Virtuoso Violin

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

 

The Seventh Bach and Paganini Festival for Violinists, will be held from Sunday 3rd to Tuesday 12th August 2008, providing a wealth of master classes, individual tuition and recitals for 20 violinists between 16 and 36 years of age (on the 1st June 2008).

 

The Virtuoso Violin is a festival celebrating the works for solo violin of Bach and Paganini plus other string music. 

 

 

 

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.

Dates for your diary:

  • Monday 4th August: 7 p.m.

The Inaugural Concert featuring Rimma Sushanskaya (violin) and Robert Markham (Piano), King Edwards Grammar School.

  • Saturday 9th August: 7 p.m.

Solo Recitals featuring the international Virtuoso Violin Students, King Edwards Grammar School.

  • Monday 11th August: 7 p.m.

Stratford Virtuosi Orchestra.  Concert in the Holy Trinity Church.

 

Want to know more about the Virtuoso Violin Festival?

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.

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

and

  • 1 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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Competition:

The orchestral Festival finale will include Summer and Autumn from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and all students will be encouraged to participate in a competition held during the week to play the solo part for one of the movements.

To Apply

Please download, print and fill out this application form.   Send it with:

  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.

To:   

The Administrator,

The Virtuoso Violin,

29 Johnson Road, 

Erdington,

Birmingham,

B23 6PU,

United Kingdom.

 

Email The Administrator

 

Deadline:  The deadline for applications is the 3Oth May 2008. Successful applicants will be notified by the 30th June 2008 and places must be confirmed by a deposit (non-refundable) of £320.00 with the balance of £320.00 due by Friday 19th July 2008.

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The Fee

The fee of £640.00 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 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 Savely Shalman


Dr. Savely Shalman, professor at the Special School of Music in St. Petersburg, is a distinguished Russian violin teacher.  He has given master classes and lectures throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. His technique has met with great success, and he is the author of a number of books on the subject. He is a member of the International Secretariat of ESTA, and Chairman of the board of ESTA-Russia

 

Alvia Vandisheva


Professor Alvia Vandisheva has been teaching violin since 1982 and is now head of strings at the College of music at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatoire.  She has given a number of master classes in Russia, Europe, Asia and America.  She has been awarded medals by the Presidents of Russia and Italy and is on the board of the International Fund Novye Imena.

 

Dr Robert Markham

 

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.

 

Joanne Sealey

 

Joanne Sealey is on staff at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where she was made an honorary member in 2000.  She has given master classes and recitals in the UK, France and Australia.

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