The Benedetti Foundation Hosts Adult Strings Day

The first in-person sessions of the program will be held on May 28, 2023, at Glasgow’s City Halls in Scotland

The Benedetti Foundation was founded in 2019 by Scottish violinist and music education advocate Nicola Benedetti. The organization provides mass music education and ensures equal access to participation and appreciation.

The Foundation’s first ever in-person sessions for adult string players will take place at Studio 1, City Halls, Glasgow, on May 28, 2023, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Throughout the one-day session, participants will be led by tutors of the Foundation including conductor and violinist Alex Laing, violinist Andrea Gajic, and cellist Su-a Lee.

The recommended playing level for the session is grade four or above, however no grades need to have been taken. Participants will work on George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings” and the first movement of Elgar’s “Serenade for Strings.”

When the Foundation’s Virtual Sessions first launched in May 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the number of adults wishing to learn music began to increase.

For many, the online activities helped support them through challenges faced during the pandemic. The lockdowns turned into an opportunity for adults to be reintroduced to an instrument or begin learning one with a community of others in similar positions.

“It has been such a joy to work with so many adult string players over the last three years and to build an online community together,” said Foundation tutor, Alex Laing in the press release.

“It is clear the passion for learning does not dwindle. I can’t wait to meet in person for the first time and to have the chance to learn from each other and experience the joy of making music together,” Laing added. “I really look forward to it and hope many of you will join us.”

To apply, click here. Registrations will close on May 5, 2023, or when all places are filled. While the registration fee is £30, full bursary support is also available.

The Benedetti Foundation is a registered charity that especially targets regions in the UK where high-quality music education is often restricted and under-resourced due to geographical or financial barriers. The organization has reached over 50,000 people across 103 countries, and its free online educational video resources have amassed over six million views.