U.S. tutors for music school

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 22

U.S. tutors for music school

American tutors will attend the sixth National Early Music School in Wellington next month.

It is the first time tutors from the United States have been involved in the school. The Americans are Shelley Grushkin and LeAnn House. Mr Grushkin is the president of the American Recorder Society. For 13 years he was a member of the New York Pro Musica, and now plays with the Philidor Trio.

He plays Baroque flute, musette, recorder, and other early wind instruments. He is at present on the staff of the College of St Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. LeAnn House is also on the staff at St Scholastica

where she is head of music. She teaches harpsichord, forte piano, piano, and music theory. Shelley Grushkin will take the Renaissance Band and LeAnn House keyboard sessions.

There are two other tutors from overseas. John Holloway, whose visit is by arrangement with the British Council, is from England. His speciality is Baroque strings. He is a professor of Baroque violin at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and directs L’Ecole d’Orphe. Helga Hill is from Melbourne and will take early dance classes. She is a world expert on Renaissance dance and director of the Rippon Lea Renaissance Dancers. The other tutors are

from New Zealand. Adrienne Simpson is the musical director of the school. She is a tutor at Victoria University and has taught the Guildhall and London University. Geoffrey Coker, Robert Oliver, William Bower and Peter Walls are from Wellington. Keith Sayers is from Christchurch.

Geoffrey Coker has been a vocal tutor and administrator at previous national schools. This year he will again tutor voice.

Robert Oliver was the founder of the National Early Music School. He teaches and performs throughout Australasia. He will tutor viols.

William Bowers has taught at Victoria Univer-

sity and will takes classes in lute and guitar. Peter Walls’ speciality is Baroque performance. He will tutor the Baroque orchestra. He is a senior lecturer in music at Victoria University.

Christchurch’s Keith Sayers plays Baroque wind instruments, notably recorder and oboe. He teaches at the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music, having returned to Christchurch recently after several years teaching in Europe. The 10-day school will begin on August 28 at Marsden Collegiate, Karori. It is organised by the Early Music Union and the Centre for Continuing Education at Victoria University. Eight scholarships are available for the school.