Strings

Individual lessons and masterclasses • Chamber music • Orchestra • String Ensemble

Emphasising individual tuition underpinned by chamber and orchestral coaching, the Department of Stringed Instruments is led by Jacqueline Ross supported by a staff of pre-eminent performers and teachers. David Takeno is the School's first International Chair of Violin. Chamber music is timetabled on a weekly basis and support is given within the department to help form groups. A variety of coaches are invited, and additional coaching, usually with visiting groups, is offered to those ensembles showing the highest potential. Although departmental groups form the mainstay of activity, cross-departmental groups are also encouraged.

Since 2009 orchestral training has focused around the Centre for Orchestra programme and is further enhanced by many international conductors and guest artists visiting the School. In recent years these have included Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, George Benjamin, Gordan Nikolitch and Vasily Petrenko.

Department of Strings, Harp and Guitar teaching staff

Harp

Individual Lessons • Masterclasses • Chamber Music • Orchestral and Repertoire Studies • Jazz, Early and Contemporary Harp • Teaching Skills

The Harp Department combines individual teaching of the highest calibre with a stimulating and extensive harp course, designed to give students all the skills they need to be confident, versatile professional musicians.

Imogen Barford, Head of Harp, leads a team of distinguished professional harpists, including Charlotte Seale, Bryn Lewis (Principal Harp, London Symphony Orchestra), Helen Tunstall (Principal Harp, London Sinfonietta), Evelyn Huber (jazz harp), and Manon Morris, each with individual areas of expertise. Their work in weekly classes covers every aspect of harp-playing, including orchestral, chamber music, practising and teaching skills, jazz and improvisation, contemporary musicianship, light music, and historical and contextual studies.

Regular masterclasses are given by guest harpists pre-eminent in the UK and abroad. Recently these have included: Helga Storck (Germany), Erika Waardenburg (The Netherlands), Letizia Belmondo (Italy), Andrew Lawrence-King (UK/Finland), Sioned Williams (UK) and Elinor Bennett (UK).

Click here for more details on the programme and recent news from the harp department

Alternatively, for a copy of our Harp Studies brochure, and for all harp enquiries, please email harp@gsmd.ac.uk.

Guitar

Individual lessons and masterclasses

The Guitar Department offers comprehensive training at the highest level in both solo and chamber music performance.

The course is led by the eminent and highly experienced international soloists, Robert Brightmore and David Miller and takes advantage of David Miller's expertise as one of Britain's most distinguished early music specialists.

The central part of the course is the solo repertoire of the last four centuries. During the second year all students take theorbo lessons which lead to continuo work. In years 3 and 4 chamber music and concerto playing are essential parts of the syllabus.