#RAMplaysON - Update 20 | Royal Academy of Music

As we approach the start of the Autumn Term, we are looking forward to welcoming our new cohort of Academy students in September – we are excited that you will be taking the next step on your musical journey with us! A reminder that those interested in joining us in 2021 can register for our Virtual Open Days to find out more about what it is like studying here: ram.ac.uk/opendays

Jo Cole, the Academy’s Head of Strings, paid tribute this week to acclaimed violinist and educator Erich Gruenberg who died this month at the age of 95. Erich was a tremendously valued friend of the Academy, who retired from his teaching position last Autumn. An inspiration to his students and a cherished colleague, he leaves a lasting and treasured legacy. You can read Jo’s full tribute here.

Academy alumnus Finnegan Downie Dear was awarded the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra’s prestigious Mahler Prize in June this year. You can read more about his career so far and what it was like taking part in the competition in this Guardian interview.

We were saddened by the news of the death of guitarist Julian Bream this week, you can read his full obituary on the BBC website.

Students Harry Atkinson and Hugh Mackay have recorded Mozart’s Bassoon and Cello Sonata K 292 for double bass and cello.

Another interesting instrumental arrangement this week came from alumna Rachel Lee, performing Handel’s Suite No 7 in G minor for two marimbas.

Junior Academy students Danushka and Butterfly Paterson led a remote performance of Florence Price's String Quartet in G.

Violin student Alex Casson has been staying busy during lockdown by performing multi-part arrangements of movie soundtracks. His latest ‘quarantheme’ is by Ennio Morricone, the Duello Finale from the film ‘Once Upon A Time In The West’.