratulations, too, to Jaeyun Han (South Korea), Jackson Hill (USA) and Yunyu Zhow for their performances in the Aronowitz Competition final. In the end, the jury of Garfield Jackson, Sheng Li Thomas Riebl and Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir, chaired by Jo Cole name

The Tertis Competition jury 2025: Françoise Gneri, George Caird, Lilli Maijala, Robin Ireland, and Thomas Selditz with Garth Knox wearing his red Bridge of Newcastle T-shirt pictured in The Glasshouse, Newcastle

Louise Lansdown with Lionel Tertis statue

My oboe teaching for Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

By George Caird on November 15, 2024 in Oboe matters, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

I recently found myself reflecting on a constant theme in my life – that of teaching the oboe and especially within the conservatoire sector. It is remarkable to think that I was appointed to teach the Oboe at the Royal Academy of Music in April 1984 and thus can look back on 40 years in conservatoires. At the RAM I was soon to find myself as Head of the Woodwind Department but I continued to enjoy and put as much energy as I could into my role as Oboe Professor. I look back on those years with colleagues Tess Miller and Celia Nicklin with such pleasure and nostalgia!

On my appointment to the Principalship of Birmingham Conservatoire (now Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), I made sure to continue teaching the oboe and was delighted and proud to work for three Heads of Woodwind over my years there: Janet Hilton (who went on to run the Woodwind Department at the Royal College of Music), Michael Harris and Jenni Phillips.

As Principal, I felt it important to continue to teach my instrument to ensure that my leadership of the institution remained embedded in music making and the professional world of music. I also needed to continue to teach as an extension of my own playing which I have maintained as best I could over all those years.

On standing down as Principal after 17 years in 2010, my teaching at conservatoire level could have ceased too, especially as I soon found myself in a new role at Codarts Rotterdam where the oboe teaching was expertly covered by Maarten Deckers and Aisling Casey. But Jenni Phillips encouraged me to continue as an Oboe Tutor in Birmingham, made possible by the fact that my work in the Netherlands was a part-time appointment.

Over the years, it has been so rewarding to work alongside colleague oboe tutors in the Woodwind Department currently Jenni Phillips, Emmet Byrne, Rachel Pankhurst, Anna Cooper, Gail Hennessy and formerly the wonderful past members of the CBSO section, Richard Weigall, Jonathan Kelly, Karen O’Connor, Peter Walden and many distinguished visiting professionals too.

So I have now completed over 30 years at RBC and continue to enjoy teaching my students there. I try to stay aware of all those with whom I have worked and am thrilled to see the many successful careers that have developed over the years. If you are a former student and reading this, I am always so pleased to hear from you. I should also say that it is not just my oboe students but all former students who I worked with who can be included in this message!

In the meantime, I would wish to thank Janet Hilton, Michael Harris and Jenni Phillips for their amazing leadership of what remains as a remarkable Woodwind Department at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Jenni Phillips, Head of Woodwind, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Robin Ireland at 70

By George Caird on September 25, 2024 in CHAMBER MUSIC, Concerts, George Caird Oboe Quartet

On 31 August, Robin Ireland put on a wonderful concert in St Andrew’s Church in Sheffield to celebrate his 70th birthday. Involving many friends and colleagues from his days in the Lindsay Quartet, from his work at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and his long career as a chamber musician, the concert included a great mix works and players.

I opened with the first movement of the Mozart Oboe Quartet and was delighted to be joined by Paul Barritt and Robin who were members of my original oboe quartet back in the 1980’s. Jane Salmon joined us as a representative of my current George Caird Oboe Quartet whilst Jo Horder, who played in the original GCOQ, was at the concert.

Robin, who amazingly played in every work, continued with his arrangement of Bach’s G minor Fugue for four violas (with Louise Lansdown, Lucy Nolan and Eleanor Chapman), followed by the slow movement of Haydn’s Op 76, No 2 with Martin Cropper, Christopher Jones and Jane Salmo

The first half ended with Janet Hilton, clarinet and Benjamin Frith, piano, joining Robin for the third movement of the Kegelstatt Trio, a work that these three have played together on countless occasions ove the years.

Robin, never tiring, gave a beautiful account of the first movement of the Arpeggione Sonata with Tim Horton, piano, and followed this with his own Pairings 3 with violinist, Suzanne Stanzeleit, hugely enjoyed by all present.

The slow movement of the Brahms A major Piano Quartet with Suzanne Stanzleit, Andrew Fuller and John Thwaites highlighted the Primrose Ensemble that Robin has worked with extensively, and this was followed by a brilliant finale, the first movement of the Mendelssohn Octet (Paul Barritt, Suzanne Stanzeleit, Martin Cropper, Christopher Jones, Robin Ireland, Lousie Lansdown, Andrew Fuller, Jane Salmon).

There were many distinguished musicians in the ausdience too, so the whole concert had a party flavour which spilled into a party proper in the next door hall, where delicious food and drink fuelled a celebration that also featured eulogies for Robin and some fun poetic inputs from guests.

Robin Ireland

York Wind Chamber Music 2024

By George Caird on August 29, 2024 in CHAMBER MUSIC, York Wind Chamber Music

This year’s York Wind Chamber Music course at the University of York from 4 – 10 August proved to be another most enjoyable week. Under the guidance of Course Directors, Richard Ingham and Suzie Palmer, another remarkable group of musicians gathered to take on the sheer pace of events – a minimum of three sessions per day playing a huge selection of works, known and less-known, and culiminating in a most enjoyable play-through concert at the end of the week. The works played ranged from the Mozart Gran Partita to quartets, trios and even duos; players showed as much commitment to the smaller ensembles as to the larger ones, though the beautiful rendition of Gran Partita this year, needs a mention!

It was so good to work alongside tutors Pat Moynihan, David Campbell, Bob Ashworth, Stephen Reay and Richard Ingham and with the resident strings players, Eric Clark, Alison Major, Ruth Addison, David Brereton and Thomas Rushton who enabled the wind chamber music course to include music for wind and strings. Works included the Schubert Octet and Beethoven Septet, of course, but there were many more such as Moeran’s Fantasy Quartet and Malcolm Arnold’s Oboe Quartet. Among the larger works done were Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No 1 and Gary Carpenter’s Pantomime for wind orchestra. Pianist Andrew Black was on hand again, too, to enable ensembles to explore works for piano and winds.

For me, it was a treat to have a group of twelve oboists to work with: Sue Bulmer, Tom Burke, Alison Martin, Mark Millington, Nicola Pennill, Anne Rees, Helen Rhodes, Hans Senn, Tim Softley and Jo Watts all of who contributed considerably to the ensembles through the week. Of note was the fact that many players came with their cors anglais and it was fun to hear a sextet of cors being played in the final performance! We resolved that there should be more involvement of this instrument in future years.

This remarkable course is a real gem. Started years ago in Harrogate by Evelyn Barbirolli, it has involved many great players as tutors in the past: Roger Winfield, Gareth Morris and Thea King to name but three. It is another example of Lady B’s vision that continues to shine today.

Stephen Reay rehearses Mozart’s Gran Partita

Royal Society of Musicians

By George Caird on July 29, 2024 in Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

I am looking forward to the next Members’ meeting of the Royal Society of Musicians on Friday 2 August. The Society is now holding six meetings for members each year in the beautiful Handel Room at 26 Fitzroy Square. These meetings welcome new members and bring members and Governors together to share information about the Society’s activities and also to enjoy each others’ company. We hope that, over time, as many members as possible will feel able to come to meetings to ensure that the Society is fully active and fulfilling its aims for UK musicians.

These meetings now include a short performance by members, or musicans who play on the Society’s fine instruments. This week, I will play with fellow-Governors, Marianne Olyver (violin) and Jacoba Gale (viola), and with RSM member Jane Salmon (cello). We thought that it would be good for Governors to include themselves in this series!

During my time as Chair of the RSM, I hope to meet as many members as possible and also to attract new members to the Society which is open to all UK professional musicians.

The poster below is for a benefit concert in aid of the Society in 1781. I am inspired by the presence of Johann Christian Fischer in the concert – one of the great oboists of his age.

George Caird Oboe Quartet

By George Caird on June 18, 2024 in CHAMBER MUSIC, George Caird Oboe Quartet

I am looking forward to our concert with the Caird Oboe Quartet in the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Wedensday 19 June. This will be part of the Assembly Rooms new partnership with the Ludlow Music Society which has promoted chamber music in Ludlow for more than 30 years. Having already played for the Society some years ago, it is a privilage to be making a return visit. And it’s great to be playing again with Simon Blendis, Douglas Paterson and Jane Salmon who played together for so many years in the Schubert Ensemble.

We are playing three quartets: the C major Mozart (K285b) that has the Theme and Variations movement from Mozart’s Gran Partita, begins the evening. We will end the first half with the E.J. Moeran Fantasy Quartet, which is included in our An English Renaissance recording, and we end the concert, naturally, with the Mozart F major Quartet, K370.

Between these, I will be performing Britten’s Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe – a work that I have enjoyed so much for many years. And Simon, Douglas and Jane will be playing Beethoven’s String Trio in G major, Op 9 No 1, one of the greatest from the string trio repertoire.

Royal Society of Musicians

By George Caird on May 28, 2024 in Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

It has been a busy spring for the Royal Society of Musicians. In May, we were delighted and honoured that His Majesty The King has accepted the Patronage of the RSM, continuing his association with us following his visit to open our building in Fitzroy Square in 2018. This announcement also continues our long history of support from the Royal Family dating back to 1790 when King George III granted the Society its Royal Charter. More recently, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was our Patron from 1937 until her death in 2002 and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted Patronage in 2013.

In addition to our regular meetings, we have continued our bi-monthly Members’ meetings at 26 Fitzroy Square with growing numbers attending. Continuing our new policy of including some live music in our meetings, on 12 April cellist Ben Tarlton gave a brilliant mini-recital for us, playing on the Society’s William Forster cello.

On 14 April, the annual Jacqueline du Pré Charity Concert at the Wigmore Hall attracted a capacity audience to hear the distinguished Swiss flautist Emmanuel Pahud perform with Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) and Jonathan Manson (cello) is an enthralling programme of Bach and Telemann. Given in aid of the RSM, we are indebted to these marvellous musicians for generously playing for this concert, which also remembered the life and work of Benedict Cruft.

On 12 May, the RSM was at the Royal Albert Hall for The Really Big Chorus Mozart Requiem conducted on his 80th birthday by Brian Kay. Given in aid of the RSM, our staff and members were there selling porgrammes to raise a significant amount for the Society’s beneficiaries. We are indebted to Brian Kay and all those who performed for their support for the RSM.

The Society continues to work hard in responding to the many applications it receives for assistance. Our Grants team take great care in assessing every application and in the last year 482 beneficiaries were helped with an average grant size of £1,020. Committed to providing vital financial assistance, advice and guidance to music professionals who are unable to work due to physical or mental ill health, this is a significant level of support that the Society can provide.

His Majesty KIng Charles signing the Attendance Book at the Royal Society of Musicians

Neville Marriner 100

By George Caird on April 22, 2024 in Academy of St Martin in the Fields

It was such a treat to attend the celebrations for Sir Neville Marriner’s Centenary from 15 April. Brilliantly devised by his family and by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, this week-long ‘festival’ was a remarkable tribute to Neville, his achievements and his legacy.

I attended two of the three concerts that week, beginning with ASM’s return to its church, St Martin-in-teh-Fields on 15 April. As a past member of the orchestra it was such an evocative evening with repertoire that brought back the orchestra’s history so vividly. From Handel’s Concerto Grosso Op 3 No 2 from the earliest days of the orchestra, to Mozart 25 that was such a striking part of the Amadeus film and then to the Academy Chorus and St Martin’s Voices performing of sections of Haydn’s Creation it was an evening to remember. It was great to hear Errolyn Wallen’s Parade, too, offering new input to ASM’s repertoire. Perhaps the most touching moments in this concert came in Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis – quintessential Academy and its unique string section. With direction form Joshua Bell, Jaime Martin and Tomo Keller and with soloists Sarah-Jane Brandon, Ben Johnson and Matthew Rose, this was a vintage evening.

I had a chance to look at the exhibition in the Crypt of St Martin’s that night, where photographs, programmes, letters and other memorabilia were displayed. Here, and in speaking with so many former and current members of ASM, I felt drawn back into this remarkable ‘family’ of musicians.

I missed the ASM Chamber Ensemble in the Wigmore Hall at which Sally Beamish’ String Octet was performed along with the Mendelssohn Octet and Schumann Piano Quintet but I did make it to the Royal Festival Hall on the 18 April where ASM celebrated Neville’s love of Mozart and also performed Brahms 2 Symphony and Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, played and directed by Joshua Bell. Wonderful playing all round. Most memorable though was Vince Mendoza’s Flight of Moving Days in which Joshua Bell was joined by Neville’s grandson, Douglas Marriner for a concerto for violin and drum kit – beautifully sensitive playing and a fascinating way of acknowledging the three-generation Marriner family of musicians. The concert included touching tributes to Neville from Brian Kay, Sally Beamish and Bob Smissen all finely done with charm and the humour that Neville would have expected.

Behind all these performances the guiding spirit of Neville’s son, Andrew, was ever-present to those who know ASM. And, of course Molly Marriner too – without whom ASM could never have flown so high…

What an inspiring week and what memories…….

A photograph portrait of Neville Marriner — Sir Neville Marriner

Radcliffe Orchestra

By George Caird on March 3, 2024 in ORCHESTRAS, Oxford, Radcliffe Orchestra

I am very much looking forward to my concert this year with the Radcliffe Orchestra which will take place in the Tingewick Hall at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford on Saturday, 9 March at 7.30pm.

The programme will begin with Weber’s Overture to Der Freischütz, a brilliant opener to introduce Grieg’s Piano Concerto featuring pianist Adelaide Yue. Our programme will end with Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony.

The concert is given in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. I hope as many people as possible will come to hear Adelaide and also to support the orchestra and the charity.

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