The Peter Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to expand music, career and industry knowledge in specific ways to achieve excellence as a pianist and Artistic Director

Brieley Cutting was awarded the Peter Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to travel to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA to enable her to expand her music, career and industry knowledge in specific ways to achieve excellence as a pianist and Artistic Director. The Fellowship offered opportunities not available in her hometown or country and to research music related areas to which she is dedicated. These were: • The role/experiences/skills of the pianist as a chamber musician • Artistic directorship, which includes seeking information regarding the relevance and place of classical music in today’s world, the marketing of classical music and its audience, the organisation and administration of classical concert series and classical music programming • Careers in the industry in the 21st Century • Specific interpretational aspects of classical piano performance, such as historically informed practices and stylistically informed interpretation. With these aspects in mind, Brieley planned and executed a programme that would include the visiting of cities famous for their learning and music, the attendance of concerts and events at various contrasting music and arts venues, and she set up many meetings with various colleagues and industry experts. On completion of her project Brieley had: • visited and explored five major world cities and one major academic town • had met and talked in depth with over thirty individuals in the industry (fourteen being colleagues who worked professionally in the music industry and sixteen being experienced and renowned specialists in their fields) • visited and explored five world renowned art galleries and museums; and • attended concerts and events at over fourteen world famous venues, from old and venerated institutions to new and innovative spaces. Project Highlights: • Discussing aspects of musical interpretation, the classical music industry and chamber music skills/ experiences with leading classical pianists and academics • Meeting with and gathering information from key members of administration from leading classical music organisations • Attending many varying performances in numerous historic and innovative venues • Visiting and exploring cities and towns known as centres for learning and culture: London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, The Hague and New York. • Meeting with many talented and successful colleagues of varied backgrounds and situations to talk about the classical music industry, careers in music, concerts and audiences in the 21st century, education, the musical organisations and groups they are involved in, the cities they are based in, and their musical interests.