PERCEPTIONS OF classical music being exclusively for just a privileged few are being widely challenged by a school of music in Hackney.

When Dad saw how serious I was in my pursuit of academic excellence through music he bought me my first piano at age 19

Fiona Pacquette

Fiona Dwanell Pacquette, a professionally trained pianist, organist and cellist has been sharing her passion of classical music at the East London School of Music (ELSOM) she manages for six years now.

With over 25 years teaching experience, Fiona, 51, from Bow, East London has witnessed first-hand the benefits a music school can have on the wider community.

“Often there is a perception that classical music is just for an elite few – usually those who are white, middle-class and with money. Here, at the East London School of Music, we challenge those perceptions everyday by creating opportunities for the wider community to access a genre of music they might not have considered before,” says Fiona.

Fiona’s passion for music runs in the family. Her mother, Mrs Leone R Pacquette, who hails from Roseau in Dominica, is the 11^th of 12 siblings that were taught from a very young age to play hymns by their eldest sister. Her late father, Mr Jean Pacquette, who came from Guadeloupe, had a love for soca.

By age five Pacquet had learnt from her mother how to play hymns but it was not until much later that she developed an interest in music.

“My interest in classical music didn’t develop until maybe around 14 or 15 when I started taking lessons at school. I played the piano, cello and French horn but would later give up the latter because I was worried about getting big lips,” laughs Fiona.

“So I focused on the cello and the piano which led to me graduating with a Masters in Liturgical Music from Colchester Institute School of Music in Essex.”   

While she lists her mother and a few of her former professors as having made a huge impact in her love for music, her biggest inspiration was the late John Prince OBE – a piano and music theory teacher at the Seventh-day Adventist church she attended in Hampstead. “Mr Prince was my mentor as a musician and organ builder.

“He taught me how to tune pianos and I assisted him with the maintenance and tuning of the former Hampstead pipe organ (removed in 1995). After he sadly passed away, I continued teaching piano and music theory for over 25 years until 2015 when I was appointed to manage ELSOM.”

Fiona also paid tribute to the role her late father had played in her progression as an accomplished musician.

“When Dad saw how serious I was in my pursuit of academic excellence through music he bought me my first piano at age 19 and also paid for my tuition. Without his sacrifice I would not be where I am today and my only wish was that he would have been alive to see me graduate.”

Fiona, the youngest of three siblings, now balances her time between taking care of her mother and sister who suffer with Alzheimer’s and infantile autism respectively (her other sister is in residential care with schizophrenia) whilst managing ELSOM.

Yet inspite of the challenges such a balance can pose, Fiona is adamant she would not have it any other way. “I have a really good support system around me – friends who assist in the care of my mum and sister while I teach and run ELSOM during the day. It all makes a difference and it’s my faith in God which has kept me strong to this day.”

Now in its sixth year, ELSOM has grown in leaps and bounds under Fiona’s direction and she is keen for the steady progress it has seen over the years to continue.

“After we first opened our doors to the local community in Hackney we had 5 professionally trained music teachers and 15 students. Fast forward to today and we now have 10 teachers and 90 students – evidence that classical music is for everyone and not just the privileged few.”

With the price of a 30 minute session as as low as 12 pounds per 30 mins, Fiona wants every person, no matter how young or old, to have the opportunity to fulfil their musical dreams.

“While 70 per cent of our students are under 25, the school is for everyone.

“Hackney has a high population of members from the Black and African Caribbean community and our school has attracted such individuals who have demonstrated exceptional musical ability and talent through the many performances we have given.

“We tell our students all the time that they can be the next Sheku Kanneh-Mason or Chineke! Orchestra member.”

The students were given an invitation to a Chineke! Orchestra rehearsal which had to be cancelled due to the current lockdown. But that disappointment may be short-lived as there are now promising discussions taking place about collaboration with the school.

“Once the current lockdown comes to an end, we are excited to have been given an opportunity to collaborate with the Chineke! Orchestra which is important for our students because they will get the opportunity to see first-hand professional musicians who look just like them and take inspiration from that for themselves.”

As well as looking forward to that special collaboration, ELSOM students will continue to perform to local council members and the wider community who have embraced the talent on the display.

“Music brings communities together and in classical music we have a genre which not only has a calming effect on those who listen to or play it but also a genre which should be made accessible to everyone who desires to have it.”

In Memory of Mrs Leone R Pacquette who, at the time of publication, sadly but peacefully passed away (9th January 1935 – 22nd April 2021).

For more information on the East London School of Music please visit: www.elsomonline.org.uk