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CAVATINA’s principal website has been overhauled, thus

streamlining its two previous domains into one address:

www.cavatina.net

We would be delighted to receive your thoughts and comments

on the new design. Does it contain what you want to know and is

it easy to navigate? E-mail your thoughts to :

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CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust

Issue · February 2014

NEWSLETTER

Another busy year for CAVATINA has passed, supporting more concerts through the Ticket Scheme than ever before, along with an increased number of Family and School Concerts, too. Indeed, we welcome four new ensembles onto our roster, all of whom will help further CAVATINA’s aim of fostering a younger audience for chamber music:

Antara Duo (© White Gold Images) 

Busch Ensemble (© Ian Dingle) 

Bernadel Quartet (© Maarit Kangron) 

Heath Quartet (© Sussie Ahlburg) 

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School Concerts CAVATINA sponsors fifty school concerts every year. The aim of these visits is to acquaint children with the beauty of the chamber music repertoire and make it accessible through first class ensembles, all of whom educate and entertain at the same time.

A maximum of 120 pupils from Key Stage 2 enjoy these concerts, which are free to schools in the state sector. One of the conditions that we expect in return from schools is structured ‘feedback’ in the form of drawings or short essays. We believe that this provides the children with an opportunity to reflect on what they heard and the general impressions they have gleaned. It is a useful ‘second bite of the cherry’ of this wonderful form of music.

Receiving such feedback from fifty schools a year—and 120 children per school—means that we face the joyful task of looking at around 6000 pictures and/or stories every year.

This year we were presented with a most creative ‘feedback’ pack. The Rosary Catholic Primary School in Belsize Park, with the help of all the children and their teachers, produced a lovely violin case out of papier-

mâché and decorated it with sheet music and drawings of musicians. Inside they placed all the children’s entries rolled and tied with string like important parchment documents. Quite an amazing sight – any corporate designer would have been proud of this!

Well done Rosary – children and teachers alike!

Simon Majaro

Rosary School’s innovative and creative feedback 

Grade 2000!

The Heath Quartet gave their first CAVATINA School Concert in Stanmore on Friday 22 November 2013. They had a most attentive and appreciative audience.

Towards the end, they asked the children whether they had any questions. One hand flew up very quickly and a young boy asked the following question: “Can you tell me, please, what grade you are?”, no doubt expecting the dizzying response of Grade VIII.

The quartet looked rather shell-shocked, but Ollie Heath rallied round after a long pause and said: “We are probably about Grade 2000!”

The Heath Quartet deliver their first CAVATINA School Concert, 

November 2013 

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Overheard at Martin Primary School

As the Badke Quartet quizzed the children on

their musical terms – crescendo, diminuendo,

and the like – a new phrase was coined by a

confident voice: pluckito. Good-bye,

pizzicato!

St Anthony’s School, Hampstead

On Thursday afternoon, boys in the senior house enjoyed an hour away from lessons and had the pleasure of being entertained by one of today’s most successful string quartets: The Carducci Quartet.

Highly celebrated for their interpretations of contemporary repertoire, the Carducci Quartet is regularly invited to premiere new works, with recent highlights including a new quartet by John McCabe, written especially for them. This was just one of the many and varied pieces of music the boys heard this afternoon. We also heard Haydn, Beethoven, Dvořák, Ravel, Piazzolla, Glass, and one of the wonderfully exciting Webern Bagatelles, where the boys were introduced to instrumental techniques such as pizzicato, glissando, playing over the bridge, and, even at times, hitting their instruments so hard that they were in danger of cracking! Our boys were extremely surprised to hear that the violin in the quartet was over 300 years old.

It was obvious that the boys enjoyed this concert immensely. They were full of questions for the musicians and even had a go at some unusual conducting techniques; Alex Truuvert conducted with a specially designed string quartet remote control and other boys in year 8 attempted to remove and replace special musical hats during the Beethoven melodies.

Our sincere and warmest thanks go out to the musicians of the quartet for providing such high quality performances and also to their sponsor CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust, who made this most enjoyable concert possible.

Karl Leutfeld · Director of Music

Ticket Scheme The Ticket Scheme continues to grow, in turn offering more young people the opportunity to access world-class chamber music for free around the country. For a list of the societies and festivals that have joined the scheme this year, please refer to page 8.

The following note was received after a performance by the Dante Quartet at King’s College, Cambridge, and is a brilliant example of what the Ticket Scheme seeks to achieve:

Dear CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust,

I just wanted to express my gratitude for the free tickets you subsidised for the Dante Quartet’s concert on Sunday 10 February 2013. I'm a final year undergraduate at King's, studying Spanish, and I spent last year teaching violin in Venezuela.

I love going to see live chamber music, and although I don't play so much myself these days, I really appreciate the fact the tickets were free. Although I would have coughed up the money for a ticket, the three friends I brought along with me definitely would not have—and they almost seemed to enjoy the concert more than me! The ‘Death and the Maiden’ quartet was splendid.

It was a perfect way to take a few hours out from studying in the library and we enjoyed the Dante's performance so much. Thank you!

All the best,

Nicola Chang

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Family Concerts

Dulwich Picture Gallery

CAVATINA’s Family Concerts in London

have spread south of the river, to the beautiful

setting of Dulwich Picture Gallery:

On Sunday 13 October 2013, the Brodowski

Quartet presented a CAVATINA Family

Concert at Dulwich Picture Gallery. This was

the first of what I hope will be many happy

and involving concerts for children and their

parents.

The members of the Brodowski Quartet were

on top form and engaged the children from

the very beginning. They were given cards

with names of composers and countries and

were asked to bring them to the front when

the relevant music was played, giving a lovely

bow to the audience, which was made up of

parents and grandparents accompanying the

children. They learnt about ‘arco’ and

‘pizzicato’, the range of notes that each

instrument played, and lots of history of

music. They were called to the front to

conduct, wearing a wonderful wig for gravitas.

We all jumped up and down and kept time

with the music, laughed a lot, and had a

simply wonderful hour. The age range of the

children was from four to twelve and all of

them really became involved in the music.

I am so looking forward to the next

CAVATINA concert on Sunday 16 March

2014, given by the Sacconi Quartet.

Judy Mewburn

French Institute, Kensington

The Antara Duo gave their very first

CAVATINA concert at the French Institute

on Sunday 29 September 2013.

Thomas Hancox, flute, and Rachel Wick,

harp, gave a bewitching concert to the

parents and children, mainly French, most of

whom had never seen or heard a harp at close

quarters before. And even if the folksong

‘Early one morning’ proved too much of a

tongue-twister for some, the duo were sent

off with a resounding ‘Fantastique—merci.’

Pamela Majaro

The concert was great. The musicians were really friendly. I particularly liked it when I got to go up to the front and give a bow. I would have really liked to play one of the instruments. Overall: awesome.

Ruben Mewburn Mathers (age 8)

Antara Flute & Harp Duo  perform at the French Institute 

September 2013 

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JW3

JW3 is a new community centre on Finchley

Road, London, that boasts splendid

architecture and a vibrant and varied

programme of events. Pamela Majaro tells of

the eventful first CAVATINA Family Concert

to be held there, Sunday 27 October 2013:

A Family Concert booked by JW3 nearly

didn’t happen!

One of CAVATINA’s favourite quartets,

having already switched second violins

because the original violinist was unwell, had

a phone call three hours before the start of the

concert to say that the viola player was taking

his wife, the first violin, to hospital.

At such short notice, it was impossible to find

substitutes. Two hours before the start, it was

decided that the remaining pair – the cellist

(Jonathan Byers) and the guest second violin

(Hannah Dawson) – would play a concert of

duos and solos. They dug out from nowhere a

full programme of music of various composers

and with great aplomb gave a CAVATINA

concert that was thoroughly enjoyed by this

very new audience, which was completely

unaware of the drama that had unfolded only

three hours earlier.

Pamela Majaro

From the ‘Twittersphere’

“This is a superb and very generous organisation. HIGHLY recommended.”

Nicholas Daniel, oboist & conductor writing on Facebook, January 2013

“Favourite quote from our @cavatinachamber concert yesterday:

Q: ‘What else makes music exciting?’ Child answers to David [leader]:

‘Your face!’” Brodowski Quartet

writing on Twitter, March 2013

“We are proud and grateful to be working with CAVATINA on next May’s

marvellous festival.” Whittington International

Chamber Music Festival writing on Twitter, November 2013

We now live out of London … But I hope to be able to make it to a Family Concert

soon – CAVATINA is one of the very few things I miss about London!

Message from a parent

CAVATINA’s Family Concerts at Fitzjohn’s Primary School, 

Hampstead—six per season—continue to attract large 

Follow us on Twitter

twitter.com/cavatinachamber

‘Like’ us on Facebook

facebook.com/cavatinachamber

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CAVATINA Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition

I am extremely grateful that the valued relationship and hugely beneficial co-operation between CAVATINA and the RAM has progressed further during 2012-13.

The original biennial Intercollegiate String Quartet Competition started by Rosemary Rapaport in 1961 is now an annual competition: The CAVATINA Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition.

String quartets and piano trios compete in alternate years. The very welcome news that CAVATINA’s sponsorship will now continue without a time limit has been received with enthusiasm at the RAM. These competitions have become a regular feature in the RAM’s diary and the high profile of the competition, the quality of the participating musicians from British conservatoires, and the eminence of the judges will continually increase its prestige.

The support of CAVATINA for our series of chamber music masterclasses and study days continues to benefit our talented young ensembles. Recent guidance has been given by outstanding performers and teachers, such as members of the Doric, Emperor, Endellion, and Wihan Quartets. The RAM continues to be very grateful to Richard Ireland for his counsel and support with these events.

The RAM had further cause to thank CAVATINA for their generous intervention in creating an annual CAVATINA Chamber Music Fellowship, thereby preserving a long arrangement of crucial sponsorship which had come to a conclusion after several years. The first recipients are the Bernadel Quartet, a young quartet on the brink of an exciting career. I do hope that you will come and hear them soon.

Jo Cole · Head of Strings, RAM

The 2013 CAVATINA Intercollegiate Piano Trio Competition brought together six ensembles from across the UK to interpret Beethoven’s trio in E-flat, Op. 1, No. 1. As an entrant in the competition, I was concerned that the audience and jury members Ioan Davies and Martin Kasik might grow tired of hearing the same work so many times. However, the overwhelming response seems to have been that the competition was gripping because each group had an individual approach to the work. Indeed, from the few groups I was able to hear after we performed, I was struck by how differently some of us had grappled the various stylistic aspects of this work. Some would argue that it is a natural extension of Mozart and Haydn’s piano trios, while others have seen it as a radical departure, and there is evidence to suggest that Beethoven intended it to be something ground-breaking. During the adjudication Ioan Davies made some very pertinent remarks about the work and its

CAVATINA Intercollegiate Chamber Music

Competition 2013 (Piano Trios)

Trio Cardinale · 1st Prize

Isimsiz Trio · 2nd Prize (sponsored by Elias Fawcett Trust)

The Bernadel Quartet—the inaugural CAVATINA Chamber Music 

Fellows at the Royal Academy of Music (© Maarit Kangron) 

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significance, how one might approach it, and chamber music more generally. One of the suggestions he made was that upon learning a new piece, one should seek out a lesson with a composer and with a singer. The composer will shed light on the nuts and bolts of the piece, its structure and design, while the singer will draw our attention to the phrasing and lyrical qualities of the work. I would be inclined to agree: finding the balance between these two main aspects is key to interpreting such repertoire successfully. Clearly, the competition was an extremely enriching experience for all those who took part and attended.

Julian Azkoul · Trio Cardinale—Violinist

Netherhall House Concerts I would just like to let you know that I very much enjoyed the concert here at Netherhall on Saturday 19 October 2013. As a violinist it is always nice to see proficient string groups such as quartets, not only because of the fantastic musicianship but also to try to pick up tips with regard to style and technique. It is also nice to see so many young people at a classical music concert! It was very successful in that respect. Overall I enjoyed everything that the Artesian Quartet played and thought it was well organised by CAVATINA. I thoroughly look forward to attending similar events in the future.

Best wishes,

John Scott (First year Maths student at UCL)

True art has no prerequisites for enjoyment. If musicians perform their craft well, the musically tone-deaf and ignorant can sit beside patrons and experts in an audience and gain just as much joy from having listened as their more experienced companions. When the Artesian Quartet performed at Netherhall House, they achieved the hallmark of great art. Everyone in attendance – from the most uncultured university student to the most erudite professional – loved the quartet’s performance, loved the energy and passion they expressed through their music, and loved the genuine pleasure they showed throughout the performance. Their performance and artistry was truly of the highest calibre.

Best,

José R. Domínguez (Biochemistry student at the University of Texas at Austin)

The Trio Cardinale will be playing at

Netherhall House Nutley Terrace, London NW3 5SA

Saturday 15 February 2014 · 8.00pm

All welcome

The Artesian Quartet at Netherhall House 

Saturday 19 October 2013 

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CAVATINA would like to thank the following for their generous and constant support:

Andor Charitable Trust, The Coln Trust, John Lewis Partnership, The Monument Trust, The Paul Morgan Charitable Trust, The Laurie & Gillian Marsh Charitable Trust,

Peter Storrs Trust, The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, Anonymous Benefactors

CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust

52D Maresfield Gardens, London, NW3 5RX info@cavatina.net · www.cavatina.net

020 7435 8479

Newsletter Editor · Thomas Hancox

Patrons: Derek Aviss OBE, Sir Vernon Ellis, Edmond Fivet CBE, Prof. Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, John Gilhooly OBE,

Gavin Henderson CBE, Lady Alison Irvine, Steven Isserlis CBE, Seppo Kimanen, Lord Moser, Gábor Takács-Nagy,

Sir John Tusa, Dr Peter Woodford, Benjamin Zander

Trustees: Huw Davies, Marion Friend, Richard Ireland, Pamela Majaro MBE, Simon Majaro MBE,

Pauline McAlpine, Jenny White MBE

Registered Charity No. 1067716

C AVATINA's policy has always been to invite principals of conservatoires with whom we have a strong relationship to join our list of patrons.

In line with this policy we asked Prof. Jonathan Freeman-Attwood of the Royal Academy of Music whether he would like to become a patron:

Of course, I would be absolutely delighted to join the patrons of CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust, with which we are very happy to be associated. I believe this represents an appropriate symbol of our relationship and, personally, my appreciation for your remarkable work. Long may it continue!

In the past year, CAVATINA has welcomed the following music societies and festivals as new members of its Ticket Scheme:

Cheltenham Music Festival

Chichester Chamber Concerts

Nicholas Yonge Society

Strings Attached

Whittington International Chamber Music Festival

All the concerts that CAVATINA supports through the thirty-one members of the Ticket Scheme—thereby making freely available places to 8-25-year-olds—are now listed online:

www.cavatina.net/concerts.html