YOUNG musicians from all over the world will be heading to Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in August for a unique summer school lead by virtuoso violinist Nicola Benedetti.
Youngsters from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and India as well as young instrumentalists from all over Europe, will learn the Beethoven Violin Concerto in an intensive summer school under the tutelage of Nicola Benedetti.
She will join the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for this one off summer school celebrating the city’s 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Concerto for the Commonwealth – Summer school with Nicola Benedetti, 10–16 August 2014, is an opportunity for talented young musicians to work with the UK’s leading violinist Nicola Benedetti on a classical masterpiece – Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.
As part of this unique course students will have the opportunity to work with Peter Manning, conductor of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, who will direct all the main rehearsals. Students will also work with Nicola as she brings her fresh ideas to Beethoven’s classical masterpiece.
Nicola Benedetti said: “As patron of the Junior Conservatoire, I am delighted to be back at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this Summer and looking forward to playing with some enthusiastic young musicians and to exploring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto together.”
Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, John Wallace, said: “There is something in the musical air of Scotland which is intensely exciting and inspiring. We are producing seriously good musicians who have the next story to tell – and in classical music Nicola Benedetti embodies the depth of our quest to get to the heart of what makes classical music just such a wonderful expression of our humanity.
“In this summer school we set out pathways to deeper understanding to young and receptive musicians. The programme will lead to all sorts of fresh insights and will be a balanced blend of work and play – which will also be great fun!”
Students will also learn from the head of Strings at the Royal Conservatoire, Mieko Kanno, and Roy Howat, a Scottish scholar-performer, who will lead interactive sessions on the revolutionary social context for Beethoven’s music.
There are a limited number of spaces available on this outstanding musical summer school.
To be considered for this course applicants will need to complete an online application form and submit a short recording of no more than two minutes that demonstrates playing abilities.
For details on how to apply, go to http://www.rcs.ac.uk/shortcourses/musicyoungpeople/summerschools/Nicola_Benedetti.html
Students must be aged 16-18 years-old who are playing at a minimum of ABRSM Grade 7.
Notes for Editors
About Nicola Benedetti
Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought after violinists of her generation. Born in Scotland of Italian heritage, Nicola began violin lessons at the age of five. With concerto performances at the heart of her career, Nicola is in much demand with major orchestras and conductors across the globe. Fiercely committed to music education and to developing young talent, Nicola has formed associations with education establishments including schools, music colleges and local authorities.
In 2010, she became Sistema Scotland’s official musical ‘Big Sister’ for the Big Noise project; a music initiative partnered with Venezuela’s El Sistema (Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar).
In addition, Nicola recently developed her own education and outreach initiative entitled The Benedetti Sessions, which have been held in City Halls, Glasgow and the Royal Albert Hall, London which give hundreds of aspiring young string players drawn from secondary schools as well as music conservatories, the opportunity to rehearse, undertake and observe masterclasses culminating in a performance alongside Nicola.
She was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours in recognition of both her international music career and for her work with musical charities throughout the UK, and, has to date received five honorary degrees.
Winner of Best Female Artist at the 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Nicola’s most recent recording, The Silver Violin, has had a major impact on the re-evaluation of the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, whose Violin Concerto is the centrepiece of a disc inspired by his legacy on film music. The disc has the distinction of reaching Number 1 in the Amazon charts, 30 in the UK pop charts whilst simultaneously topping the classical charts for months.
For more information visit: www.nicolabenedetti.co.uk
For more information on the RCS Summer School programme, contact RCS Press Office on 0141 270 8387.
Photo credit Royal Conservatoire of Scotland/KK Dundas
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Contact: Katie Bell
Phone: 0141 270 8387
Email: k.bell@rcs.ac.uk
Website: http://www.rcs.ac.uk
