Review of Sound Festival concert, Aberdeen
From the Sound Festival website, here you go.
Cottiers Chamber Project Review and CGM Gruppetto
The Scottish Flute Trio and I received a review from Michael Tumelty (who I finally met outside the City Halls during the interval of this concert - incidentally, I used to share a flat with Richard – just thought I’d show off there) of our gig as a part of the Cottiers Chamber Project, something that’ll hopefully continue to get funding – a matter which had light shone on it in last week’s Herald.
Anyone read this month’s Classical Guitar Magazine? Small article on the ROSL win but more interestingly, in the gruppetto, these words:
My congratulations to Sean Shibe on winning the first prize in the Royal Over-Seas League’s competition, their 59th. He received £15,000 and the League’s Gold Medal. It’s a tough one to win, because you’re up against other instrumentalists, including singers, from all over the Commonwealth – Australia, Canada, New Zealand and some smaller countries.
It is only the second time in the history of the Competition that a guitarist has won the overall prize, the first being Nicola Hall in 1989. She was 20; Sean Shibe is 19.
I heard Sean when he competed in the Ivor Mairants Award, held in London under the auspices of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Jury deliberations are not usually made public, but I’m sure there is no harm in revealing that our decision was unanimous., He was only in his mid-teens then, but I was aware of a fluent and natural-looking style of playing that, allied to an unusually clear conception of what the music was all about, held immense promise for the future.
Sean Shibe studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where his teacher was Allan Neave. Whether Sean was lucky to study there, or whatever the RSAMD was lucky to have so good a student, is I suppose a talking point, but not very relevant. What matters, is that a brilliant young guitarist emerged and began to delight his listeners with his growing mastery of a difficult instrument and, even more to the point, the always demanding but ultimately rewarding art of music. So, all credit to all concerned.
I was somewhat puzzled by the remark made by the Principal of the RSAMD [John Wallace]: ‘young artists like him carry the future of Scotland with ease.’ His patriotism is commendable, but – the future of Scotland? Sean Shibe has the makings of an international star, and such people belong to the whole world.
Thankee kindly for such kind and generous words from Colin Cooper.
On the matter “Whether Sean was lucky to study there, or whatever the RSAMD was lucky to have so good a student“, I think only that ACMS and the RSAMD are very lucky to have so good a teacher as Allan Neave. Also, I’m still studying there, I’ve not left. Yet.
And – is patriotism commendable?
P.S. Contrary to what is stated in CGM’s news column, my father is English, not Scottish olololol
Updated upcoming concerts page
I’ve put some details of some concerts that I have coming up, a solo recital in Kent in a few months and a wee engagement with the Scottish Flute Trio in June.
Concerts with the Scottish Flute Trio
I’m going to be playing with them in mid-Argyll on the Sat 13th, Sun 14th and Mon 15th of March. The Programme includes:
Western Light – Edward McGuire
Histoire du Tango – Astor Piazzolla
St Kilda¹s Parliament – Kenneth Dempster
“Water V” from The Waterfall of Time Suite – Joji Hirota
The Great Train Race – Ian Clarke
Prelude, Interlude and Finale – Roger Cann
Invocacion y Danza – Joaquin Rodrigo
I’ll put up another post when details are confirmed.
