Rebanks Fellow: Richard Narroway
As a child, I felt my best self whenever I performed... whenever I had my cello in my hands. That was the happiest version of me. After that point, there was no going back. I commited to that path, and it's what gets me out of bed every day.
Richard Narroway, 2019 Rebanks Family Fellow
He loved having the opportunity to spend a year living in Toronto, connecting with its rich community of classical musicians and pursuing projects about which he’s passionate.
Once Richard completed his doctoral studies, The Rebanks Family Fellowship Program seemed like the perfect next step. “I have not heard of any program elsewhere in the world created specifically to help bridge the important transitional period between the end of one’s formal training and a professional career in music,” he notes.
Richard is grateful for the many performance opportunities available through the program, particularly the trip to London that enabled him collaborate with students of the Royal Academy of Music and the musicians of the ARC Ensemble. He performed Mieczysław Weinberg’s Piano Quintet and Walter Kaufmann’s eleventh string quartet, which he describes as “profound repertoire”.
He also loved having the chance to create professional recordings at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio – “a wonderful space!” – as well as The Royal Conservatory’s own Koerner Hall.
His enthusiasm about facilities available to Rebanks Fellows even extends to the practice rooms, which he praises for their generous size and soundproofing. “I feel very fortunate to have access to such a safe and well-managed environment,” he adds.
Richard thinks The Rebanks Family Fellowship Artists is a great fit for young artists with a strong sense of the kind of work they would like to tackle. “A year isn’t a long time,” he notes. “Think of it as a challenge to see how much you can get done. And you get to enjoy Toronto while you’re at it!”
Photography: Bo Huang
Video: Riddle Films
Watch Richard Narroway's Performances
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Claude Debussy’s Beau Soir arr. Aleksandr Grechaninov with pianist Kevin Ahfat
The Glenn Gould School is The Royal Conservatory of Music’s internationally recognized centre for professional training in music performance at the post-secondary and post-graduate levels.
Learn More About The Glenn Gould School
Unique in Canada, The Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program is the one-year postgraduate program of The Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School. Created for artists on the cusp of a professional career, it offers a rich curriculum for career development including: private study with exceptional faculty and guest artists; concert presentations and career coaching; and marketing training and support. Each Rebanks Fellow also participates in a funded international residency.
Learn More About The Rebanks Family Fellowship