Page 9 - Quadrangle: 39th Edition

Quadrangle Feb21 v11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2021 15:30 Page 9

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The connecting power of Social Media: FPs in Penang
A chance remark on Facebook about the Forth Bridge has led to the formation of
Setting poetry alive
perhaps the newest Herioters Worldwide club in Penang, Malaysia.
When Herioter generations combine, wonderful
It all began when Mary Rutherford, wife of former Director of Music (1967-1981),
things happen. A notion that rings true with former
Martin Rutherford, replied to a comment by Neil Robertson (1975) to a mutual
pupils, Tom Cunningham (1964), John Walker (1951)
friend, leading to the realisation that they were, in fact, close neighbours. In their
and former member of staff, Howard Duthie. The
initial meet-up, Neil then discovered that his classmate, Mark Walker (1975) was
former Herioters put their creative heads together
also based in Penang. Mark and the Rutherford’s have been connected since 2009.
to set beautiful poetry to music, suitable for live
The rest, as they say, is history.
performances. Quadrangle caught up with Tom the
Their stories:
discuss the process:
After fifteen years at Heriot’s, Martin and his family emigrated to Australia in 1982
to take up a similar post at Melbourne Grammar School, a role he held until retiring “When I went to Heriot’s in 1958, I was fortunate in
in 2008. Heriot’s never ‘left him’ however and while there he presided over many having an excellent music teacher, John Walker, who
local Heriot Club gatherings. With grown-up family in both the UK and Australia, himself had been a Heriot’s pupil not many years
Martin and Mary then decided to retire to Penang to be ‘midway’ between them. earlier. At school, as well as singing and conducting
Martin remains musically active and stages several concerts a year in Penang as the house choir, I started composing music.
Music Director of a local choir and orchestra. Most of my working life was spent in Brussels, where
Mark was at Heriot’s between 1962-1974. He and his wife Jane have resided in I was also Musical Director of the Brussels Choral
Penang since 2006 from where he operates as an International Travel Consultant Society, a symphonic chorus of 150 singers of
specialising in cultural safaris to East Africa. Mark is also part of the local arts scene more than 20 nationalities. When I moved back
arranging and performing in original shows. to Edinburgh in 2004, I received commissions to
write sets of songs for the National Youth Choir
Similarly, Neil attended Heriot’s from 1967-1975. He is now retired but has been based
of Scotland, one of which was premiered in Perth
in Penang, (his wife Stephanie’s home island) for two years. Prior to that he had been
Concert Hall and I was delighted to meet John
working in Hong Kong since 1992, holding executive roles in Global Sourcing.
Walker again.
All three thoroughly enjoy Penang as their ‘new’ home, revelling in its multi-cultural
John introduced me to Howard Duthie who had
diversity, famed food and the tropical climate. No biting North Sea winds!
been Director of Music at Heriot’s and was now
The Herioter connection is strong – wherever you are in the world.
Director of Chansons, a Perth chamber choir. They
subsequently included sets of my choral pieces in
Gap Year Goals many of their concerts and commissioned me to
set songs by William Soutar (The Circling Year) for
Harry Leask (2020) is currently in Zimbabwe with
their fortieth anniversary concert in 2019.
Quest Africa, a gap year programme which is
attached to Falcon College boarding school near Scottish Tenor, Liam Bonthrone started to give
Bulawayo. The organisation prides itself on recitals of my work accompanied at the piano by
introducing young people to a myriad of experiences, John Walker. In 2019, John asked me to choose
including adventure-based challenges and a variety some poems from a book which Scottish Poet
of practical life skills - as well as personal guidance, Tom Fleming had given him and to set them for
career guidance and counselling. Candidates Liam to perform with him at a concert in September
explore key competencies, from public speaking to 2020. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic,
game conservation to mechanics – and everything the concert was postponed but we were delighted
in between. to give the premiere at an online concert organised
by the Scottish Arts Club in August 2020, which
Harry deferred his university place to travel overseas
received extremely positive feedback.”
for 7 months, enabling him to develop clearer and
broader perspectives as he embarks on life beyond You can watch the video by following the Three Tom
school. He is having the time of his life and soaking Fleming Songs link at the top of Tom’s website:
up all Quest Africa can offer. www.tomcunningham.org.uk
For more information about the programme,
please visit: www.quest-africa.com