Twenty talented young chamber musicians came together in the music school at Talbot Heath in February to take part in our annual masterclass.  As usual there was a mix of string, wind and keyboard players and our first ever harpist.  Most of them able to play more than one instrument and so play in more than one group.  Aleks and Caroline Szram, from the Lycydas Trio were once again the lead tutors and they were joined by two students from Trinity College of Music, Elona Laurie, violin and Prema Kesselman, flute. 

Those members of the society who came to the evening recital will know that the standard of playing was very high and it was difficult to believe that most of the performers had never played together before. Almost as important as the music itself is the opportunity they had to get over lunch and tea to talk to young professional musicians, as many of them are planning to go on to study music at college themselves.  Next year we are planning to give two or three of our regular young players the opportunity to ‘shadow’ the tutors, which will add a further dimension to the event.

We have now resumed the informal lunchtime recitals on the last Saturday of each month in the café at the Russell-Cotes Museum and Art Gallery.  So far a harpist, a flute duo and a quartet have played and there is more to come for the rest of the year. The music is always entertaining – and the food is good too.

The next event will be our ‘Firework Concert’ on Friday 24th August at 8pm in the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum.  This year we have managed to engage two local young musicians through the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.  Timothy Orpen, who plays the clarinet and Alison Farr, who has already given a solo piano recital for the Society, are already making a name for themselves nationally.  I shall have tickets available at the AGM in May and you are advised to book early as numbers are strictly limited.  They will cost £10 and include interval refreshments – and the opportunity to watch the fireworks on the pier from the balcony of the gallery.

So far we have managed to make the Young Musicians Scheme self-supporting.  Once again we managed to get a small ‘training grant’ from Making Music South West for our masterclass, and we are most grateful to Alan Frost, for his very generous support of this scheme once again.