Page 38 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

Later, she won a scholarship to study piano and singing at London’s Royal Academy of
Music. Arriving from Jamaica in 1970 was a shock: “It was cold!” she says, laughing. “I
was an only child and I think my parents were trying to defer me leaving home, so
they let the September term go by and I went in January. I’d thought I could just wear
summer clothes and get a big coat…” Sartorially under-prepared in chilly conditions,
she had an introductory “audition” at the Academy: “I was playing a Schubert
Impromptu, but I couldn’t move my fingers. I struggled through with freezing hands.
Then, as I was doing singing as well, I sang something. And they said, ‘Well, at least
you can sing…’”

Her direction changed when, needing an income, she began to play the piano for
dance companies. “I got bored playing for ballet classes, because often it was either set

music or you had to sound like Chopin or Tchaikovsky. Then I discovered modern
dance. I found it so exciting!”

She began to work for London Contemporary Dance Theatre and its co-founder,
Robert Cohan, in 1978; later she became its musical director. “I had the privilege of
working with Robert Cohan closely and played for every one of his classes for several
years. I felt I learned a lot from him, because he was such a profound artist.”

Eleanor Alberga adored the excitement of modern dance (Photo: Benjamin Ealovega)