|
|
In
1990, during the time when two of Gordon’s most
advanced students were attending the Junior
Department of Trinity College of Music Gordon he was
invited by the principal, Harold Jones to join the staff
as ’cello teacher. This was the start of an exciting
time of expansion of the string department and of its
activities. Gordon approached the task with enthusiasm
and eagerness to raise standards and to help his students
to develop their talents to the full.
He
pushed for more time to be given to string chamber music
and coached many string quartets himself, taking some
to perform in Masterclasses and Competitions outside the
College along with his ’cello students. He was soon
invited to help with auditions, assessments and orchestral
and ensemble work and enjoyed a very fruitful working
relationship with the new principal, Mark Ray until Mark
left to take up an appointment at the Royal Northern College
of Music. He found the job enjoyable and rewarding with
its large number of talented, interesting and enthusiastic
pupils, many of whom developed remarkably well and went
on to study at some of our top music conservatoires, including
The Royal Academy of Music, The Royal College of Music,
The Guildhall College of Music and Drama, The Royal Northern
College of Music, the Brimingham Conservatoire and Trinity
College of Music.
Following
a HEFCE recommendation that the college would benefit
from coordinators for its individual departments, Gordon
was appointed Co-ordinator of the String Department in
September 1997. It gave him the opportunity to continue
his work to expand and improve standards and to |
|
give
the students experience in performance in all areas. He
introduced master classes for instrumentalists and for
string quartets. Each year he prepares three string quartets
to participate in masterclasses given by the world famous
Wihan String Quartet, the occasion being funded by the
CAVATINA
Chamber Music Trust.
As
a result of his devoted and tireless efforts and success
in the Trinity
College of Music Junior Department, Gordon was awarded
an Honorary Fellowship of Trinity College of Music in
2002. This is one of the greatest honours awarded by the
college and Gordon was the first (and, so far, only) staff
member of the Junior Department in its 100-year history
to have been honoured in this way. It was fitting that
one of the string quartets trained by Gordon in the Junior
College played at the degree ceremony at which Gordon
was honoured. The string quartet playing in the Junior
College reached such high standards under Gordon’s
guidance that it became a custom for one of them to play
at the Senior College Degree ceremonies and at the CAVATINA
Chamber Music Trust Senior College Chamber Music Competition
for many years and at other events in the college calendar,
more recently the celebration of Junior Trinity College’s
centenary.
Marion
Friend followed Mark Ray as director of Junior Trinity
College and under her guidance the department has expanded
considerably. Gordon continues his work as ’cello
teacher and Chamber Music coach with enthusiasm and enjoyment.
|