 Amelia Freedman, CBE, FRAM
It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the death of Amelia Freedman, creator and guiding light of the Nash Ensemble for more than sixty years. Amelia founded the Nash Ensemble in 1964 whilst a student at the Royal Academy of Music. Initially its clarinettist, she nurtured the group tirelessly as its artistic director over the next six decades, earning it an international reputation for the quality of its musicians and performances. Combined with her roles as head of classical music at the South Bank Centre and artistic director of Bath Mozartfest and Bachfest, she occupied a unique position at the heart of British classical music. The Nash Ensemble's close relationship with Wigmore Hall began in 1967. After Amelia's establishment of an annual themed season in 1979, this blossomed and the Nash has been resident chamber ensemble since 2010. Critical tributes have included descriptions of the Nash as 'chamber music royalty'; 'the yardstick by which other British chamber groups are measured'; its work as 'chamber music beyond compare' and how 'Under the direction of Amelia Freedman, for sixty years the Nash Ensemble has both venerated chamber music's history and embraced the shock of the new'. Amelia had an extraordinary gift for creative programming that was appealing as well as broadening musical horizons. She was also an outstanding champion of new music, supporting and bringing many leading contemporary composers to public attention through her bold commissions. By the end of the Nash's 60th anniversary season, celebrated at Wigmore Hall, the ensemble had premiered more than 330 pieces from 225 composers. This body of work will be Amelia's legacy for generations to come, accompanied by an unparalleled collection of recordings. These include many seminal performances of mainstream classical repertoire alongside unjustly neglected composers and premieres of important contemporary music. We are delighted that Amelia gave her blessing for the group to continue under the artistic directorship of Nash ensemble members Simon Crawford-Phillips and Adrian Brendel. Amelia Freedman received many international awards for her extraordinary service to music. Awarded an MBE, then CBE, she was appointed Chevalier dans l'Ordre National du Mérite and presented with a medal for services to Czech music. Last October she was granted Honorary Membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society. Previous recipients of this award include such esteemed figures as Liszt, Brahms and Stephen Sondheim. Amelia dedicated her life to music, her beloved late husband Michael Miller and her children, Andrew, Robert and Emma. She had one other great passion: Arsenal FC. We will allow Amelia's old friend the late Sir Harrison Birtwistle the last word: 'Michael Tippett used to say that the world was divided between those on the side of the angels and those that were not. In the case of Amelia Freedman and the Nash Ensemble there is no question that they stand well over the line of good and are blessed with wings of gold… without question the Nash is a leading contender for top of the league, unique in its dedication to the old and the new'. The thoughts and prayers of all the Nash family, past and present, are with Amelia's children and grandchildren. RIP dear Amelia. |