Guildhall School of Music and Drama - Scholarship 60th anniversary event
27th September 2024Barbican Hall
This year is the 60th anniversary of the first music scholarships being set up at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) by the Benevolent Fund. Funded by an original donation in 1963 from Gregory Salzmann, an early member of our Cocpiany, the scholarship programme has gone from strength to strength and now supports 4 musical scholars who would not otherwise be able to study at the GSMD.
This was an anniversary that we could not allow to pass without celebration, so the GSMD kindly laid on a drinks reception at the Curve, in the Barbican Hall, so we could celebrate with the GSMD Principal, staff and other guests before the annual Principal’s Guest Night at the Barbican Hall.
Over 30 Pipe Makers, Liverymen and their guests joined other musical enthusiasts and the staff at the reception. The Principal, Professor Jonathan Vaughan, and Director of Music Armon Zammer made speeches and I said a few words to emphasise how much we as a Livery valued being able to support students in their musical development.
We were then treated to a fabulous concert by the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, which included pieces by Mozart, Debussy and Poulenc, made all the more remarkable because it was only 2 weeks after the beginning of term! The orchestra also included the fabulous Korean Soprano Seohyun Go, currently studying opera at the GSMD.
Our Benevolent Fund has already agreed to extend our support for the GSMD out to March 2029, so the relationship between the Pipe Makers and the GSMD is set to continue!