Collections in Consort: Extra-special instruments make for an extra-special concert

Clare Tyack, RSM Governor and member of the sub-committee for the RSM Fine Instrument Scheme reviews the Collections in Consort performance on Sunday 20 November

A very special concert took place in the Duke’s Hall at the Royal Academy of Music on Sunday evening. The event was dreamed up by RSM Member Justin Pearson, as a platform to feature the instruments in the RSM’s Fine Instrument Scheme. The Scheme currently makes up 5% of the Society’s portfolio. The instruments are loaned on a long term basis to some of our most talented musicians, most of whom were performing on the Duke’s Hall platform for this extraordinary concert.

Guy Johnston even flew in from USA specially to take part in the event and the complete list of players, together with the instruments they played on Sunday, highlights just how special this concert was for all concerned.

Justin began the event with a pre-concert talk, during which Guy and Ben Hughes both played short pieces on Montagnana cellos, and Guy once again played on the David Tecchler cello that he had loaned from the Society from 2012 until earlier this year.

The Fine Instrument Scheme’s most recent acquisition is a beautiful William Forster cello, gifted to the Society in April this year by Alexander Geohr, through his daughter Julia. Rising star Ben Tarlton has been loaned the cello. Julia and Ben were delighted to meet for the first time at Sunday’s concert, and Justin invited Ben to open proceedings by playing two movements of a Bach cello suite and a delightful pizzicato piece by Tsintsadze, to the delight of everyone present.

Justin brought together players and instruments with the help of RSM, The Stradivari Trust, My Luthier and The London Cello Society, to acknowledge the huge contribution that Nigel Brown OBE, the retiring founder of The Stradivari Trust and RSM Honorary Member, had made to the careers of so many young talented players whom the Trust has helped over the years, Jennifer Pike being one such musician who performed for us on Sunday. All of the performers willingly volunteered their time and their talents, and it was wonderful to witness how delighted they all were at meeting up with each other for the performance, which consisted of a thrilling mix of solo and ensemble pieces.

There were several RSM Governors present, and the occasion gave us an opportunity to meet a number of our incredibly generous benefactors, some of whom, have invested in the Fine Instrument Scheme from its inception. Others have generously come on board since then, and all of them are passionate about music and musicians.

It was thrilling to be part of such an informed and enthusiastic audience on a unique occasion that brought together all those Fine Instruments and Performers of which the Society is so proud.

Thank you, Justin for making this all happen.

Clare Tyack ARAM

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