Spring Serenade Concert with students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – Carlops Village Hall

Oodles of talent poured forth at a humble village hall in the Scottish Borders on Sunday afternoon. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s young talent got themselves organised and created a programme of music which was a delight. Eighteen-year-olds, Maria McMaster (voice) and Lena Błotnicka (Cello) and nineteen-year-olds, Michael Gemmell on piano and Kristie MacKenzie on flute are all first-year students at the Conservatoire. Today’s performances showcased just how they earned their places at this prestigious establishment.

They filled the packed hall with beautiful, touching and amusing pieces and they received well-deserved, rapturous applause and many shouts of delight at the end.

Gemmell organised this event with his former teacher, accomplished pianist and examiner, Lauren Goldthorpe in aid of Nomad Beat, the Peebles-based music school which aims to make learning music accessible to all and offers eight annual scholarships. Gemmell learned his skills there with Goldthorpe and is keen to repay the school with his skills.

MacKenzie, the first soloist, played a piece by Cécile Chaminade, Concerto for flute, Op 107, written in 1902. She explained it was a piece devised to spite a former lover who disappointed Chaminade. Her composition was dedicated to her lover, but it was too complex for his flautist’ fingers to cope. We all find ways to take revenge. MacKenzie’s fingers found every note to perfection, and she performed with confidence and maturity. It was beautifully rendered and skillfully accompanied by Gemmell on the piano.

Lena Błotnicka gave the crowd Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, Op 34. Błotnicka’s cello sang to us of deep emotions with spirit and charm. It was quite breathtaking. The mournful yearning of the cello strings vibrated around the room, touching you physically. Again, Gemmell supported with piano.

Maria McMaster sang like a bird with traditional Scottish songs. I was itching for her to accompany Gemmell and Goldthorpe as they played the popular songs from Carmen. That would have been icing on the cake. One day …

Gemmell played superbly. He and Goldthorpe hit the spot on every score they shared, dovetailing seamlessly. From jazz to opera to classical. Their diversity of emotional range was the whipped cream on a glorious ice cream Sundae. 

The poise and confidence of these young people certainly gave me a spring in my step as I left the cosy, warm and friendly venue. This concert was a treat for young and old in the audience. Some were just three (they listened quietly) and others may have been eighty-three and everyone in between. It was all the more enjoyable for sitting so close to the players. The home-made traybakes were devoured with tea and chat at the interval and the general buzz outshone any major concert hall in my humble opinion.  

Reviewer: Kathleen Mansfield

Reviewed: 2nd March 2025

North West End UK Rating: