Rosemary Jefford
Rosemary Jefford
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I live and work from my home in North Oxfordshire. My creative life is often a solitary one, but I also love to collaborate with other artists. Below are some of the projects I have developed and the work I am involved in.
Composer
My works have been performed internationally, including in the United States, Poland, France and here in the UK. I write for orchestra, chamber groups, solo instruments, choirs and as an accompaniment to Mindfulness.
The natural world is a powerful source of inspiration. Below are extracts of some of my works
Do get in touch if you are inspired by my works and are interested in collaboration or commissioning.
To perform or purchase my works, please get in touch with me.
Pianist
I have performed over the years in many settings and find my preferred setting is intimate gatherings or soirées and also in environments where either physical or emotional health is the focus. This draws on my training as a counsellor and many years of active meditation.
This could be in on a well-being retreat or workshop environment where the particularly emphasis is on emotional and psychological health. I can improvise, compose and play according to the feel and tone of the situation.
I hold a diploma in piano performance ALCM, having studied externally with Professor Emile Philippe at the Guildhall School of Music. On his recommendation and after further study with him, I began solo piano recitals as well as work as an accompanist. I developed my composing out of my work as a pianist and have been taught and mentored at Oxford University by Jonathan Darnborough.
Please get in touch to discuss further.
Poet
I wrote poetry as a child and then stopped for many years. Some ten or so years ago I picked my pen up again and began my journey with words. As with composing music, the natural world is a powerful source of inspiration. I have read publicly in Oxfordshire and have been published online.
A selection of some of my poetry. I continue to develop my poetry through workshops and groups, submitting to magazines rather than here for the time being. here:Teacher
Piano Lessons
I have over twenty years experience of teaching piano to students of all ages and abilities. From students as young as four years old to those mature students who are often returning after many years break. In an increasingly exam orientated culture my emphasis is on creative approaches to the piano which can mean playing composing games to singing a favourite tune or playing the theme tune to a favourite film.
Alongside this I teach piano techniques that have been developed over centuries of piano study and as a classically trained musician, I know the importance and value of good technique to make the business of playing the piano more beautiful and more satisfying!
I do enter students for exams and I use ABRSM and Trinity exam boards for Grades 1-8. I also coach students for GCSE and ‘A’ level performance and composition. I offer Grade 5 theory exam preparation. I am a member of the Musicians' Union and the European Piano Teachers' Association.I offer both face to face and online tuition via Zoom. Please use the contact form at the bottom of the page and I'll be in touch.
This is an example of a piece I wrote with students in mind.
Do contact me for further details.
Works
Choral
Live performance of my setting for women's voices of Maya Angelou's poem 'Still I Rise' sung by Women's Voices Chorus, North Carolina.
A selection of other works:
Persephone
Orchestral Tone Poem
The struggles of the feminine to emerge from darkness is a theme that recurs and I believe is a particularly insistent theme in our times. I have great respect for the work of C G Jung and in part, this work was inspired by some of his ideas on integration of darkness and light in our own psyches and balance of the feminine and masculine elements of the self.
Orchestral Tone Poem
This piece came about from a melody that kept appearing in my head for months and wouldn't leave until I'd written the piece. The title comes from Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. When I first heard the melody, I knew I wanted to write a piece that roamed. The title came later.
Clarinet Quintet
Woman in Pink: Woman in Purple
Trio for Flute/Violin, Viola and 'Cello.
Written as a response to a vivid dream.
I wrote this piece for the Lutenist and Theorbo player Lynda Sayce http://theorbo.com/ . I was inspired by her beautiful Theorbo playing at a performance in Oxfordshire. The piece is currently for Bass lute and will be available for Theorbo, after further collaboration with Lynda.
For ‘Cello and Piano
Choral SATB
As a 12 year old I earnt 50 pence by joining the church choir to sing for events such as weddings and festivals. My love of these Psalm settings was sealed as I sang, sitting on cold pews in the village church where I grew up. Much later, I spent a year studying New Testament Greek and found an enriched understanding of the Psalms that informs these settings..
Choral SSAATTBB
Setting of Hymn
This hymn setting was inspired by a couple I met who tragically lost their only daughter in her thirties. I dedicate it to them.
Whitechapel (Piano)
I visit Whitechapel, London often to visit family. This piece is my response to the wild mixture of sirens, gangs, yoga classes, coffee shops, work hubs and insistent city energy.
Easter Morning (Piano)
Sunrise (Piano)
Inspired by the works of Chopin, this piece is a homage to his Study in C# Minor Op.25 No. 12..
Testimonials
"Rosemary's Persephone Tone Poem took me on such an emotional journey"
"I loved singing 'Rising Like Tides' more and more as I got to know it."“Rosemary’s playing is so beautiful"
“Incredibly beautiful playing”
“I don’t know how she does it, but her playing reaches such deep emotion”
"Her Mindfulness Music was beautiful"
"I fell asleep listening to her meditation music!"
Get In Touch
Please feel free to get in touch about lessons, performances or about any of my works.
Copyright 2016