Musical Tribute to Violinist Frances Andrade Who Killed Herself during Abuse Trial

By Rashid Razaq
London Evening Standard
May 15, 2013

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/musical-tribute-to-violinist-frances-andrade-who-killed-herself-during-abuse-trial-8616849.html

Friends of a talented violinist who was driven to suicide after giving evidence against her abuser will perform a new piece of music written in her memory.

Frances Andrade, 48, a mother of four from Guildford, Surrey, took her own life on January 24, six days after she gave evidence at the trial of her former teacher Michael Brewer.

He was accused of a string of sex crimes against her when she was a pupil at the prestigious Chetham’s school of music in Manchester.

Brewer, 68, the former director of music at Chetham’s, was jailed for six years in March after he was convicted of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was 14 and 15.

His former wife Kay, 68, was convicted at the same trial of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was 18. She was jailed for 21 months.

Mrs Andrade’s son Oliver attacked the judicial process, saying: “Being repeatedly called a ‘liar’ and a ‘fantasist’ was more than she could bear.”

Now her family and colleagues at the Chamber Ensemble of London, directed by Peter Fisher, are hoping to create a positive legacy and help others in a similar situation.

Clive Jenkins, composer for the 14-strong string group of which Mrs Andrade had been a member for the past six years, has written Fanfare and Fugue in memoriam Frances Andrade as a tribute. Her husband Levine Andrade is the ensemble’s fixer.

It will be performed for the first time at a special concert at St James’s Church in Piccadilly this Friday with funds raised going to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Guildford.

Mr Jenkins told the Standard: “Everybody was shattered by Fran’s death. Our reaction was that something positive has to come out of this.” Mr Jenkins said the piece composed in her memory celebrated her “vitality and love of life”. He added: “It isn’t a gloomy piece at all. One of the things I remember most about Fran was her kinetic energy.”

The ensemble is also releasing a CD — Over Hill, Over Dale — with a dedication to Mrs Andrade on the album sleeve.