BENSLOW MUSIC NEEDS YOU

THE

We are always looking to expand our welcoming arms to other amateur musicians who are not aware of the great courses and concerts we have on offer.

UZZ
MAY 2014
Welcome to the May edition of the Buzz. We have just reached the end of a very busy month which began with the well-attended LuteFest, which included an outstanding concert from world renowned lutenist David Miller. Both the course and the concert were well attended and we are very fortunate to have such as well-established link with the Lute Society to make this happen each year. Long may it continue! In addition to the LuteFest, another highlight of our calendar was the Baroque Opera project. This year our course focussed on producing a fully-staged production of Handels Theodora in under a week. We were based at our campus for the first time in recent history and the whole project was a resounding success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team of tutors, the young soloists, and our chorus and orchestra of amateur players for all their hard work and dedication during the week. Photos of the production are included on the back page. Our International Recital Series continues in May with three concerts. The Wihan Quartet are flying in from the Czech Republic for a concert on Friday 9 May which includes works by Myslivecek, Mendelssohn and Dvok. There are still a few spaces for groups on their course 9-11 May so if you are a member of a preformed group please get in touch to book your place. We also have another night of jazz improvisations, set in an informal jazz-

Are you able to support Benslow Music by distributing posters or course brochures in your local area? Please contact Vicky on 01462 459446 or email vicky@benslowmusic.org as she would be delighted to speak to you.

club atmosphere, with the charismatic Viktor Obsust and friends on Tuesday 20 May to look forward to. And the month finishes with the Bingham Quartet who are joined by Nigel Clayton to give a concert on Friday 30 May which includes Shostakovichs Piano Quintet. We are also looking forward to a new member of staff who will be joining us on 14 May. Hannah James will be joining the team as Music Administrator and comes to us with a great deal of practical experience under her belt, having worked with the Purcell School as Concerts Administrator. We are all looking forward to working with her. Planning for the Jan-Jul period in 2015 is almost complete. We are hoping to release the brochure for these courses to members towards the end of June, and to non-members a month later. Alongside the old favourites we have currently confirmed a number of new courses, including an appreciation course with Peter Medhurst, Guitar Ensembles with Steve Marsh, Brass Ensembles with Peter Bassano, Intermediate Chamber Orchestra with Anthony Bailey, an advanced violin course with Gina McCormack (including concert), a weekend for singers and pianists to work on song with Richard Edgar-Wilson, a repeat of John Whites popular wind chamber course in the summer and a language weekend in association with the Hitchin Language Centre. There are still a few gaps in the programme, so if you have any ideas for courses you would like to see in the Benslow programme, or tutors you would like to work with, please let me know and we can explore the possibilities. Whether its for a course, a concert or another event, we look forward to seeing you at Benslow Music very soon. Fane Henderson Acting Director of Music

www.benslowmusic.org

Places aVailable
We still have places available on the following May and June courses.

COMMENTS on RECENT COURSES

JAZZ PIANO MASTERCLASS Exceeded all expectations! Learnt so much and the food etc was wonderful. Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed the course, learnt a great deal and met lovely people - what more is there to say! Tim ran a superb course and I would certainly like to do another of his. The teaching was clear and he has endless patience. JULIAN WILLIAMSON CHORAL TRAIL Very good indeed. Friendly and super cooking! MIXED CHAMBER MUSIC A really wonderful and most enjoyable course. A great variety of music for all kinds of combinations! High standard of players, superbly well organised and excellent tutors. My third time on this course. Thank you everyone BEYOND THE SCORE Just completely brilliant Excellent as always SPEED DATING FOR STRINGS A fun Benslow! Lots of laughs and learning. Would do it again. FOUNDATION STRING CHAMBER MUSIC I particularly appreciated the welcome I received when I had to arrive early because of travel arrangements - coffee, cake and room ready early. THE BENSLOW THEODORA BAROQUE OPERA:

String Quartets with the Wihan

(Code 14/238, 9 - 11 May)

Exploring the Saxophone and its Repertoire

(Code 14/318, 12 - 15 May)

Spring Songfest

(Code 14/320, 12 - 15 May)

LEstro Armonico: Baroque on Modern Instruments

We still have availability for more violas. (Code 14/239, 16 - 18 May)

New Winds

(Code 14/240, 16 - 18 May)

Spring JazzFest

(Code 14/242, 14/321 and 14/ 401, 19 - 21 May or 19 - 22 May or 19 - 23 May)

Foundation String Chamber Music

(Code 14/245, 23 - 25 May) (Code 14/246, 23 - 25 May) (Code 14/BEE, 24 May)

Oboe Extravaganza Introducing the Art of Beekeeping Voice Day

(Code 14/006, 25 May)

Group Quartets with Jonathan Trout

We still have availability for more cellos. (Code 14/323, 27 - 30 May)

Always a Song

(Code 14/236, 2 - 5 June)

Folk Fiddling by Ear

(Code 14/237, 2 - 5 June) (Code 14/328, 2 - 5 June)

Wind Ensembles with the London Myriads

On most courses we can usually squeeze in a few more so even if the course youre attracted to isnt on this list why not ask in any case?
INFO@BENSLOWMUSIC.ORG OR

This has been a wonderful week of learning in a lovely setting with a lot of great people, thank you. A really rewarding week.

T: 01462 459446

Hannah Joins the ReGistry Team

Hannah James will be joining the registry team as Music Administrator on the 14 May. Hannah studied Music at Royal Holloway, University of London. She has previously worked at The Purcell School in Bushey, where she was the Administrator for concerts and events, and at Oaklands College in St. Albans where she was a Tutor and Support Assistant within the Colleges Supported Learning provision. Hannah plays the violin and the piano accordion, and she also enjoys singing. She has a passion for traditional folk music, and can often be found joining in with the music-making at one of several local folk clubs. She is really looking forward to joining the team at Benslow Music.

international recital series

An enticing series of concerts of music given by world class artists. Programme details are available on our website. WIHAN QUARTET 9 MAY, 8PM

free wifi for all our Guests

Thank you to all who responded to our questionnaire some months back regarding your internet usage during your stay with us. After extensive consultation we have further invested in our wifi. The results highlighted how much our UK and International clients rely on internet access to keep in touch while resident here and how important it was to be able to access this service not only in the main house, which it was previously limited to, but also bedrooms and whilst relaxing in our beautiful gardens.

PROGRAMME INCLUDES WORKS BY MYSLIVECEK, MENDELSSOHN AND Dvok

VIKTOR OBSUST AND FRIENDS 20 MAY, 8PM

We are pleased to announce that this investment means we can now offer wireless internet connection across the whole Benslow Music campus. It couldnt be easier, turn on your device which should instantly locate the BMTwifi, log in using the password (available on our information board in the lobby) and you wont have to log in again during your stay as it will remember you. Enjoy!

BASSISt VIKtOR OBSUSt AND FRIENDS BRING tO BENSLOW MUSIC

tHEIR StYLISH BRAND OF VItUOSO IMPROVISAtIONS

BINGHAM QUARTET AND NIGEL CLAYTON 30 MAY, 8PM

coffee morninG for macmillan

A huge pat on the back to all who attended and donated to our MacMillan coffee morning on the 11 April, organised by the staff of Benslow Music. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the vast array of cakes on offer, each one had been made by a member of staff or friend of Benslow Music. We also received an overwhelming response from local businesses who supplied all the fantastic raffle prizes. Our star prize of 2 first class tickets to London including tea at the Ritz which was donated by First Capital Connect. The reason behind this second fund-raising event was to raise money for the local MacMillan Centre at Lister Hospital, Stevenage which is due to open next month. We raised 761 at the coffee morning and along with other fund-raising we have done throughout the year our total donated to the project came to 1,365. Thank you.

PROGRAMME INCLUDES WORKS BY HAYDN AND SHOStAKOVICH

TICKEtS 12 I BOX OFFICE: 01462 459446

FREE ENtRY tO MOSt CONCERtS FOR FULL tIME StUDENtS AND tHOSE UNDER 25.

CONCERtS tAKE PLACE IN PEtER MORRISON HALL, BENSLOW MUSIC, BENSLOW LANE, HItCHIN HERtS SG4 9RB

Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB T: +44 (0)1462 459446 I E: info@benslowmusic.org I W: www.benslowmusic.org

Photos Eilisha Carlton