Chamber music group, Ensemble Cymru together with Ceredigion Music Service have launched a new ‘Chamber Academy’ at Aberystwyth Arts Centre where aspiring local musicians will have the opportunity to take part in masterclasses by some of the country’s leading classical music performers.
The first Chamber Academy masterclass took place on Sunday 12th February with pupils from Penglais School and Penweddig School. One flautist, two violinists, two violas and a cellist participated in a workshop with award-winning violinist and long standing Ensemble Cymru member, Florence Cooke, and flautist Georgiana Hughes, followed by a live public performance at the Arts Centre.
Photo caption: (left to right) Emyr Penry Dance, Nansi Dingle, Ana Barriga, Irene Barriga, Jasmine Shao and Dalia El Abbadi.
As a former pupil of Ceredigion Music Service and now a student flautist studying at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Georgiana Hughes has a strong personal connection with the project which she has been so instrumental in bringing to Aberystwyth, as Peryn Clement-Evans, Ensemble Cymru’s Artistic Director explains;
“Georgiana Hughes came to us some time ago with the idea of bringing our Chamber Music Academy to her home town of Aberystwyth. We’re hugely grateful to her for the fantastic job she’s done in bringing young musicians, Ensemble Cymru and the wonderful Ceredigion Music Service together to make music. It’s going to be a really exciting day.”
As a young musician herself, Georgiana is passionate about creating opportunities for fellow young musicians from the area, as she says,
“Having grown up in Ceredigion, I am really excited to be co-ordinating this project with the Music Service and Ensemble Cymru. Having previously worked with Ensemble Cymru it is great to be able to provide them with a platform in Mid Wales, promoting chamber music in rural areas, and to give the local young musicians in Ceredigion the opportunity to work and perform with professional musicians. Hopefully, this is the first of many collaborative projects between the Music Service and Ensemble Cymru building upon the Chamber Academy.”
On the subject of the Chamber Academy and it’s collaboration with Ensemble Cymru, Ceredigion Music Service’s Manager, Geraint Evans, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in this project with Ensemble Cymru. The experience has given the pupils involved a chance of working with professional musicians. We hope this is that start of a strong working relationship.”
You can view a short film documenting EC’s first Chamber Academy in Aberystwyth below.
