New first study Harp and Composition programmes launched
We are delighted to announce that we have launched new first study Harp and Composition programmes and are actively recruiting for outstanding young musicians to join our School.
The new Harp programme, led by our new Professor of Harp, Keziah Thomas, has been designed to foster structured technical development, instilling good habits for a lifetime of harp playing with creative freedom and ease. Pupils will learn a full range of solo repertoire, explore the wealth of chamber music which exists for strings and harp and will be coached on orchestral repertoire.
Pupils will receive at least two individual lessons each week, as well as take part in a weekly group class, and will have many opportunities to perform, both as a soloist and as part of ensembles and orchestras, in the School’s professional concert venue, The Menuhin Hall and as part of a busy programme of external engagements. Inspired by the School’s Founder, Yehudi Menuhin, pupils will also be encouraged to collaborate with their peers by taking part in a wide array of projects, improvisation workshops and exploring and sharing music from different cultures.
Keziah Thomas said “Establishing the first study harp course at The Menuhin School is a thrilling prospect. With an abundance of chamber music to explore, numerous performance opportunities and collaborative music making of the highest calibre on offer at the School, I am excited to support the next generation of harpists to develop and flourish.”
The new Composition programme will give aspiring composers the opportunity to hone and develop their creative skills and compositional voice within a carefully structured course. Each student will receive at least two individual lessons each week, and this will be supplemented by an array of additional projects and opportunities, such as pairing composers with chamber groups and the provision of orchestral workshops. Performances of pupil compositions within the School’s concert programme will also be central to the course’s offering. In addition, all students will pursue a full complement of other music studies, including harmony, aural, music theory, music history and music technology, as well as instrumental lessons. Pupils will also have the opportunity to work with visiting composers including Sally Beamish, the School’s inaugural Composer in Residence for 2023/24.
John Cooney, Head of Composition & Academic Music, said: “Composition has always been a vital part of musical life at The Menuhin School, and the opportunity to expand and develop that creative ethos through the introduction of composition as a first study is an exciting prospect. With several composers on the staff team, the chance to work closely and in depth with talented young musicians, and an array of opportunities to hear their own work performed, this course offers an excellent platform for young composers to develop and refine their skills at the highest level.”
To find out more about the programmes and how to audition, please visit the Harp and Composition sections of our website.