The Virtuoso Violin will take place in the lovely market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, and home to the world - famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Orchestra of the Swan. The course is intensive, but students have time to explore the town and its abundant artistic heritage and also visit London or historic Warwick.  The surrounding area is steeped in history, and Stratford is approximately one hour from Oxford and one-and-a-half hours from Bath. Birmingham, England's second City, is just over 30 minutes away.

All master classes, lessons and solo recitals take place at King Edwards VI Grammar School (Shakespeare's School).  The orchestral concert will take place in Holy Trinity Church, the burial place of Shakespeare.

Concert dates for your diary:

Monday 2nd August 2010

• Levi Fox Hall, King Edwards VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon

• 7.30 p.m.

• Rimma Sushanskaya - Violin, accompanied by Robert Markham on the piano

• Admission - £10.00, Concession £7.00

Saturday 7th August 2010

• Levi Fox Hall,  King Edwards VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon

• 7.30 p.m.

• Festival participants perform a Final Recital unaccompanied and with piano. Varied repertoire from solo Bach to Classical sonatas, Romantic concertos  and show pieces.

• Pianists Robert Markham, Joanne Sealey and Irina Andievsky

• Admission free

Monday 9th August 2010

• Festival Evening

• Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

• 8.00 p.m.

• Stratford Virtuosi Orchestra

• Conductor and Music Director: Rimma Sushanskaya

• Admission - £10.00, Concession £7.00

Want to know more about the Virtuoso Violin Festival?

• The Course,

• To Apply,

• The Fee,

• Course Leaders,

• Enquiries,

• Download a flier,

• Watch Videos of the Final Concert, 2009,

The Course

Each applicant must have studied to at least UK grade 8 (or equivalent), and have prepared the following works, which will be studied during master classes and individual tuition sessions.

• Complete Sonata or Partita for unaccompanied violin by J.S. Bach from BWV 01 001 - 1 006

and

• Caprice from the 24 Caprices, Op-1 by Paganini

All participants have the opportunity to take part in one or two concerts at the Shakespeare Institute

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To Apply

1. Your full name and date of birth

2. Your home address. Please include postal city, Post/Zip Code, and Country

3. Telephone contact number, including Country Code

4. Fax Number (if applicable), including Country Code

5. Email address

6. Please give some indication as to how your course fees will be funded, i.e. whether self-funded, by your local or national Government, or by grant from a funding organisation

You must also include:

1. Your CV

2. Two letters of reference from your teacher , tutor or someone in a position of authority in the classical music world and who is familiar with your playing.

3. A cassette or CD (not longer than 15 minutes total duration) containing one movement of the unaccompanied Bach (from the Sonatas and Partitas) and any work of your choice.

Please send to the festival office address:

The Administrator,

The Virtuoso Violin,

29 Johnson Road, 

Erdington,

Birmingham,

B23 6PU,

United Kingdom.

 

Email The Administrator

 

• Download and Application Form

Deadline:  The deadline for applications is the 31st May 2010. Successful applicants will be notified by the 28th June 2010 and places must be confirmed by a deposit (non-refundable) of £325.00 with the balance of £325.00 due by Friday 16th July 2010.

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The Fee

The fee of £650.00 covers all accommodation, breakfast, mid-morning snack, packed lunch and all master classes, individual tuition, coaching and concerts. It does not include evening meals or travel to and from Stratford.  A small bursary fund is available for some who wish to attend. 

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The Course Leaders

Dr. Rimma Sushanskaya, Artistic Director

Dr. Rimma Sushanskaya, Artistic  Director, is an international concert violinist, acclaimed throughout the world for her opulent tone colours, her gripping expressive virtuosity, and her ever-present rhythmic vitality. The last pupil of the legendary David Oistrakh, she continues the great Russian tradition of violin playing. She has studied the unaccompanied works of Bach with the great Bach scholar Dr. Rosalyn Tureck.  Rimma is currently a visiting lecturer of violin at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

Dr Robert Markham earned international recognition as a finalist in the 1994 Tchaikovsky International Pianoforte Competition in Moscow, and has performed throughout the UK, Europe and North America as a soloist and chamber musician and is a tutor at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

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