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This is a not-for-profit organisation whose primary aim is to promote chamber music in the community. We organise workshops for musicians with an interest in chamber music, which are not necessarily on the professional circuit. The group was established following a 'cello' day organised in Sheffield in June 2003 and has a small committee of 5 and an artistic advisor, Bernard Gregor-Smith, who is a cello soloist, a chamber music player and coach, and previously the cellist to the Lindsay Quartet.
Primarily we look to enable musicians in their musicality through tuition. However we also wish to support today's generation of composers of new works, particularly those works that are of reach to the non-professional musician.
We also wish to promote the awareness of young people to the pleasure that can be obtained through making music in ensembles and to support local music teachers by promoting local music enthusiasm.
There have been six exploratory events. At these events expert tuition is available, from professionals off the international circuit, through workshops based on a masterclass style of tuition. We also make an Alexander technique teacher available to help individuals to release unnecessary muscular tensions that may be inhibiting performance. The student performer will learn not only from his/her individual lesson but also from observing the coaching of others.
The events are also open to those who only wish to observe the teaching, or who wish for single individual lessons initially until sufficient confidence is obtained to test their skills at performance.
Integral to the event is the initial professional recital which is open to the general public as well as to the workshop attenders, for whom it is included as part of the weekend tuition, and allows the public to meet performers and composers during the evening.
The weekend is rounded off by a day of chamber music playing in ensembles whoich may be tutored or if preferred purely for the fun of playing without coaching.
Finally a student concert is enjoyed by all and sundry.
The project is multicentred and geographical areas covered at the moment are those of Yorkshire, and Derbyshire, the events are aimed at areas with no local musical Conservatoire facilities. We are lucky to have Bernard Gregor-Smith in the locality who has great enthusiasm for the project and is able to attract artists of international calibre, and has already given so much to our area in through the Lindsay quartet. Of course he is now to be found performing with both the Dante string quartet and the Primrose piano quartet
We hope the events appeal to all age groups and we particularly hope to raise bursaries to allow the involvement of the student and the younger population. We are grateful for the support we have had from individuals in this respect,
The events that have taken place so far have all been fully booked and the recital artistes and tutors have included Susanne Stanzeleit (violin), Laura Jellicoe (flute), Yolande Wrigley(piano) and Bernard Gregor-Smith (cello). Volunteer work covers the multiple supportive tasks required.
Support of new works is a responsibility our generation has towards musicians of the future, and we find it most exciting that we have been able to commission two new works so far through this group.
The Cello Octet, by Pat Moss, premiered at the Merlin Theatre June 2003, and Studies for Piano Trio, by Alan Charlton premiered by the Onslow Trio at St Elphin's School Darley Dale in May 2004, having its second performance at The Conway Hall in November 2004.
We now look to support a new professional composition for a trio within the next 2 years.
Recital Artistes and Tutors
Susanne Stanzeleit.
One of the leading violinists of her generation Susanne has performed throughout four continents as a soloist and chamber musician. She is especially renowned for her unusually extensive and challenging repertoire, which features many commissions and UK and world premieres.
Her many recordings have attracted rave reviews worldwide and she has shared the concert platform with many eminent musicians, including Gervase de Peyer, Eduard Brunner, Zara Nelsova, Norbert Brainin and Yehudi Menuhin as well as regular piano partners, Julian Jacobson and Gustav Fenyo.
A sought after leader she was first violin of the Edinburgh String Quartet between January 2000 and June 2002 and co-leader of Sinfonia 21, as well as guest leading groups such as the Orchestra of St John's, the BBC Scottish Symphony, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the East of England Orchestra, the BT ensemble and many others.
A student of Leonid Kogan, Nathan Milstein, Vesselin Paraschkevov, Sandor Vegh and Yfrah Neaman amongst others she was visiting lecturer of violin and chamber music at the Welsh College of Music and Drama from 1993-2000, and she is much in demand for masterclasses and chamber music coaching.
She is head of strings and the London College of Music and Media Studies and the leader of the Primrose Quartet, the Quartet in Residence.
Bernard Gregor-Smith was the cellist of the world famous Lindsay quartet and a founder member. The Lindsay's have decided to retire in 2005 by which time their career had spanned over 40 years. They have had one of the most stable and long lived careers in British Musical history and are by far the most recorded having over 60 CDs in the ASV catalogue, including the entire Beethoven twice, fifty Haydns, all Schubert, Mozart, Dvorak, Janacek etc.
Throughout his career Bernard has given recitals at festivals and is a noted cello soloist. His cello/piano duo with his pianist wife Yolande Wrigley has been highly acclaimed and they have broadcast on the BBC, made 5 CDs, played in major London venues and performed in Luxembourg, France and Italy. He has received six honorary doctorates, the latest from Sheffield in 2001 and was invited to accept a fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music in 1993.
Bernard now plays in various chamber ensembles including the Primrose Piano Quartet, the resident quartet to the London College of Music and Media where he also teaches.
Yolande Wrigley was born in East Africa but studied at the Royal College of Music winning the Chopin prize in her final year. She was pianist in residence at Southampton University, but now combines freelance solo work with a position as Senior Piano Tutor at the University of Sheffield. She is pianist to the Onslow Trio.
Robin Ireland
Is the viola player to the Sorrell quartet and a member of the previous Lindsay quartet Robin is a skilled and experienced tutor with ensembles and individuals.
For details of the next cello and chamber music weekend click here