Welcome to Ginny Leigh

Following Phoebe Fullbrook’s departure in July, we are thrilled to welcome the appointment of Ginny Leigh to the role of Membership Secretary at the Society.

Ginny trained as a flautist with Miranda Zwalf, Peter O’Connor and then with Amy Yule at Durham University, graduating in 2019 with a BA Hons in Music. Whilst at university, Ginny’s primary academic focus was musicology; her extended musicological research has centred predominantly around music philosophy as well as gender, sexuality and dramaturgy in 20th century opera. She is an also avid composer and has studied trumpet with Paul Mayes.

Ginny has also had experience freelancing as a performer for a range of events, has worked as a flute teacher, and volunteered at local churches in Hertfordshire as a musical engagement assistant to provide outreach opportunities for children.

Ginny is delighted to be joining the Society’s team and is looking forward to meeting our Members at various meetings and events.

The Handel Room at 26 Fitzroy Square is available to hire

Our beautiful Handel Room situated on the ground floor at 26 Fitzroy Square is available to hire. Facilities include a large boardroom table seating up to 16 (collapsible for rehearsals and other events), access to a further 35 chairs, use of cloakroom, kitchenette, external courtyard and free wifi.

Near to Warren Street and Great Portland Street Underground Stations.

For more information, please get in touch.

Charlotte Penton-Smith appointed Chief Executive of The Royal Society of Musicians

Charlotte Penton-Smith has recently been appointed to the newly-created post of Chief Executive of The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain. She has been Secretary of the RSM since 2013. Her new position reflects the important strategic role she plays with the Governors in developing the Society to meet today’s challenges. With a rapidly expanding membership base and a new office in London’s Fitzroy Square, the RSM is well placed to capitalise on the traditions established by Handel and its other founders, whilst harnessing the opportunities of the twenty-first century.

Prior to working at the RSM, Charlotte Penton-Smith was Chief Executive of Future Talent and OperaGenesis Administrator at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; her career began at Aldeburgh Music (now Snape Maltings) as Britten–Pears Programme Assistant and then Masterclass Co-ordinator.

As a result of Charlotte Penton-Smith’s promotion, the RSM is now seeking a Membership Secretary to join its small team.

The Royal Society of Musicians is delighted to announce that Judith Weir CBE has been appointed President of the Society with immediate effect

Having graduated from Cambridge University and following time at Tanglewood, Judith spent several years working in schools and adult education in rural southern England; followed by a period based in Scotland, teaching at Glasgow University and RSAMD. As resident composer with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the 1990s, Judith wrote several works for orchestra and chorus which were premiered by the orchestra’s then Music Director, Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE. She has also been commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta; and has written concert works for some notable singers, including Jane Manning OBE, Dawn Upshaw, Jessye Norman and Alice Coote.

Judith has had a long association with Spitalfields Music Festival; and in recent years has taught as a visiting professor at Princeton, Harvard and Cardiff universities. Honours for her work include the Critics’ Circle, South Bank Show, Elise L Stoeger and Ivor Novello awards, a CBE (1995) and the Queen’s Medal for Music (2007). In January 2015 she became Associate Composer to the BBC Singers.

In 2014 Judith was appointed Master of The Queen’s Music in succession to the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CH CBE, who also held the position of President of the Society until his death earlier this year. Judith’s appointment within the Society continues this very special link in what has become a significant year not only for our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, but also for The Royal Society of Musicians.

Judith Weir comments:

“It is a great honour to take up the role of President of the RSM, succeeding our wonderful colleague, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. In difficult times for funding of the arts, the work of this venerable Society, supporting the welfare of musicians as it has done for nearly three hundred years, is ever more vital. I am glad to have the opportunity to add my own support.”

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CH CBE 1934–2016

The Royal Society of Musicians is deeply saddened to announce the death of its President Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CH CBE. Universally acknowledged as one of the foremost composers of our time, Sir Peter has made a significant contribution to musical history through his wide-ranging and prolific output. Society Member and former Creative Director of Schott Music, Sally Groves has paid the following tribute:

“‎Max was a truly unique musician. A remarkable composer who created music theatre works of searing power, great symphonies, intense chamber music, works of truly universal popularity. A fierce fighter for music in the community and in education, and on environmental issues. And a man of invincible integrity, a true friend and a teller of truth to power. He lived in the world, even though he seemed far away in Hoy or in Sanday, and he put his beliefs into action, whether it was to found a music festival for his fellow Orkadians which became an international success, bring music-making to a wider public through his time as Master of the Queen’s Music, or to march against the Iraq invasion. He loved life – and particularly the food and culture of Italy. The last years, even when battling against the leukaemia which came on him so suddenly, were an Indian Summer of wonderful, richly imagined works which brought him admiration from his fellow composers and warm responses from audiences.

Honoured by many institutions worldwide, and made a Companion of Honour in 2015, Max was particularly delighted to receive the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Gold Medal in February this year.”

We were honoured to have Sir Peter as our President and his name will live on through the Society, having been a former resident of our new home at 26 Fitzroy Square:

“I had a flat there in the late ’60s and early ’70s on the piano mobile in 26 Fitzroy Square! And a lot of Eight Songs for a Mad King, in collaboration with Roy Hart, the first Mad King, was worked out overlooking the Square. Roy could not be discreet, and made all the noises at the top of his voice, much to the distress of the Chinese Quarterly in particular, below. I have lovely memories of 26 Fitzroy Square, and hope that, if you stay there late at night, you don’t hear ghostly echoes of the first experiments with Eight Songs.”

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CH CBE, born 8 September 1934, died 14 March 2016.