Remembering Alice

Alice Macgill was killed in the Asian tsunami, aged 23. Her mother, Sally, also died.

At the time of her death Alice was training to be a music teacher at Goldsmiths College, London. She had previously completed an undergraduate degree in Music at the college.

Alice began her musical life at an early age playing instruments including violin, oboe, saxophone, bass guitar, piano and percussion. Cello, however, was the instrument with which she excelled.

Alice was a member of numerous orchestras including City of Leeds Youth Orchestra, Dales Chamber Orchestra and Kensington Symphony Orchestra and performed across the United Kingdom and Europe.

In 2002 she attended the International Masterclass Porto Carras (Greece) in the company of many accomplished cellists. She performed regularly with the Goldsmiths Sinfonia and Chamber Orchestra and was principle cello.

It was at Goldsmiths that her talent as a composer was recognised and she received acclaim for her piece on the war in Iraq. Alice did not limit herself to classical music and was a member of many contemporary ensembles, including most recently A Bride for Tom, with whom she played across London and recorded an album, and Brighton based Palm Springs.

Alice was thoroughly enjoying her PGCE in Music. She had completed her first placement at George Green's Secondary School, Tower Hamlets and was looking forward to her second and final placement. Alice had the confidence, passion and talent to light up the classroom.

Music for Alice has been established to assume responsibility for making the contributions to music education that Alice can no longer make. Her sudden death was and remains a phenomenal loss to those who knew her.