This summer’s masterclasses have attracted student ensembles from around the world

A record number of chamber ensembles have applied to this year’s Kuhmo Chamber Music’s Music Courses. The line-up of teachers specialising in chamber music has attracted ensembles from Finland and beyond, from England, Spain, the United States and even from as far afield as Australia. This year’s teachers include the esteemed chamber-music pedagogue and violinist Johannes Meissl, professor of chamber music and Vice-Rector for International Affairs and the Arts at Vienna University of Performing Arts, as well as members of the Castalian, Quiroga and Danel string quartets, all of whom are currently at the height of their international careers. Our violin masterclasses have been particularly popular. This year, Kuhmo Chamber Music is glad to welcome a total of 86 young musicians, 31 of whom are from abroad. Many of these students come back to Kuhmo year after year, and over time some of them have even graduated from students to fully fledged festival artists.

Our courses get underway on Sunday 14th July and will continue until Friday 26th July. Course participants are mostly professional music students and keen amateurs. Most of the teachers are festival artists. The Kuhmon Music Courses provide both individual and group tuition.

The student concerts will start on Wednesday 17th July. Student concerts will take place at Tuupala Primary School at the following times: 17th July at 12:30pm; 18th July at 12:30pm; 19th July at 12:45pm; 24th July at 12:30pm; 25th July at 12:30pm; and 26th July at 12:30pm.

All student concerts are free to the public. Additionally, students at the chamber-music workshop will perform at the festival concert in Kuhmo Church on 20th July at 9pm.

Before the Music Courses began, the festival awarded 250€ bursaries to the violinist Joonas Pekonen and the Loriini String Quartet from England. In addition, at the end of the festival a bursary of 1000 € will be awarded to a student or ensemble of particularly outstanding merit. These bursaries are awarded by a foundation established in the name of the great violinist Oleg Kagan. Winners will be announced at the closing concert of the masterclass on 26th July at 12:30pm, and a press release will be published on the festival’s website.

The Kuhmo Kuhmo Music Courses are supported with generous funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Kuhmo.

More information:

Kuhmo Chamber Music, tel +358 44 544 5162