Features

Genesis Sixteen vocal programme gets off to flying start

The Spectator interview

Private passions

Mary Wakefield talks to John Studzinski about philanthropy and the importance of art

Jennie Marsden, of Pendleton, is one of the first singers to be accepted on The Sixteen's new training programme in collaboration with the Genesis Foundation, Genesis Sixteen.

By Jan Dalley

Most readers of this paper will think they know what to expect from a lunchtime chat with John Studzinski. Formerly a banker at Morgan Stanley and then at HSBC, now a senior managing director at Blackstone Group, the investment and advisory firm, he is a prominent figure in financial circles from New York to Beijing. So why, you may wonder, is it an arts editor who is meeting him for lunch at the Square, owner-chef Philip Howard’s Michelin two-star restaurant in London’s Mayfair?

On the 22 February 2011, Natalie Carter and Hayley Stobo, two British students studying at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy thanks to support from the Genesis Foundation, were featured on BBC Breakfast along with Natalie's mum, Sue Carter. You can watch the excerpt on the BBC News website.

The Tablet Interview

Philanthropy beyond the chequebook

In the wake of the banking crisis, many bankers have sought to improve their image by giving to charity. But as John Studzinski, one of the biggest philanthropists around, tells Chris Blackhurst, throwing money at good causes just isn’t enough

Glasgow-born Hayley Stobo, 16, has become the first Scottish girl to secure a place at the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Celebrating her success is the Genesis Foundation, the UK-based charity which is supporting Hayley’s professional development by funding this early stage of her career. Only two British girls have ever been taken under the wing of the esteemed Bolshoi Ballet Academy in order to train for a full diploma, both of whom are currently being developed and nurtured by the Genesis Foundation.

Elyse Dodgson talks about the special plans for the Residency this summer, 2006, at London's Royal Court Theatre and also looks ahead with some plans for the future.

This year the annual International Playwriting Residency is happening between mid-July and mid-August. This is the 18th year! Because it is also part of the 50th anniversary celebrations we decided we have to do something a bit special. We usually have 15 to 18 writers coming but I find this is not ideal because we could give more intensive experiences to a smaller group.

Elyse Dodgson has been running the International Playwrights programme at the Royal Court Theatre since its inception. Nearly ten years ago, Genesis Foundation founder, John Studzinski, began supporting this project that has become one of the cornerstones of London theatre. With the tenth anniversary of this partnership coming up in 2007, Elyse talked to the Genesis Foundation about her work and about this especially exciting year at the Royal Court.

On Mexico

The Weather out there is as terminal as an overly-affectionate Bear Hug: Mel Cooper visited the Royal Court Theatre and talked to Robin French and Clare Pollard, two of the new young playwrights' with work in the Young Playwrights Season. Though he saw each in turn, he came to the conclusion that there were many shared, overlapping themes that emerged not just from their work but from their lives.