Kuhmo Chamber Music is to establish its own quartet academy. Applications are welcome from young musicians in Finland and abroad. Two or three quartets will be selected to be mentored by the best known teachers in the field from Kuhmo Chamber Music. Among teachers will be Artistic Director Vladimir Mendelssohn. The Academy is to start its work in autumn 2018, and the first concerts will take place in January 2019.
The quartets will be chosen by audition. The combined age of the members of any ensemble may be up to 140, and the maximum age for a single player will be 35. The auditions will be held in Helsinki from 26 to 28 October 2018. The quartets may be ensembles that have already been formed or they may consist of individual players (violin, viola and cello).
For each period in which the academy is running, professionals will act as mentors for young talents. They and the young musicians will rehearse together and put on concerts of the works they have prepared. The first rehearsals will be in Helsinki in December 2018 and the first concerts will be performed in Kuhmo and Kajaani in January 2019.
The quartet academy represents Kuhmo Chamber Music’s starting shot for its 50th anniversary. To establish the academy, the Festival has received support from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.
Informal applications in English should be emailed by 30 September to the Helsinki office at anniina.ahlstrom@kuhmofestival.fi. The application should mention the work to be performed (max. length 15 minutes), the names, ages, education and chamber music background of the players, the instruments they play, a music sample available online, and contact details. There will be no accompanist representing the Festival at auditions, but a piano will be available. Further information on auditions can be obtained from +358 44 544 5163.
Enquiries:
Kuhmo Chamber Music, tel. +358 8 652 0936