Graduation Day!
On Thursday 2nd December, I graduated with first class honours from the Royal Northern College of Music! It was wonderful to celebrate four years of hard work together with course-mates, friends and family. I am very proud of all we have achieved (especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic) and I will certainly cherish the friendships made during my undergraduate years for a lifetime.
There are many people I would like to thank on this occasion. First of all, my family for their constant support and encouragement to pursue what I love. My incredible teacher Jane for her work over the years and always being on hand for help and advice. My amazing lecturers at the RNCM - all of whom have helped me learn and grow as a musician - and finally, my friends. The RNCM is well-known for its warm, friendly atmosphere and I am ever so grateful to have met many caring, talented musicians along the way. I am very excited to see what the future has in store for all of us!
Thankfully, time at the RNCM has not come to an end for me, as I will be continuing my Masters studies here for the next two years. I am loving my new course and I am grateful to have already been presented with exciting performance opportunities! I look forward to maintaining this blog throughout my vocal journey and keeping all of you updated on my progress. As always, your support means so very much. Thank you.
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December Performances
RNCM Lunchtime Concert
It was an utter joy to perform in an RNCM lunchtime concert with pianist, Henry Cash. Henry and I have been friends since our days as students at 'Chetham's School of Music' and it has been lovely to reunite as masters students at the RNCM after four years. Together, we performed Mussorgsky's song cycle 'Detskaya' (The Nursery). Written between 1868/73, this piece is relatively little known, yet is a hidden gem. The cycle comprises of seven songs; each depicting the complex lives and mentalities of children in Russia, through the perspectives of nannies, parents and the children themselves.
I would like to thank all who came to support us in the audience - (how I have missed sharing music with live audiences throughout the pandemic!). I would also like to thank my dear coaches; Nataliya Kompaniets-Jouri, Jarmila Hickman and Martin Pickard for their help with this piece. Finally, I would like to send a big thank you to Henry for his incredible accompaniment. This term has been a busy one for the both of us and - only the evening before our recital - Henry won second prize in the 'James Mottram International Piano Competition'! I am very proud of Henry and grateful for his dedication to our performance of this fantastic work!
(Photographs from the performance and a programme can be found below).
Lucy Farrimond | Soprano
Henry Cash | Piano
Prospect Brass Carol Concert
Christmas for me is never complete without the annual 'Prospect Brass' Carol Concert! Organised and directed by my grandad, Les Farrimond, the concert now celebrates it's twelfth year! This year's concert was made all the more special after having to cancel last year due to COVID-19. It was so lovely to see familiar faces from my home village and I am ever grateful for the support shown to me as I continue my musical studies.
Prospect Brass played well known Christmas carols and marches, the timbrels brightened everybody's night with a festive routine, and I gathered friends from the RNCM (Theodore Murphy-Jelley - Baritone, Priscilla Fong - Mezzo Soprano and Kanchana Jaishankar - Contralto) to sing some Christmas favourites!
Concerts in my home town (Standish, Wigan) are where it all started for me. It is always a joy to return home and share my music with those who have supported me from the very beginning!
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Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas! Stay safe and take care.
Lucy
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