In 1990, during the time when two of Gordon’s most advanced students were attending the Junior Department of Trinity College of Music Gordon he was invited by the principal, Harold Jones to join the staff as ’cello teacher. This was the start of an exciting time of expansion of the string department and of its activities. Gordon approached the task with enthusiasm and eagerness to raise standards and to help his students to develop their talents to the full.

He pushed for more time to be given to string chamber music and coached many string quartets himself, taking some to perform in Masterclasses and Competitions outside the College along with his ’cello students. He was soon invited to help with auditions, assessments and orchestral and ensemble work and enjoyed a very fruitful working relationship with the new principal, Mark Ray until Mark left to take up an appointment at the Royal Northern College of Music. He found the job enjoyable and rewarding with its large number of talented, interesting and enthusiastic pupils, many of whom developed remarkably well and went on to study at some of our top music conservatoires, including The Royal Academy of Music, The Royal College of Music, The Guildhall College of Music and Drama, The Royal Northern College of Music, the Brimingham Conservatoire and Trinity College of Music.

Following a HEFCE recommendation that the college would benefit from coordinators for its individual departments, Gordon was appointed Co-ordinator of the String Department in September 1997. It gave him the opportunity to continue his work to expand and improve standards and to

 

give the students experience in performance in all areas. He introduced master classes for instrumentalists and for string quartets. Each year he prepares three string quartets to participate in masterclasses given by the world famous Wihan String Quartet, the occasion being funded by the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust.

As a result of his devoted and tireless efforts and success in the Trinity College of Music Junior Department, Gordon was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Trinity College of Music in 2002. This is one of the greatest honours awarded by the college and Gordon was the first (and, so far, only) staff member of the Junior Department in its 100-year history to have been honoured in this way. It was fitting that one of the string quartets trained by Gordon in the Junior College played at the degree ceremony at which Gordon was honoured. The string quartet playing in the Junior College reached such high standards under Gordon’s guidance that it became a custom for one of them to play at the Senior College Degree ceremonies and at the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust Senior College Chamber Music Competition for many years and at other events in the college calendar, more recently the celebration of Junior Trinity College’s centenary.

Marion Friend followed Mark Ray as director of Junior Trinity College and under her guidance the department has expanded considerably. Gordon continues his work as ’cello teacher and Chamber Music coach with enthusiasm and enjoyment.

 

 
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