Posts Tagged ‘masterclass’

CONCERT REVIEW: Through the eyes of a 9 year old

Monday, November 29th, 2010

On Sunday 28 November  Marios Papadopoulos led a Directing from the keyboard masterclass with Alissa Firsova.  As part of theYoung Artists’ Platform, the orchestra and pianists worked on Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A.  

Dear Mr Papadopoulos,

My name is Fergus. I am 9 years old. This evening I attended your directing from the keyboard masterclass at the Sheldonian.

I was not allowed to stay for the main concert because my Dad said I have school tomorrow and that it was too late in the evening. I really enjoyed watching the masterclass and thought it was brilliant that an event was held early enough in the evening that I could still attend. Thank you for including this in your programme.

I had heard of the Oxford Philomusica from one of the Mums at my school in Stoke Row who also likes classical music. I thought that the Orchestra were fantastic. Even my Dad, who doesn’t really like music, really enjoyed it and I will be asking my Mum and Dad for tickets to a concert during the school holidays or on a Friday or Saturday night as part of my next birthday present.

Thank you again for letting me come and enjoy seeing the Masterclass.

Yours sincerely

Fergus

Piano Festival Review

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Oxford Philomusica’s annual piano fest is not just for serious pianists hoping to break on to the world stage — it’s for piano lovers everywhere. This is the message organisers are hoping to get across as this year’s festival approaches.

So, even if you’ve never played a note, but love listening to the piano, then the festival is for you.

“You don’t have to be a professional musician, or a participant, or even a piano player, you can just come along to a masterclass or concert or two,” says Julie Peacock, the Oxford Philomusica’s public relations officer. “It’s for local people too — it’s not just for piano specialists.

“What we’re really keen to see is a lot of people coming to the masterclasses,” adds development officer Luke Berryman.

“We really want people to see it as more than just a piano lesson — it’s a unique opportunity to see how these professional performances are fine-tuned.”

Now in its 12th year, the piano festival regularly attracts both participants and established artists of the highest calibre, and Luke believes that this year’s line-up is one of the best yet.

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Piano Festival Schedule Alteration: András Schiff

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

PLEASE NOTE: Andras Schiff’s masterclass has changed FROM the morning of Sunday 8th TO the afternoon of Friday 6th!

Regrettably András Schiff has had to alter the day of this masterclass at the Piano Festival. Rather than being held on Sunday 8 August it has now been exchanged with Papadopoulos’ masterclass on Friday 6 August afternoon. If you have booked tickets for the original masterclass, they can be exchanged for Schiff’s Friday masterclass or they will be valid for Papadopoulos’ masterclass on Sunday morning.

Please see schedule of events below:

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The Piano Festival is like landing in a foreign country and having its treasures explained in a language that you can understand

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

If I had been told one day I would be sitting in the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building watching a piano masterclass, I would have laughed. “Me? Why? I don’t play the piano, or any instrument actually. It would be wasted on me.” Well, that was four years ago, until, to please a friend, I accepted her suggestion to walk with her to St Hilda’s and listen to a one-hour masterclass of the Oxford Philomusica International Piano Festival. When it was over, she had to leave, but I didn’t. I stayed in that room all morning, attending three master classes, and I came back in the afternoon to attend three more. And I came back, on my own, the next day, and the day after.

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