Musicians across Wales have until this Friday to apply to be part of the first-ever Benedetti Sessions in Wales, with the workshops themselves taking place over one weekend in February. Hosted by parter the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, the Benedetti Sessions are open to young players of a broad range of age and skill – with no grades required for entry. There is, however, a guide to the level one would need to be approximately proficient in per session, starting with the Beginner String Orchestra (Grade 1-3) up to the Advanced one (Grade 7+). But the goal here isn’t to strive for musical perfection, rather, a “true abandonment of caution, and an embracing of scratches, scrapes and unapologetic flair”.
Run by the Benedetti Foundation, an educational music organisation that hosts “transformative” orchestral and musician-based workshops for both teachers and learners, the Sessions first kicked off in early 2020 in Glasgow, London and Dundee and were all online, what with a global lockdown being in full effect. These switched to in-person events from last September, with workshops taking place in England and Northern Ireland. Now, at the start of 2022, it’s Wales’ turn.
The weekend (Fri 18 Feb) will start with workshops aimed at school kids from local primaries, led by the Foundation’s Lucy Drever and Patrick King, who will guide participants through crafting and performing an original song together. This opening day will be finished off with Nicola Benedetti and the Foundation Orchestra – an ensemble of professional musicians, teachers and students – performing an hour-long concert at the RWCMD at 7pm. (Ticket info further below.)
“There are no limits to our learning possibilities through music,” Nicola Benedetti says. “We just have to be curious and open-minded enough to notice that this language is as rich as life itself, and we aspire to expose our participants to this. In order for everyone to gain the most from the workshop, we require a commitment for participants to prepare. Regardless of level, we want to help everyone to believe that to be good at something and therefore experience more enjoyment, it takes consistent and intelligent work. It doesn’t happen on its own.”
The Sessions will be delivered in line with the latest Covid-19 government guidance and registration will close once the orchestras are full, or on 21 January.
The Cardiff Benedetti Sessions will have workshops for:
- Beginner String Orchestra (Grade 1 – 3*) – Sat 19 Feb, 9.30am – 4.30pm
- Intermediate String Orchestra (Grade 4 – 6*) – Sat 19 & Sun 20 Feb, 9.30am – 4.30pm
- Advanced String Orchestra (Grade 7+*) – Sat 19 & Sun 20 Feb, 9.30am – 4.30pm
- Instrumental Teachers – Sat 19 & Sun 20 Feb, 9.45am – 4.30pm
- Primary School Classes – Fri 18 Feb
*Approximate playing level – no grades need to have been taken
How to apply and further info here.
Tickets for the Nicola Benedetti and the Foundation Orchestra performance at 7pm on Fri 18 Feb are £75 and can be bought here.
