Diane Kolin

England 2023: Meeting with Evelyn Glennie in Huntingdon

Posted on by Diane Kolin

Every summer, I travel to Europe for some research, projects and meetings. This 2023 summer is not different, with the visit of four countries: France, England, Germany and Switzerland. I just travelled to England to meet the percussionist Evelyn Glennie in Huntingdon, where her office and her huge collection of percussions are located. After interviewing her virtually in 2020, I wanted to meet her in person. I brought her the book containing a chapter I wrote about her and two other musicians with disability, published in March 2023 (see details on this page). She and her team welcomed me warmly. Evelyn gave me a tour of her percussions room.

Diane and Evelyn, two white women, smile at the camera. Diane sits on a wheelchair, she has short brown hair, she wears glasses, a grey top and a jeans. Evelyn has long white hair, wears glasses, a white top and a black pant. Evelyn holds the book entitles "Women's Leadership in Music."
Evelyn shows an instrument called the Waterphone, a round instrument with twisted metallic tubes.
Several percusive instruments with metallic bells and plaques.
Evelyn plays a gigantic marimba.
A few percussions are aligned in front of a window on which the inscription "Evelyn Glennie" can be read.
A giant drum at the front, several desks, and other percussions in the back.