Last night, members and Friends of ROSL ARTS gathered in the beautiful balmy weather of the ROSL garden for a party that celebrates the work of the arts team in supporting young musicians, visual artists and writers from around the Commonwealth.
Starting with drinks and canapes, members mingled with staff and musicians listening to beautiful harp playing before heading to the Princess Alexandra Hall for performances from our scholars and AMC prizewinners. Before introducing the musicians, Artistic Director Geoff Parkin took to the stage to talk about the many ways in which ROSL supports early-career artists; through scholarships, prize money, performance and exhibition opportunities. Geoff then thanked the members present for their generous support of these activities, in particular Maureen Pettman, who along with her late husband Barrie, have supported New Zealand's young musicians for many years.
First up, Australian violinist Shannon Rhodes, currently studying at the University of Western Australia, along with New Zealand pianist Stephen de Pledge, winner of the Accompanist Prize at the 1998 Annual Music Competition, who performed Mozart's Violin Sonata No. 21 in E Minor. They were followed on stage by the Morton Trio, recipients of the 2018 Pettman/ROSL ARTS Chamber Ensemble Music Scholarship, who performed Brahms' Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 40.
Shannon and the Morton Trio are all currently staying at the clubhouse as part of their scholarships, and will be travelling around the UK to attend masterclasses, give recitals, and take part in ROSL's Fringe programme.
After rapturous applause, the audience filed out into the Central Lounge for more drinks and sweet pastries, before enjoying the garden late into the night alongside the musicians. Take a look at some photos from the evening below.
- Guests enjoyed prosecco as they arrived
- While listening to harpist Manon Browning
- Guests chatted before the concert
- In the beautiful summer sunshine
- Of ROSL's Garden
- Shannon Rhodes and Stephen de Pledge performing
- 2018 Pettman Scholars the Morton Trio with Maureen Pettman
- The Morton Trio with Stephen de Pledge (second left) and Shannon Rhodes (right)
