World-renowned musical mentors to inspire next generation at Scotland’s National Conservatoire

Published: 07/02/2019

Internationally acclaimed musicians, including violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti CBE, will inspire the next generation when they mentor young performers at Scotland’s national conservatoire this weekend. On Saturday, students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Junior Conservatoire will learn from the best at two special masterclasses led by world-renowned musical talent.

Nicola Benedetti, patron of the Royal Conservatoire’s Junior Conservatoire (Music), a passionate advocate for music education, will host a masterclass with two young violinists who will be selected, by an adjudicator, from the Nan Christie Memorial Prize for Strings on Saturday morning. The masterclass is free and open to the public.

Also taking place on Saturday is a creative learning project for Junior Conservatoire music students with composer James Redwood, Scottish Ensemble and Venezuelan-born, award-winning pianist Gabriela Montero, who is also an honorary consul of Amnesty International for her sustained efforts to advocate for human rights in Venezuela, both through music and public discourse. The Scottish Ensemble Babel Project Performance will work with approximately 40 Junior and Pre-Junior students in a series of interactive workshops in composition, improvisation and performance. The students will perform in a closing concert which is also free and open to the public.

Francis Cummings, Head of the Junior Conservatoire (Music), said: “Two masterclasses in one day, led by the highest calibre of musicians, is an exciting opportunity for our Junior Conservatoire students. Connecting young people to the transformative power of making music is more important than ever, and Saturday promises to be an enriching educational experience. Students will learn from the best, from artists at the very top of their disciplines, who will share their insight, expertise and enthusiasm with the next generation of musical talent.”

Free tickets for Nicola Benedetti’s masterclass and the Babel Project Performance are available from rcs.ac.uk/boxoffice