Music on the Isles
Isle of Berneray
20th August to 5th September 2005
Concert: 2nd and 3rd September, 8pm, Berneray Community Hall
The secluded and beautiful Isle of Berneray has proved itself to be the ideal venue for chamber-music courses for young musicians. The Music Summer School is now into its fifth year and welcomes young and old alike to savour the fruits of two weeks' intensive rehearsals in two public concerts to be held in Berneray Community Hall on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September, 2005 at 8pm
The course tutors, Caroline Bergius and Ann Schneidt (assisted by Wolfgang Bergius, cellist in the Bavarian State Orchestra, Munich) have only one regret. Due to incompatibility of school Summer holidays it has up till now not been possible to incorporate Highland and Island children into these activities. Nevertheless the young musicians from Bavaria, the Black Forest, Würzburg and Berlin hope to provide enjoyment to locals and visitors on the Outer Isles in the live performance of classical music.
German critics acclaimed the success of the third course after a concert of the studied works on return to Munich. Excerpts from reviews in the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Starnberger Merkur, 24.09.2001:
Fruits of a summer in Scotland: 18 young musicians enthrall with "Music on the Isles"
"In the space of a fortnight Caroline Bergius and Ann Schneidt managed to create an astoundingly homogenic ensemble out of the very differing young players of diverging ages. What we would like most is to send them all back to Berneray as soon as possible: we will wait here and look forward to the next concert!"
The light on the Hebrides and the atmosphere there seem to have a magical and relaxing effect. The enthusiam of the children is very evident. Not only have they learnt the freedom of holistic performance, but have proved themselves to be capable chamber-music players. Listening to one another is of prime importance. These were obviously valuable summer holidays.
4 hours' daily rehearsals combined with various outdoor activities form the basis of the music course. The aim is not primarily to cultivate holistic performance but to develop a sensitivity for ensemble playing. Works for string quartet, soloists and chamber orchestra (not excluding Scottish fiddle music) will be studied.
The participants
Violin
- Maurizia Schmid
- Judith Sendtner
- Laura Schmid
- Miriam Sendtner
- Nadia Wildner
- Franziska Roth
- Charlotte Seebeck
- Tristan Rehrl
Viola
- Jaron Bühl
- Christoph Vandory
- Robert Jansson
Cello
- David Bühl
- David Hacker
- Tobias Schlagberger
Descant & Treble Recorder
- Elisabeth Wirth
- Nadia Wildner
Soprano
Our special thanks go to all friends and acquaintances on Berneray who have offered us their unlimited support in realising this project.
The concert
The final concert will be in Berneray Community Hall, on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September. Both concerts start at 8pm. Tickets are 7 pounds, 5 pounds for concessions, and free admission for children under 10.
About the course tutors
Caroline Bergius was born in Dunoon, Argyll, starting piano lessons when she was 7. Her childhood was spent in Surbiton, Surrey, and at the age of 10 she was awarded a scholarship to Trinity College of Music, London. Her piano teacher was Gladys Puttick. At 14 she took up playing the oboe and after full-time studies at Trinity College was awarded a 3-year German Academic Exchange scholarship to the Music Academy, Munich. A further year at the Paris Conservatoire rounded off her musical education. The harpsichord has become an integral part of her life and she has given concerts and made recordings in Ireland, England, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Many of her chamber-music pupils have won first prizes in the German National Music Competition "Jugend musiziert".
Ann Schneidt was born in San Diego, California, U.S.A. She began piano lessons at the age of 5 and started the violin at 9, changing to viola the following year. After studying music at California State University, Sacramento, she received a Fulbright Fellowship to study music in Germany and spent three years in Munich with Professor Georg Schmidt before completing her studies in Detmold with Bruno Giuranna. She is now leader of the viola section of the Bavarian State Theatre Orchestra, Munich, a position she has held since 1978, besides being a dedicated teacher to aspiring young viola players.
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