Let your mind provoke you to be an artist
Contact us to join our Thinking Musician Retreat.
Summer Music Course
Lerici, Italy
16th - 26th July 2023
ABOUT THE COURSE
A journey of discovery and provocation for high-level young artists
What is The Thinking Musician?
What defines a great artist?
How is individuality nurtured and developed?
When does an excellent practitioner become a compelling communicator?
The programme draws together élite students who are searching for the next level of artistry and accomplishment.
It is a journey of discovery and provocation for high- level young artists on the violin, viola, cello and piano: ten days of lessons, workshops, seminars, performance opportunities, connection to nature, collective discovery, creative friction. The focus is not primarily on skills as a practitioner, but exploring what can be found and released that creates the true artist.
Young musicians explore their roles and responsibilities as artists in our 21st Century world. Artists develop through the lived-experience on the concert platform.
The programme provides opportunities for performance and the environment to experiment and discover on stage. The final concert will be happening during the prestigious Lerici Music Festival.
Each student’s activities will comprise the following:
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One-to-one and group lessons with international professors (daily).
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Duo coaching.
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Performances at lunchtime and evening concerts as well as pop-up events.
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Opportunities to play chamber music.
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Attendance and participation at “provocations” with guest speakers.
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Exploration of the communities and environment of Lerici and its surroundings.
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Free pass for events at the Lerici International Music Festival.
THE TEACHERS
Maria Tarasewicz
Piano - Duo Coach
Maria Tarasewicz – piano, duo coaching, co-founder and director of the course, has an international reputation as a chamber musician, duo partner and a pedagogue and is committed to working with, and developing young artists. Her global reputation as a teacher comes from her insights into chamber music playing, releasing creativity in the moment of performance, underpinned by a deep understanding of score, composer and context. She has invitations to perform and teach around the world and has developed a unique duo programme at the Royal College of Music in London.
Andriy Viytovych
Viola
Ukrainian born Andriy Viytovych was appointed Principal Viola of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2000. In the same year he became viola professor at the Royal College of Music in London. Andriy has worked with most of the world’s most eminent conductors and in March 2003 Andriy was invited to Berlin to play principal viola with the Berliner Philharmoniker. He has also toured the world as a soloist and chamber musician and is much in demand as an inspirational and insightful pedagogue.
Gemma Rosefield
Cello
Winner of the Pierre Fournier Award in 2007, Gemma Rosefield has been described by The Strad as ‘a mesmerising musical treasure’, by the London Evening Standard as ‘a phenomenal talent’, and featured in BBC Music Magazine as ‘one to watch’, Gemma has played throughout Europe, the USA, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Kenya and New Zealand as a soloist and chamber musician. Gramophone Magazine commented that she plays ‘with truly glorious affection’ and that ‘it is hard to imagine playing of a greater intensity’.
THE PROVOCATEURS
One of the unique elements of The Thinking Musician is the provocations that our visiting speakers offer to students. This year we are particularly fortunate to have two experts in their fields who will create a transformative context for the students’ humanistic explorations.
Dominika Kulczyk
Entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, founder and president of Kulczyk Foundation. A supporter and promoter of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She is an author of over 60 documentaries produced along with “The CNN Freedom Project” and TVN documentary series “Domino Effect” which tackle the problems of global discrimination and injustice. She is a supporter and promoter of Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. For several years, Dominika has been undertaking menstrual health initiatives, including countering menstrual poverty in Poland and around the world. A promoter of the idea of a tender revolution to rebalance the position of women and men in the world. Chair of the Supervisory Board of Kulczyk Holding, Supervisory Board of Polenergia S.A., co-founder of the Values Group of Advisory Firms. In 2018, she was awarded the Order of the Smile for her outstanding contributions to children.
Dr Jonathan Barnes
Jonathan’s abiding interests are in values, creativity and child/teacher well-being. He has taught throughout Asia and Africa and in primary and secondary schools in England. A former primary head teacher and lecturer he was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2015. He now researches, writes and speaks on play, imagination and creativity and their essential role in promoting mental and social health. His recent international work on the values that guide, build and sustain us suggest a central role for the arts and other creative pursuits. Using a strong focus on universal values, his charity Education4Diversity, works with schools and refugees to value, welcome and nurture diversity through arts and sports.
ACCOMMODATION
Students will be sharing rooms (2-3 people per room) in the Hotel Shelley e delle Parme. Overlooking Lerici Bay, Hotel Shelley e delle Palme features a spa and panoramic sun terrace with beach access. You can reach the harbour in a 5-minute walk, where ferries leave for Portofino and Portovenere. Rooms are air conditioned and offer views of the Gulf of La Spezia and the town’s medieval castle.
TRAVEL
Pisa is the nearest airport (served by many budget airlines). The train from Pisa Centrale to Serzana takes around 45-60 minutes. Lerici is a short bus ride from Serzana station.
The course fees are not inclusive of the travel costs, however, The Thinking Musician has a unique fund for cellists and violists to help them with their travel. Please enquire via email if you think you might need a financial support with air travel with your instrument.
thethinkingmusician.com thethinkingmusician@gmail.com
ABOUT LERICI
One of the most beautiful seaside villages in Liguria, a real jewel of the Gulf of Poets, a village between poetry and the sea: houses painted in a thousand shades of yellow, orange and red, a medieval castle, built overlooking a hill, golden beaches and crystal clear water.
A place that has enchanted artists and writers, from the great romantic poets Byron and Shelley, to his wife Mary Shelley, author of the famous novel Frankenstein, passing through Dante, who mentions the village in the third canto of Purgatory, and including Giosué Carducci and Gabriele.
FEES & APPLICATIONS
The course fee is £1,500.
Early bird discount before 1st April £1,200
This includes:
This includes 10 days full participation in course (all tuition, seminars and provocations).
Accommodation in Hotel Shelley e delle Palme (2-3 people per room).
Half-board (breakfast and dinner).
All local transport during the course.
In exceptional cases we accept fees being paid in instalments.
We can provide a small number of scholarships (priority for travel bursaries will be given to cellists). Please enquire at: thethinkingmusician@gmail.com
Application deadline is 1st May 2023. To apply, please download the application form (below) and send it to thethinkingmusician@gmail.com
There is an inscription fee of £100; refundable if your application is unsuccessful.
BANK DETAILS:
Account name: THE THINKING MUSICIAN LIMITED
Account Number: 24282562
Sort Code: 23-05-80
IBAN: GB25MYMB23058024282562
SWIFT BIC: MYMBGB2L
REFERENCE: Your surname
CREDITS
Lerici Music Festival http://eufsc.eu/lerici-music-festival/
Lerici https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/lerici
