Scotland’s specialist music school in Edinburgh’s West End is to make music with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) this spring.
The SCO Wind Academy is open to school-aged wind instrument players who have reached Grade 6 or above. There will be three sessions in the next few months.
There will be a series of open masterclasses featuring internationally respected musicians beginning with the 7th annual Nigel Murray Masterclass with German-French cellist and conductor Nicolas Altstaedt. He is known for his effortless virtuosity and is one of the most sought-after musicians. He will also perform the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra during his stay in the capital.
The second masterclass features violinist Lawrence Power who is in demand as a concerto soloist and chamber music partner. He will be soloist with Nicola Benedetti in March with the SCO in their performances of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante.
Both musicians will work with a small group of school children on stage before an audience of other young musicians, their parents and teachers.
The school is also holding an open day for prospective pupils on 7 March 2020 to find out about life as a boarder or day pupil. There are opportunities for pupils to take up funded places through the Scottish Government’s Aided Places Scheme.
Dr Kenneth Taylor Headteacher of St Mary’s Music School said: “St Mary’s Music School is delighted to launch 2020 with these exciting events which will be wonderful opportunities to learn, both for those young musicians who actively take part and for those who are able to observe.
“Our pupils are in the fortunate position of being able to work with world-renowned musicians on a frequent basis and it is an important function of the School to extend this opportunity to other young musicians and their teachers, with no cost attached.”
| Event | Date/s | Location | Booking |
| SCO Wind Academy | 16, 23 February and 2 March | St Thomas of Aquin’s High School. | The Wind Academy is now fully booked |
| Nigel Murray Masterclass with Nicolas Altstaedt | 21 February | St Stephen’s Church,Stockbridge. | mwalls@st-marys-music-school.co.uk |
| Open Day | 7 March | St Mary’s Music School 25 Grosvenor Crescent EH12 5EL | www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/openday2020 |
| Lawrence Power Masterclass | 13 March | St Mary’s Music School 25 Grosvenor Crescent EH12 5EL | https://www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk/events |
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