abstract paintings by
June Emerson
June Emerson
When June Emerson visited Albania in 1987, in a mood of lighthearted curiosity, she was amazed to discover the quantity and quality of musical life. There were 27 music schools, seven symphony orchestras, ballet and opera companies and a conservatoire. All this in a desperately poor country, only the size of Wales, with a population of 3 million, which had been completely isolated for 50 years.
She returned the following year to research a book (Albania - The Search for the Eagle’s Song ) and went on to write articles, broadcasts and entries for the New Grove Dictionaries of Music and Opera.
When the communist régime fell in 1990 there followed a period of anarchy, and classically trained musicians, now abandoned by the chaotic state, were in a desperate situation. The composer Thoma Simaku and the conductor Eno Koço and their families fled to England and June raised funds to support them while they found their feet. This led to the formation of The Albanian Musicians’ Trust in 1991.
For fifteen years the Trust has supported musicians in their own country and several students who have come to study in the UK at Chetham’s School and the Royal Northern College of Music. They have helped Albanian composers to promote their music in the outside world. They have sent quantities of printed music to the starved libraries and supplied strings and other accessories to the Albanian music schools.
Musical life has now regenerated in Albania, albeit on a smaller scale. The conservatoire is running well with a better stocked library. There are two main orchestras and several smaller chamber groups who tour Europe. The Trust was wound up at the end of 2006, very happy with what it has helped to achieve. Some of us will be continuing to help Albanian musicians through the charity International Community Assist, which is also doing a great deal of work to help the poorest families in outlying districts of Albania. Do take a look at their website: www.ica-uk.co.uk.
STOP PRESS
Miranda Sinani, soprano, was awarded a place on a Masters Opera Course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. This is a two-year course starting October 2007. June Emerson is raising funds for her fees and accommodation, which is being handled by International Community Assist - and so attracting Gift Aid, which helps even more. The total needed is £16,500 a year. Please help if you can. www.ica-uk.co.uk.
She returned the following year to research a book (Albania -
When the communist régime fell in 1990 there followed a period of anarchy, and classically trained musicians, now abandoned by the chaotic state, were in a desperate situation. The composer Thoma Simaku and the conductor Eno Koço and their families fled to England and June raised funds to support them while they found their feet. This led to the formation of The Albanian Musicians’ Trust in 1991.
For fifteen years the Trust has supported musicians in their own country and several students who have come to study in the UK at Chetham’s School and the Royal Northern College of Music. They have helped Albanian composers to promote their music in the outside world. They have sent quantities of printed music to the starved libraries and supplied strings and other accessories to the Albanian music schools.
Musical life has now regenerated in Albania, albeit on a smaller scale. The conservatoire is running well with a better stocked library. There are two main orchestras and several smaller chamber groups who tour Europe. The Trust was wound up at the end of 2006, very happy with what it has helped to achieve. Some of us will be continuing to help Albanian musicians through the charity International Community Assist, which is also doing a great deal of work to help the poorest families in outlying districts of Albania. Do take a look at their website: www.ica-
STOP PRESS
Miranda Sinani, soprano, was awarded a place on a Masters Opera Course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. This is a two-
Anila Milaj