For the past eleven
years this very special and important chamber music showcase week, for
talented Young Musicians at the start of their professional careers, has
taken place in the Perthshire hills.
The Tunnell Trust has always
exclusively supported chamber groups and not individuals. We are providing a
unique opportunity for groups to spend uninterrupted time together to
rehearse and perform. Wendy Tunnell, the founder of the event, succeeded in
creating an environment for young musicians which enables them to escape the
pressures of everyday life as young professionals and to have the space and
time to develop their musicianship further at a crucial ‘make or break’
stage in their careers.
The Young Musicians attend by
invitation of the Trust which bears the cost in full.
Attendance
is for established chamber groups only and is by invitation.
The relationship between the young
musicians and the ‘tutors’ is a collaboration, free from any traditional
student-professor hierarchy. This collaboration concentrates on performance
techniques, presentation and repertoire, aiming to better equip these
talented youngsters in their future careers.
Strathgarry is a wonderful working
environment set in the hills outside Pitlochry in Perthshire. There is space
and accommodation for up to 10 groups to rehearse and an intimate concert
hall, ideally suited to chamber music.
The schedule allows for extensive
rehearsal as well as much needed performing opportunities for all in the
five public concerts during the week.
With extensive press coverage and
publicity relating to the week we aim to raise the profiles of the musicians
attending. We invite a number of promoters to the event in the hope of
securing future engagements for our musicians.
During the week there are a number
of workshops with local schoolchildren, including a group of children with
special needs, who benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of the young
musicians attending the course.
"Thank you for such a
fantastic experience at Strathgarry. It has had such a huge impact on my
life and music-making."
"I can only say that I hope we are
invited back next year to experience another ten days of musical and
nutritional utopia!"
"I am not quite sure
where to start since everything about these ten days was such a thrill...."