At Trinity, with the portrait of the late Philip Jones

In Cardiff with Chris Mowat

Outside the RAM

With James Watson

It was a cold, wet, blustery, typical late winter’s day when I set off to Gatwick Airport to pick up one of the great names in the trumpet-playing world. Dr Leonard Candelaria was visiting the UK by invitation of James Watson (Head of Brass at the Royal Academy of Music), and Edwards UK, to play recitals and to share his wealth of knowledge with trumpet students in London and further afield.

After a long journey, the following day in London was geared towards visiting the fabulous new Trinity College of Music set in the King Charles Court of the Old Royal Naval College in the heart of Greenwich, on the south bank of the River Thames. Leonard was invited to perform a recital/masterclass to the twenty or so students studying trumpet on the undergraduate course at the college.

The following day sent us to Birmingham, in England's Midlands, to visit David Purser, Head of Brass at the Birmingham Conservatoire. As part of the college’s recruitment day Leonard was invited to an informal lunch to meet students who had been offered places at the college for the next academic year. After introducing himself to the students and chatting with many of them about their education Leonard was invited to the main recital hall to perform an hour’s recital to everyone attending the open day. As was to become the norm, Leonard performed with great panache and educated the audience with his knowledge of the music he was performing.

Next on the agenda was Cardiff, Wales. Chris Mowat, Head of Brass at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, had invited Leonard to the college after chatting to James Watson at the RAM and learning of Leonard’s reputation as an educator and performer. Before a marathon teaching session Leonard performed a public recital in the new Sir Geraint Evans Recital Room, part of a new area of the college developed with the financial help of Sir Anthony Hopkins. After a short interview for the British Bandsman (a weekly brass band magazine) Leonard was whisked off to another area of the college to tutor eight students from the college in all aspects of playing and after four hours without a break looked as exhausted as the students, who had only endured half an hour!

After a welcome break of two days we arrived in London where Leonard was to spend three days tutoring at the Royal Academy of Music. Leonard tutored individuals, larger classes, conducted several ensembles and finished his three-day visit with an evening recital in the Josefowitz Recital Hall.

After all his hard work Leonard had requested a few days at the end of his trip to see the sights of London and catch up with a few old colleagues. This was arranged and after a few days relaxing it was time for Leonard to jump back on the plane to Birmingham, Alabama, as I drove away from Gatwick on a cold, wet, blustery, typical late winter’s day!

During his trip Leonard performed works by Tartini, Saint-Saens, Eric Ewazen, Joseph Turrin, Richard Peeslee and Rafael Méndez.

It was an honour for me to be able to spend so much time with Leonard and his wife Dr. Kathryn Fouse, who also performed some piano works and accompanied Leonard for his recitals, and I hope that they will be able to return to the UK in the very near future.

Websites:
Leonard Candelaria at Edwards Instruments
The Valve UK Centre for Edwards Instruments
Edwards Instruments UK

Colleges visited:
Trinity College of Music
Birmingham Conservatoire
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Royal Academy of Music