Orchestral / Strings Summer School in UK

Strings & Piano UK International Summer School:
Delivered by William Bruce, the Head of Strings at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, for students who are Grade 3 and above in their chosen instrument and between the age of 10 and 17. This Summer School in East Sussex, in the south of England, is ideal for talented string musicians and pianists who would like to immerse themselves in the study of their instrument. These include violin, cello, viola, double bass, and piano. Through in-depth tuition, by highly acclaimed international musicians who are connected with the Royal Schools of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, students will have access to string, piano and choral training from some of the best music educators in the UK. Designed to broaden each student's musical experience and expose them to new and exciting aspects of music tuition. There will be a focus on orchestral performances, chamber groups, technique workshops and choral and Kodály aural training coupled with a selection of excursions.

William Bruce

Head of Strings at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, William Bruce is a leading music educator in the UK. After studies with Christopher Bunting at the Royal College of Music, he took part in classes with Jacqueline du Pre and William Pleeth.

Sebastian Muller

Sebastian currently maintains violin and viola classes at Birmingham Conservatoire and at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has acted as the principal leader and soloist of the German String Orchestra and worked with the London Symphony Orchestra.

MaksimStsura

Maksim Stsura is an Estonian pianist, teacher, composer and music scholar based in London. He performs extensively as soloist and chamber musician in the prestigious concert halls across the UK, including St Martin in the Fields, Purcell Room and the Wigmore Hall.

Esther Hargittai

Esther was a significant partner in conceiving and writing a Kodály Method teaching manual for music teachers in Israel. Currently, she plays a major role in the inception of the New Certificate Programme for the British Kodály Academy.

Gonzalo Acosta

Gonzalo was Professor and Orchestral Coach at the Royal College of Music Junior Department while remaining a member of the Dussek Piano Trio. He is Associate Leader of the English National Opera Orchestra and teaches violin at the Junior Guildhall School of Music.

Vanessa David

Vanessa has been principle first violin with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia since 1990. She has coached the National Children's Orchestra, Birmingham University Symphony Orchestra and also prepares the 1st year violinists at Birmingham Conservatoire for their orchestral exams.

Hugh Molloy

After graduating in music, Hugh was awarded a Worshipful Company of Musicians Scholarship to study, in London, with eminent cellist Joan Dickson. Hugh enjoys a busy musical life, combining work as a conductor, freelance cellist, teacher and adjudicator.

The summer school is located at Claremont School, a beautiful boarding school ten minutes from the South Coast of England, nestled in the picturesque Sussex countryside and a few minutes from the historical site of the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings.

All accommodation is provided in the school boarding house. It offers safe, comfortable and structured accommodation in dorm-style bedrooms, a beautiful outdoor space for evening activities, catering facilities onsite for when breakfast and dinner are served and large communal spaces for enjoying free time. It gives a truly home from home experience. All staff members stay onsite with the students, helping to make their time on the programme as comfortable as possible.

A laundry service is provided once a week by our onsite house staff and the rooms are cleaned on a daily basis. Breakfast and dinner are served at the boarding house and lunch is served at the school in between classes.

At the Strings & Piano UK international Summer School, we ask that all students have an intermediate level of English so they can really make the most out of the course. All tuition will be taught in English so a basic level of music knowledge in English will be required to be able to fully enjoy the course. We take care to support our non-native English speaking students and help them to develop their linguistic skills. They are provided with an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in a truly English speaking environment and to improve the quality and fluency of their English language skills.

The Strings & Piano UK International Summer School is about more than just music tuition, it also provides the opportunity to visit places of cultural and musical interest around the UK. Students will be going on at least three excursions during the two-week programme. These could include a visit to a famous London Music School to experience what it would be like to be in attendance at one of the most highly acclaimed music schools in the UK. Enjoy a musical performed on London's famous West End. Visit Canterbury Cathedral to enjoy the choir's performance of Evensong or amble along Brighton Pier, one of the most famous seaside landmarks in the country. Something for Everyone!