CHAMBER MUSIC IN SHEFFIELD AND DERBYSHIRE

4strings88keys Annual Report 2009-2010

The aim of 4strings88keys is to encourage and  develop chamber music particularly in  Sheffield and Derbyshire. Accordingly we held 2 events, a chamber music weekend and a cello day, thanks to the Bernard Gregor-Smith  making himself available for both programs.

Weekend December 2009

This consisted of a formal concert, master-class style tuition and ensemble coaching, and the venue was  the Sheffield Music Academy and 5 of their students received coaching from our tutors. We had support and demonstration of instruments by Sheffield instrument maker and repairer, Stefano Gibertoni and bow maker Chris Halstead and a short lunch-time performance by 4 of the students on bursaries.

Our soloists and tutors were the Dante quartet with Yolande Wrigley piano. They gave a concert of the highest quality to an estimated audience of 43.  It is felt that the low attendance might be explained by the proximity of the event to Christmas.

There were 33 workshop participants, 5 tutors involved along with 4 voluntary helpers. and 9 of students were on bursaries. 15 participants were from Sheffield and 9 of the attenders were in the13-25 age group. 10 individual lessons were accommodated, mainly on the Saturday. The lesson slots on the Saturday were not completely taken up. Free accommodation was found in local homes for 4 students and the 5 tutors.

The teaching was inspiring  and left participants with plenty of ideas for both expression of musicality and the tackling of technical difficulties. The tutors are soloists and chamber music players of international standing and give evidence of their great experience in the education of musicians both professional and amateur.

Cello Day

This was held at the Sheffield Music Academy, 7 March 2010 with David Brown as project leader.

There were 22 attenders, of whom 5 were from the Sheffield Music Academy, and the cello tutors were Bernard Gregor-Smith and Ben Gregor-Smith. The pianists involved with the accompaniment of the concert and classes were Daniel Browell and Jenny Hogg and also present were instrument makers Stefano Gibertoni and Chris Halstead.

The program offered choice of attendance at items such as  group cello playing of Bach, cello octets, and classes covering well known cello repertoire and  cello quartets. The two tutors were able to run the events in parallel in the much appreciated space available in the Academy.

There was a demonstration of the variation of ‘bridge type’ by Stefano Gibertoni and Bernard. Also a separate discussion of playing ‘ high and low’ on the cello, by Bernard and Ben.

The final treat of the day was a recital by Ben Gregor-Smith and Daniel Browell (pianist).

The day was expertly organised and run by David Brown to whom thanks were given for his hard work.

The partnership with Sheffield Music Academy has been successful, in the past with mutual benefit. It was unfortunate that there was an unexpected demand on the students that interfered with their expected attendance on the Saturday as previously the demand for the weekend in this format appeared to be expanding. On this occasion not all the places were taken for tuition, and the concert attendance was poor, perhaps for the reasons covered above.

Financially the support from the Sheffield Trusts remains vital both for the concert to continue, and to allow the access of the younger generation from Sheffield to places at reduced prices. We are aware that good soloists require a commitment to a concert if they are to undertake a weekend of teaching and we agree with them that this is a vital part of the weekend.

The workshops can be self funding but to include the younger students and those in an early postgraduate stage it is necessary to have the financial support given by full or part bursaries. The concert will not be self funding as soloists of this stature command the appropriately higher fee.

4strings88keys is delighted to be able to promote the ethos of chamber music. In this way we hope we are enabling local players by bringing teaching to their doorstep, helping teachers by creating enthusiasm, and creating employment for great musicians who are willing to come to Sheffield due to the influence of Bernard Gregor-Smith.

Our special thanks for financial support to Sheffield Town Trust Church; Burgesses Educational Foundation; The Freshgate Trust Foundation; Friends of 4strings88keys

EW August 2010

4strings88keys reg. charity no 1121412

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