We regard Chamber Music as a vital part of all our instrumental and orchestral training. At the start of the academic year you and your fellow students will be encouraged to form your own chamber ensembles. Each ensemble is allocated coaching from a member of staff with particular experience in the relevant area, and advanced groups regularly take part in masterclasses and workshops with visiting professional ensembles, in particular our ensemble in residence the Schubert Ensemble. Early Music ensembles also receive specialist coaching from members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Fretwork.
Each spring our week-long Chamber Music Festival offers intensive coaching and performance opportunities, including open masterclasses with featured artists such as the Allegri String Quartet (2004), the Maggini String Quartet (2005), the Alberni String Quartet (2006), the Coull Quartet (2008), the Chilingirian Quartet (2007 and 2009) and the Endellion Quartet (2010). The Festival normally features the works of one or more composers, with recent events focused on Brahms (2004), British composers (2005), Mozart and Shostakovich (2006), Stravinsky and Elgar (2007), Haydn and Mendelssohn (2009), and ‘The Three Bs’ (2010). More recently, the Festival has included additional events such as lectures and films. Our series of formal and informal concerts provide many other performance opportunities, as does our experienced External Engagements team.
The Conservatoire enjoys an excellent relationship with Birmingham Chamber Music Society (BCMS), whose annual concert series attracts professional chamber ensembles from around the world to Birmingham. The BCMS Series is hosted by our own Adrian Boult Hall, giving our students fantastic opportunities to enjoy the highest quality of chamber music performances. Additionally, our advanced students regularly participate in masterclasses with BCMS’s visiting ensembles and accomplished ensembles have had the opportunity to perform in the series itself. Supported by Druckers, the BCMS provides a Derek Young Memorial Award to the winners of the Conservatoire’s annual Sylvia Cleaver Chamber Music Prize.
Early Chamber Music
Early Chamber Music is offered as part of our comprehensive Early Music programme and provides further opportunities for public performance once or twice each term. Coached by Early Chamber Music specialists, students perform on period instruments music from the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods. Recent programmes have included Gabrieli canzoni, Vivaldi violin concerti and Mozart piano trios.