latest news
Peter Norris (1937-2011)
As readers of the School Newsletter will be aware, just before Christmas the School received the sad news that Peter Norris had died, after a long illness. Peter began teaching at the School in 1964, was Director of Music from 1980 to 1987, and continued teaching part-time at the School even after his ‘retirement’. As Malcolm Singer, current Director of Music, said in his tribute at Peter’s funeral in 24 January, for the greater part of the School’s history Peter, quite simply, ‘was the Menuhin School’. Somewhere in the region of 170 people attended Peter’s funeral, amongst whom were many former pupils and staff. Many more alumni sent their good wishes but were unable to be present. Tributes were given by Malcolm Singer, YMS alumnus (and now staff member) Prach Boondiskulchok, and Michael Norris, and a quartet comprising alumni Krysia Osostowicz, Kathy Gowers, Susie Meszaros and Paul Watkins played the Adagio from Haydn’s Quartet in F minor Op 20 No 5.
After the service, a reception was held in the foyer of The Menuhin Hall and a very moving (and unconducted) performance of Elgar’s Serenade for Strings given in the Hall by twenty-six of Peter’s former pupils (pictured above). A full obituary and appreciation of Peter will follow in the next edition of the School Newsletter. A memorial concert is also being planned for later in the year.
The Nature of Competition: Sue Bourne's film, Jig
The Spring Term got off to an inspiring start with a visit on 5 January from Sue Bourne, award-winning director of Jig, an entertaining and thought-provoking documentary (released in 2011) about the, perhaps unlikely, subject of the Irish Dancing World Championships. Students and staff settled down in the Square Room to watch a special screening of the film, introduced by the director and then followed by a stimulating question and answer session about the making of the film and about the nature of competition in general. It proved to be an excellent way to launch the term, with both students and staff recognising the many parallels between the worlds of dance and music, the commitment and sacrifice which they involve, and both the positive and negative aspects of competition. Many thanks to Sue (pictured below with Director of Music Malcolm Singer) for making time to come and see us. The film will certainly be prompting discussion for some time to come.
Yehudi Menuhin founded our famous school in 1963 and created the ideal conditions in which musically gifted children might develop their potential to the full on stringed instruments and piano.
Since 1963 the School has expanded and now educates more than seventy talented boys and girls between 8 and 19. The range of instruments is limited to violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar and piano. All pupils sing in one of two choirs and all string players also play the piano.
In 1973 the School was accorded special status as a Centre of Excellence for the Performing Arts. Since 1975, all UK pupils, as well as those who have been resident in the UK for at least two years, have been funded by the Department for Education and only pay a contribution to the cost of their child's education according to their means. The School's aim is to enable all children who have been selected for their exceptional musical ability and potential to attend the School, whatever their parents' financial background.
