Music – The Greatest Good!

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02 February 2005

The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) will be holding its 2005 annual conference in Cambridge from Friday 1 April to Monday 4 April. The conference will be chaired by the Society’s outgoing President, Professor George Caird, Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire and an alumnus of Cambridge University (Peterhouse, 1973-76). The event is entitled ‘The Greatest Good’, in homage to music.

Speakers include Lord Moser KCB CBE, whose keynote talk will explain why ‘life without music would be a mistake’, as Nietzsche said; Dr Roy Howat (King’s, 1971-79; Jesus, 1979-82), keyboard research fellow at the Royal Academy of Music, who will give a talk and demonstration in Kettle’s Yard House on musical research and performance; Dr Aaron Williamson, head of the Royal College of Music’s Centre for the Study of Music Performance, who will present some of the research issues he has been studying for his book Musical Excellence – strategies and techniques to enhance performance; and Baroness Warnock DBE, former Mistress of Girton College (1985-91), who is the guest of honour at the annual dinner. George Caird will deliver a Presidential Address, and talks will be given by the incoming Wardens of the Society’s Specialist Sections – Carl Jackson (Music in Education – Downing, 1978-81), Ian Mitchell (Performers & Composers) and Anne Smillie (Private Teachers – also the current chairman of the ISM’s Cambridge Centre). At the close of the conference, the distinguished bass Robert Lloyd CBE will become the ISM’s President for the next twelve months.

There will be many opportunities for music-making, as well as for cultural and artistic visits. Friday afternoon will be spent at Kettle’s Yard, viewing the house and exhibitions before Roy Howat’s presentation. Saturday morning will see a guided tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum, focusing on some of the musical riches held there. In the evening there will be a private tour of Ely Cathedral, led by Canon Peter Sills and Dr Helen Sills: the ISM’s members will sing and play musical illustrations, directed by Paul Trepte, the cathedral’s director of music, with Dr Arthur Wills OBE, his predecessor from 1958 to 1990, at the organ. Sunday morning will offer participants a chance to sing matins at Great St Mary’s: the music will be led by Robert Duerr, organist at the church.

The conference will be based at the University Arms Hotel in Regent Street, close to the heart of Cambridge. The annual dinner will be held at Corpus Christi College, where pre-dinner drinks will be served in the 14th-century Old Court, and entertainment before, during and after the meal will be provided by Collegium Regale, the choral scholars from King’s College.

For details, contact ISM Head Office, tel: 020 7629 4413, fax: 020 7408 1538, email: membership@ism.org. Booking forms can be downloaded here.

Ends 03 / 2005

Note to Editors: The title of the ISM’s annual conference is taken from ‘Song for St Cecilia’s Day’ by Joseph Addison (1672-1719): ‘Music, the greatest good that mortals know, / And all of heaven we have below’.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians, founded in 1882, is the UK’s professional body for musicians. It aims to promote the art of music and uphold the honour and interests of the musical profession by protecting the interests of musicians, raising professional standards, and providing legal advice and other benefits to its members. Its 5,000 members include performers, teachers, composers, conductors, organists, writers and others involved in professional musical work.


Contact: Neil Hoyle, Chief Executive, T. 020 7629 4413 .