News
Release: October 2008
New
Chairman for the Ralph Vaughan Williams
Society
Em
Marshall succeeds Stephen Connock, MBE
Em
Marshall, founder-director of the English
Music Festival, has taken over the Chairmanship
of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society,
(www.rvwsociety.com),
as Stephen Connock MBE, Chairman since
the Society’s foundation in 1994, moves
up to become Vice-President.
The
‘RVW Society’, whose purpose is to champion
the music of the English composer Ralph
Vaughan Williams, has established itself
over the last fourteen years as one
of the most vibrant and influential
of music societies. And in Em Marshall,
it has found a young and enthusiastic
crusader.
Em Marshall
has been a member of the RVW Society
since its inception, and a Trustee since
2001.
Her love
of English music began early; with her
father singing ‘Linden Lea’ to her.
She went on to attend St. Paul’s Girls’
School, Hammersmith, whose Directors
of Music have previously included the
composers Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan
Williams, and Herbert Howells. The Director
of Music during Em’s time was the conductor,
Hilary Davan Wetton who encouraged her
idea of setting up an English Music
Festival.
Em
dedicated her teenage years to furthering
the cause of English music through her
work with Thames Publishing, as a Hesse
Student at the Aldeburgh Festival, and
as an officer of various British composer
societies. She went onto read ‘Greats’
at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Em
is the founding Director of the English
Music Festival, www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk;
an annual festival in Oxfordshire which
aims to bring the music of British composers
of all periods (but with a strong focus
on the early twentieth century) to present-day
audiences, with live performances by
world-class musicians. The music performed
at the Festival includes many long-neglected
works.
Em’s
current projects include writing a book
on British Composers and the Landscape,
as well as organising the third English
Music Festival, which is scheduled for
22nd – 25th May 2009.
As
a writer, she is regularly in print,
covering topics from the arts, countryside
and heritage, to travel, food, wine
and real ales. In her spare time, she
enjoys nothing better than walking in
inspirational countryside with her border-collie.
"I
can truly say that I believe RVW to
be one of the greatest twentieth century
composers - of this or any nation",
says Em, "so naturally a Society
that furthers his cause and places his
music more firmly in the public domain
is, I believe, of the utmost importance."
Formed
by Stephen Connock MBE and others 14
years ago, the RVW Society now stands
as a nationally, and internationally,
recognized and respected organisation,
and has also launched a recording arm
- Albion Records, www.albionrecords.org
- specialising in recording less well-known
works by the composer.
With
around 1,000 members, the Society publishes
a regular Journal inviting members and
experts to submit letters and features,
news, reviews and special offers.
The
RVW website, (www.rvwsociety.com),
provides a useful source of research,
news, sound-bites, and a comprehensive
international concert diary.
Notes
for editors:
Media
contacts:
Karen-Lisa
Fletcher (RVW Publicity Officer) m:
07973 175 588
and
Andy Smith m: 07737 271 676
Other
contacts:
Em
Marshall: em.marshall@btinternet.com
www.rvwsociety.com
www.englishmusicfestival.org.uk
www.albionrecords.org
