bank holiday closure

THE

UZZ

The Benslow Music office will be closed

from 5pm on Monday 4 May and will reopen at 9am on Thursday 7 May 2015
due to registry re-location.
Any emails, booking forms or messages
received during this period will be
addressed as soon as we can.

MAy 2015
Welcome. I write this
with the sounds of
Vaughan
Williams
Tallis Fantasia still
ringing in the ears after
a wonderful day in
which Nic Fallowfield
and Jenny Curtis
String
Orchestra
course was amplified
by other players
keen to experience
playing the work,
strains of Gregorian
chant lingering over
the lawns too from John Rowlands-Prichards
excellent course. Participants had travelled from
Norway and Brittany as well as many areas of
UK for these courses - all most enjoyable and
an epitome of what Benslow stands for, word
of which, thanks to your great help, is spreading
ever wider.
Its been great for me to welcome back old
friends and familiar faces as well as newcomers to
Benslow in the last months, as indeed it is for all
staff.Those of you visiting in the next few weeks
will notice scaffolding on the Garden Front as
we repair weather damage to tiles and gable
ends; work is to be done to make the slope from
the parking area to Waldeck courtyard more
user-friendly, the lighting there too. Other less
visible work to the fabric and plant continues:
a sink has been installed in Oriel and a boiler
replaced in the Coach House for instance. All of
this improves and secures, bit-by-bit as and when
finance allows, the Benslow offer. We continue
to respond swiftly where we can to your valued
comments made on Evaluation Forms, on both
the musical and the physical provision, so please
keep completing those fully, returning them
promptly and making suggestions for the future
and always allow that there are sometimes

opposite views expressed on the same subject.

Some quite heavy expenditure looms so
donations, and legacies, are always welcome
and please consider this. Please also continue
to persuade fellow musicians, orchestra/choir/
ensemble members and others, to come to
Benslow too online booking has been another
most helpful way to recruit those new to
Benslow, both to courses and to the Instrument
Loan Scheme (such a valuable resource, as is the
Library of course).
Amongst other developments we welcomed
Steve Saint on to our staff as Head of Finance last
month. He has been acting as consultant here
and brings invaluable expertise to complement
the excellent work done by existing staff. Im
sure well all feel the benefits of his contribution
as he updates and streamlines procedures
and processes. A tree has been planted in the
Meadow in memory of Bernard Blay (many
thanks to his family for this) do look for it
when youre here. The pictures in the Dining
Room are to be changed very shortly, courtesy
of Hitchin Art Club they are for sale, so do
consider purchase of any that take your fancy
(and one of Vic Steadmans large pictures in the
Peter Morrison Hall has been sold recently can
you spot which one?).
A word for devotees of Group Quartet courses:
Nic Fallowfields course in December next will
focus on Beethoven Op18/1, a work that I am
sure will attract many and which he with his
Tedesca colleagues will perform along with
Janaek 1 and Brahms Op51/1 - what a super
programme! Thinking of which do please spread
word of all the absolutely first class concerts
held here, and make every effort to attend even
if not on a course at the time theyre a bargain
and well worth the journey, and enjoy a special
dinner too to make your visit a real celebration!
Peter Hewitt CEO

www.benslowmusic.org
photo Bill Hiskett

acis and galatea

Saturday 11 April was devoted to our annual Baroque Opera. The two performances that day were the
culmination of months of preparation and an intensive week of tuition at our campus. Both performances
took place at the Queen Mother Theatre in Hitchin with an 11.30am Matinee and a sold-out 7pm evening
performance. Wed like to say a huge thank you to all who were involved - the tutors, backstage staff, the
Benslow team and (especially, of course) the musicians and singers. For next years project we will be working
on John Blows Venus and Adonis 4-10 April 2016 full details will be included in our Jan-Jul 2016 brochure
to be released over the summer.
Fane Henderson Head of Music

luke archer fashion shoot at benslow

music
Luke Archer and John Silk talk about why they chose Benslow Music
to shoot their latest couture fashion collection at Benslow Music
Upon completion of our Autumn Winter 15 couture pieces, we sought to
capture the elegance and beauty which the luxury handmade pieces emit,
and there was no better place than to hold this landmark photoshoot at
Benslow Music.
Inspiration for this season came from the late opera singer Maria Callas,
and we felt that there was no better
way to honour Maria and her legacy
than to create three highly detailed
couture pieces that truly represent
who she was: feminine, fierce and
legendary.
The people of Hitchin and surrounding
areas are extremely lucky to have
such a building that boasts so many of its original features such as
carved ceilings and stained glass windows, and of course the gorgeous
staircase, all of which contributed to the authenticity of our Autumn
Winter 15 photoshoot.
We would like to thank Benslow Music for allowing us the opportunity
to hold our photoshoot in such a beautiful building, and for becoming a
part of our brands history in the making, and we look forward to working
with Benslow Music in the future.
Luke Archer & John Silk Founders - www.lukearcher.eu

course places available

We still have places available on the following
May and June courses.
Baroque on Modern String Instruments
(Code 15/238, 8 - 10 May)

Flute Works

(Code 15/324, 11 - 14 May)

Quintessential Clarinets
(Code 15/325, 11 - 14 May)

Superb Saxes

(Code 15/326, 11 - 14 May)

Introduction to Jazz Improvisation

(Code 15/327, 18 - 21 May)

The Art of Chopin

(Code 15/243, 18 - 20 May)

Foundation String Chamber Music

(Code 15/245, 22 - 24 May)

West Gallery Music

(Code 15/246, 22 - 24 May)

Group Quartets with Jonathan Trout

(Code 15/328, 25 - 28 May

String Quartets with the Bingham

(Code 15/247, 29 - 31 May) - 2 Night Option

(Code 15/329, 29 May - 1 June) - 3 Night Option

Speed Dating Piano Duets

(Code 15/248, 1 - 3 June)

Cello Orchestra

(Code 15/249, 5 - 7 June)

String and Piano Ensembles with the

Fidelio
(Code 15/FID, 8 - 11 June)

Balkan and Eastern European Jazz

(Code 15/JZ2, 12 - 14 June)

Clarinet Day

(Code 15/108, 13 June)

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
book your place

T:01462 459446 to

clarifying standards
Following a meeting with tutors earlier this
month we decided to further clarify the
playing standards listed in our brochure.
From the beginning of 2016 suggest using the
following guide:
Beginner pre grade 1
Elementary grades 1-2
Lower Intermediate grades 3-5
Upper Intermediate grades 6-8
Advanced grade 8+
We hope this will make it easier for course
members to select the course most fitting to
their level, and also to make clear how the courses
relate to each other in terms of progression. A
fuller explanation will feature in the 2016 brochure.

RECENT course comments

WIND ENSEMBLES WITH THE LONDON
MYRIADS
Superb tuition, brilliant musicians and such
lovely friendly people. Thank you London
Myriads.
The Myriads are perfect tutors for this
course. Excellent at reading what is needed by
each group and focussing advice and tutoring
accordingly
This has undoubtedly been the best course
weve attended. It was perfection in every
sense.
GROUP
QUARTETS
WITH
NIC
FALLOWFIELD
Nic and Jenny are excellent. This is very
much the best of the group quartet courses. I
particularly like the rearrangement of players
for the final day.
Tutors are brilliant! I really enjoyed it, Dont
change anything.
Superbly organised, great tutors.
Friendly, thorough and encouraging. Lovely.
CELLO DAY
Excellent, learnt so much. A fabulous day,
thank you so much.
Jenny is always so inspiring and helpful.
Always learn a lot.
Very friendly with lots of technical tips, great
fun, enjoyable repertoire.
Very enjoyable, learning without stress.
Cheerful smiles all round.
FOLK FIDDLING BY EAR
Pete Cooper was excellent, so generous with
time and ideas.
Pete was very patient, helpful and well
organised.
Extremely enjoyable - relaxed, no pressure,
lovely, I have learnt a lot.
INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Superbly conducted course. An enjoyable
week in which I learnt much.
Extremely enjoyable. Anthony is an inspiring
teacher offering enthusiasm, patience and fun.
Anthony is a great find for Benslow. He is an
excellent conductor and interpreter of music.
Tutor excellent, patient, encouraging - good
choice of music too.
Please do this course again, it was invaluable.
By far the best course Ive done at Benslow.
Please have him back again.

friends of Benslow music

Monday Afternoon Concert
ALLEGRI QUARTET
Friday 1 May, 8pm

Haydn: String Quartet Op 1 No 3

Mendelssohn: String Quartet Op 1 No 12
Schubert: String Quartet No 15 D887

BINGHAM QUARTET
Friday 29 May, 8pm

Philip Glass: String Quartet No 2 Company

Lutoslawski: String Quartet
Mendelssohn: String Quartet Op 44 No 1

LONDON KLEZMER QUARTET

Friday 5 June, 8pm

Another opportunity to join the LKQ in an evening of entertaining

and moving Jewish traditional music-making

Monday 11 May at 3.00pm

Gemma Kateb piano
A piano recital including Mozart: Sonata in
A major K331, Chopin: Berceuse Op. 57 and
Impromptu No.3 in G flat Op. 51 and Debussy:
Estampes
Gemma performs chamber music and as an
accompanist in the UK and abroad and has
worked with a number of contemporary
composers. She is a freelance artist who is also
a staff accompanist at GSMD.
Tickets 8 on the door and includes
home-made tea.

tallis day
I can remember the first and last times I heard
Vaughan Williams magical Variations on a
Theme of Thomas Tallis. The first time was
about 1963 in Vancouver BC at the Queen
Elizabeth Theatre. I was with my then boyfriend,
a cellist, and we knew from the first bars we
were in for something special. The conductor
was Sir Malcolm Sergeant. The last time I heard
it was in the Usher Hall October 2014 played
by the National Arts Centre Orchestra of
Canada (my nephew is their tour manager).
I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I
would one day play it, but Wednesday 29 April
was a dream come true thanks to Benslow
and the Tedesca Quartet. As part of the string
chamber music course, outsiders were invited
to join for a day to play this one work. We had
the usual coffee, tea and lunch breaks, a tutorial
for orchestra II with Richard Muncey, and by
5:15 we were able to give a performance for
our audience of two!
Many thanks to Nic Fallowfield, Clare Bhabra,
Richard and Jenny Curtis for their wonderful
playing and coaching as always. And thanks
to Val Campion for introducing the work and
having such a brilliant idea in the first place. I
will look out for a similar opportunity in next
years brochure.
Adrienne Wilson Course Member

Tickets 12 I Box Office: 01462 459446

or online at www.benslowmusic.org
Pre concert dining 18 -

includes a two course

meal and a glass of wine.
free entry to most concerts for under 27s
and carers accompanying a disabled visitor.

Venue: Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music,

Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB

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Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB

T: +44 (0)1462 459446 I E: info@benslowmusic.org I W: www.benslowmusic.org