SPRINGBANKHOLIDAYQUARTETCOACHINGBYTHESEA2018

JointheVictoriaStringQuartet: photo:KevinLaitakBenedictHollandandCatherineYates,violinsSusieMészáros,violaJenniferLangridge,celloBringyourquartettotheprettyvillageofOverstrand,fromFriday4thMay2018–Monday7thMayinclusive,forthreedaysofintensivecoachingandanoptionalperformanceshowcase.Thisisdesignedtobeasmallandfriendlycourseforexistingstringquartetsofallstandards,withopportunitiesforrelaxationandsightseeing.

Whoarewe?TheVictoriaStringQuartetunitessomeofthemostexperiencedchambermusiciansintheUK:Allfourofushaveperformedtogetherindifferentensemblesformanyyears,andbetweenuswecanboastanimpressivepedigree:TheChilingirianQuartet,TheSorrelQuartetandPsapphaEnsemble,namingjustafew.Wearethrilledtojointogetherinournewformationtoexploreandperformtherichandvariedstringquartetrepertoire.WearebasedinManchesterandallfourofusteachattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusicandgivemasterclassesbothintheUKandinternationally.

WhyOverstrandforthelocationofthecourse?ThecoursewilltakeplaceinthebeautifulsettingoftheNorthNorfolkcoast.Althoughit'sapeacefulandrelaxingplace,thevillagealsohasgoodamenities,acosypubandgreatwalksfromthedoorstep(whichisjust5minutesonfootfromalovelybeach).Theseasidetownof

Cromerwithitspierandbeachesisineasyreachbyashortbusrideorasceniccliff/beachwalkwheretherearesupermarketsetc.,andtherearemanyplacesofinteresttovisitcloseathand.

CourseLocation:TheBelfryArtsCentre(andadjacentprimaryschool).OverstrandisaccessiblebytrainandbusviathebustlingseasidetownofCromer.TheArtsCentrehasgoodfacilities,includingasmallcafé,andgoodparkingandisverymuchattheheartofthevillage.

Schedule:Friday4thMay5pm:Registration7.30pm:ConcertbytheVictoriaStringQuartet,featuringquartetsbySchubert,ElgarandWolfaspartoftheCromerMusicEveningsSociety(ticketsincludedincostofthecourse)Saturday5thThreecoachingsessionsplusscheduledprivatepreparationsessions.Evening:Optionalfishandchipsupperwiththeotherquartetsandtutorsatanaward-winninglocalrestaurantSunday6thThreecoachingsessionsplusscheduledprivatepreparationsessions.Evening:OptionalwalkfromOverstrandtoCromeralongthesandybeachandbackalongthegolfcourse.Monday7th:Twocoachingsessionswithoptionalplaythroughintheafternoon.4pm:Courseendsafteracupoftea!

Cost:Thecostofthecourseis£300perperson,whichincludesaconcertticketonthefirstevening,butdoesnotincludeaccommodationormeals.Thereisawidevarietyofexcellentaccommodationnearby,bothb&b,airbnb,hotelandself-cateringandthecoastiswell-knownforlocallysourcedfood(anddrink!).

*Pleasenotethatforthiscoursetorun,werequireaminimumoffourandamaximumofsixquartets.

TutorBiographies

BenstudiedtheviolinattheRoyalAcademyofMusicwithManougParikianandattheRNCMwithYossiZivoni.AsachambermusicianhewasafoundermemberoftheMatissePianoQuartetandisamemberofthePleyelEnsemble.Asanorchestralleaderhehasguest-ledmanyofthecountry'smajororchestras,includingtheHallé,RoyalLiverpoolPhilharmonic,NorthernSinfonia,BournemouthSymphonyOrchestra,CityofBirminghamSymphonyOrchestra,ScottishEnsemble,OrchestraofOperaNorthandtheBBCPhilharmonicOrchestra.Throughouthisperformingcareer,Benhasbeenachampionofcontemporarymusicandofworkingwithlivingcomposersandistheviolinistintheacclaimedcontemporaryensemble,Psappha.HehasbeentheLeaderofSinfoniaViVasince2001anditsArtisticAdvisorsince2006,appearingasbothdirectorandsoloist.SoloappearanceshavebeeninconcertosbyWeill,Arnold,Vaughan-Williams,VivaldiandMozart,includinghisperformanceofMozart’sAmajorconcertowiththeOrchestra,recentlybroadcastonClassicFM.

Benhasalwaysputteachingattheheartofhiswork,withclassesattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusic(wherehewasawardedaprofessorshipinviolininJune2016)andChetham'sSchoolofMusic.HealsoundertakesconsultativeclassesincontemporarytechniquesfortheBirminghamConservatoireandTrinityLabanConservatoireofMusicandDance.Ben’sviolinisarareRogeriof1710.

CatherinestudiedwithMalcolmLayfieldandLydiaMordkovichattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusicinManchesteraswellastakingfurthercoursesatYaleUniversityandtheBritten-PearsSchoolforAdvancedMusicalStudiesinAldeburgh.Alwaysakeenchambermusician,shebecameamemberoftheSorrelQuartetin1989,performingandbroadcastingbothathomeandabroadandlayingdownanextensiveandmuchacclaimeddiscographythatincludesthecompletequartetsofShostakovich,themajorquartetworksofBrittenandamuchlaudeddiscofElgar.InJuly2007,CatherinewasappointedasPrincipal2ndViolinwiththeHalléandsheheldthispostforsixyearspriortohermostrecentappointment,thatofDeputyHeadofStringsattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusic.ShecombinesherworkineducationwithabusyfreelancecareerasGuestPrincipalwithmanyorchestrasandshecontinuestoenjoyperformingasachambermusicianonbothviolinandviola.

SusieisamemberoftheworldrenownedChilingirianQuartet.AfterherstudiesattheYehudiMenuhinSchool,shewasappointedPrincipalViolawiththeCamerataSalzburgandwasaregularchambermusicpartnerofherteacher,thegreatHungarianviolinistSándorVégh.ShemadeherWigmoreHalldebutasaduowithYehudiMenuhinin1977andperformedwithVladimirSpivakovandArthurGrumiaux.At17shewontheGoldMedalattheRoyalOver-SeasLeaguecompetitionandwasastringfinalistintheBBCYoungMusicianoftheYearandplayedwithmanyleadingchamberensemblesincludingtheNashEnsemble.SusiewasleaderoftheFitzwilliamQuartet,PrometheusEnsembleandconcertmasterofKentOperaandregularlyperformedrecitalsonRadio3onbothviolinandviola.SusiehasappearedassoloistwiththeBBCSymphony,BBCConcertandBBCWelshorchestras.Asoughtafterteacher,SusietaughtattheYehudiMenuhinandPurcellSchoolsandcurrentlyteachesattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusicandRoyalCollegeofMusicteachingviolin,violaandchambermusic.

SusiehasperformedasaguestprincipalwithorchestrassuchasthePhilharmonia,BrittenSinfonia,LondonMozartPlayersandtheChamberOrchestraofEuropeandisregularlyinvitedtositonjuriesincludingtheTrondheimandBordeauxInternationalQuartet

competitions,theRoyalOverseasLeaguecompetitionandthe'HelpMusicians'awards.SheplaysonaviolabyJacobFendt.

JenstudiedattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusicwithEduardoVassalloandwentontobecomeaJuniorFellowattheRNCMaspartoftheNossekStringQuartet,whichhadasuccessfulrecitalcareerfor10yearsuntil1999.JenhasbeenamemberofPsapphaEnsemblefor23years,touringacrossEurope,NorthandSouthAmerica,Australia,andmostrecentlytoJerusalem.ThegroupperformsregularlyonBBCRadio3andhasmadeeightCDrecordings.JenhasoftenperformedasasoloistwithPsappha,mostnotablyattheRoyalAlbertHallfortheBBCPromsin2004,playingMaxwellDavies,‘LinguaeIgnis’forsolocelloandensemble.AlongsideherworkwiththeVictoriaQuartetandPsappha,JenisPrincipalcellowiththeNorthernChamberOrchestraandsheisacellotutorattheRoyalNorthernCollegeofMusicandalsoatTheUniversityofManchester.SheplaysonaPeterWalmsleycello,1729.

Photo:GeorginaChild