Joanna MacGregor masterclass

This week we celebrated our All-Steinway School status with a special visit to the Music School by world renowned pianist, and GDST alumnae Joanna MacGregor CBE.

Joanna’s visit began with a thought provoking and inspirational talk to our piano students where she discussed a range of composers and how historial composers’ ideas in music might be being written or interpreted now. For example, a lot of concepts in jazz can be linked to Bach’s music.

Joanna also had careers advice for our musicians and emphasised the importance of building a portfolio career when pursuing music. Being a performer is not enough; a musician should be a composer, conductor, teacher and curator, as well as having hobbies and interests elsewhere.

Three of our Music Scholars where then treated to a masterclass with Joanna, who is Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music. Megan, Kopikha and Christiane all played under Joanna’s constructively critical eye, while the rest of Scholars watched and observed. This was a priceless experience for all, regardless of whether they were playing or observing. Joanna talked about practise technique which can be applied to any instrument, and gave invaluable advice to our three masterclass Scholars.

In the evening, students and staff were treated to a recital – Covid-19 caution thwarted a larger external audience. The programme began with three stunning performances by Christiane, Kopikha and Megan, following their masterclasses earlier in the day. Beginning with Chopin’s Nocturne in G Minor, Op.37 No. 1, played beautifully by Christiane, followed Kopikha’s inspired performance of Sonata in D Minor by Antonio Soler and ending with Megan’s moving rendition of Chopin’s Nocturne in E Minor, Op.72 No. 1. What was especially impressive, was how the girls had already absorbed Joanna’s advice from the masterclasses and applied it to their playing.

Joanna MacGregor closed the recital with three very varied pieces, and brought each of them to life with her own narrative to introduce them – this storytelling really brought her performance alive for the audience.

The first piece was Bach’s French Suite No.5 in G Major. Consisting of seven short movements, each containing dance-style rhythms and a joyful character. Joanna gave an exciting performance, showcasing her skill and musicianship. Her next piece was Chopin’s Four Mazurkas, Op.30, a ‘Mazurka’ being a Polish folk dance, usually in 3/4 time. The folk influence shone through during dramatic accents on the third beat of the bar. The range in Joanna’s playing was exceptional throughout this piece, with the quieter moments being played with utmost sensitivity, and the louder, dramatic passages being performed with flair.

The final part of the recital was the ennervating Danzas Argentinas by Alberto Ginastera, a set of three dance movements. The first movement, translated as ‘Dance of the Old Herdsman,’ is played with only black notes in the left hand and only white notes in the right, with complex rhythms played with energy and vigour by MacGregor. The second movement, translated as ‘Dance of the Donosa Girl,’ is a gentler dance with an expansive melody that was played with emotion and feeling. The final movement, translated as ‘Dance of the Outlaw Cowboy,’ was a relentless and wild movement, filled with dissonance and energy. Finishing with a wonderful glissando, the ending of the piece concludes a fantastic, varied recital in dramatic and impressive fashion.

The audience were treated to an electrifying performance, made all the more special by the fact that the performance space was so intimate and proximity so close.

Miss Kathryn Titcomb - Graduate Performing Arts Assistant