MusicFest Aberystwyth is a

fusion Fusion, or synthesis, is the process of combining two or more distinct entities into a new whole. Fusion may also refer to: Science and technology Physics *Nuclear fusion, multiple atomic nuclei combining to form one or more different atomic nucl ...

of international

Music festival A music festival is a community event with performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock, blues, folk, jazz, classical music), nationality, locality of musicians, or h ...

and Summer school held in

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...

Ceredigion Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cere ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. Founded in 1987 by the cellist Nicholas Jones, MusicFest initially started as a small series of concerts. In 1988 a small Summer School was run alongside the concerts which provided

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

coaching for

pianists A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, j ...

and string players. MusicFest has since evolved into an international Festival and Summer School.bbc.co.uk/wales
Throughout the Festival there are daily evening and lunchtime festival

concerts A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or musical band, band. Concerts are held in a w ...

, together with student foyer performances and student showcase concerts. The 2009 festival features guest artists and visiting tutors include Orion Orchestra, cellist

Guy Johnston Guy Johnston (born 1981) is a British cellist and the winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2000. He has subsequently enjoyed a successful international career as a soloist and chamber musician and currently serves as an Associat ...

, pianist Tom Poster, the National Youth Jazz Wales, Solstice Quartet, Sacconi Quartet.

Summer School

The Summer School offers young and up and coming music students an opportunity to study with leading professionals. A team of internationally renowned musicians and tutors, led by Artistic Director David Campbell, offers organised, structured chamber music opportunities. Throughout the week the artists in residence coach ensembles, lead workshops, and give master-classes as well as performing in the Festival concerts. Based on the ethos of 'learning through listening, practice & performance', courses are run for string chamber music, solo strings, clarinet, wind chamber music, conducting, composition, saxophone, jazz, voice, and harp. Students also have the opportunity to perform in public.

Courses

Courses run included clarinet, run by David Campbell, saxophone, Jazz/Latin, string, brass, voice, composition, wind octet, flute and practical psychology.

Artists-in-residence

Tom Poster - Piano

- Cello
Simon Lane - Piano
Juliet Edwards - Piano
John Flinders - Piano
Orion Orchestra
National Youth Choir of Wales
Solstice Quartet
Eleanor Turner - Harp
Laurence Perkins - Bassoon
Sigyn Fosness - Violin
Nicholas Jones - Cello
Gerard McChrystal - Saxophone
Lucinda Mackworth-Young - Practical Psychology
John Metcalf - Composition

Toby Purser Toby Purser (born 28 June 1974) is a British conducting, conductor. Early life Born in London, Purser was educated at the independent Winchester College where he was a chorister and music scholar. Purser read music at Oxford University, setting ...

- Conducting
Veronica Veysey-Campbell - Voice
Performance Venues *

Aberystwyth Arts Centre Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Welsh: ''Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth'') is an arts centre in Wales, located on Aberystwyth University's Penglais campus. One of the largest in Wales, it comprises a theatre (312 seats), concert hall (900 seats), s ...

*Joseph Parry Hall * Llanbadarn Church *

Ceredigion Museum Ceredigion Museum ( cy, Amgueddfa Ceredigion) is a museum in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales. Location Ceredigion Museum is located at the Coliseum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth. It is housed in a restored Edwardian theatre and is managed by Ceredi ...

*The Bandstand

Friends of MusicFest

Friends of MusicFest is a charitable organisation which exists to support individual students attending MusicFest who may not otherwise be able to afford to do so.

References

External links

Festival websiteAberystwyth Arts Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Musicfest Aberystwyth Cultural festivals in the United Kingdom Festivals in Wales Aberystwyth