Springboard: Exciting New Festival For Young Musicians

Music at Oxford and the Jacqueline Du Pré Music Building have collaborated to produce a brand new classical festival showcasing the world-class musicians of tomorrow. This exciting ‘festival in a day’ is hosted by internationally renowned musicians, pianist Melvyn Tan and violinist Levon Chilingirian. They will guide the festival-goers through a day of recitals with the UK’s most outstanding young talent, culminating in a superb evening concert of collaborations. The carefully selected musicians from the best conservatoires and music colleges include a string quartet, soprano, baritone, pianist and clarinettist. Beyond the music there will be delicious food and refreshments, lawn games, an art exhibition of paintings of young musicians and musical treats from Blackwells. There will also be short demonstrations from some of the music industry’s top professionals, including Jeff Shackell (who provides and tunes pianos for the UK’s top concert venues and international pianists) and Oxford Violins (Oxford’s finest violinmakers and restorers). The beautiful riverside grounds of St Hilda’s College are the setting for this totally unique day of music, fun and relaxation.

The Jacqueline du Pré Music Building is an apt venue for this new event for burgeoning musicians, being the first purpose-built concert hall to be built in Oxford since the Holywell Music Room in the time of Handel. The intimate atmosphere and exquisite Steinway D are the perfect addition to create superb performances.

Music at Oxford’s Artistic Programme Manager, Tamsyn Howell Sprent, is one of the people at the heart of the project, having been instrumental at the creation of the concept:

“Bringing the best of young national talent straight to our Oxford audiences is a real treat, and the benefit to the artists in terms of their individual development as a performing musician is immeasurable. I am particularly looking forward to watching what our Springboarders have picked up from their time with the mentors, and seeing them display this as part of their solo and ensemble performances. We're really pleased to have Melvyn and Levon on board with the project they are clearly very passionate about, handing down their experience and expertise of performing on an international level to the next generation of great musicians. The whole project is a really exciting prospect and I can't wait to see how the musicians relish the opportunity and how our audiences can take full advantage of watching some classical stars in the making. It's great that we've managed to make such a celebratory day of it - with all four young musicians performing individually in the morning and then all together with their mentors in the evening - you won't want to miss a minute of it!”

Springboard is very fortunate to have such outstanding musicians hosting the event. Melvyn Tan says:

“It’s a pleasure to be involved in this project and to encourage more talented generations to participate and to perform to a wider audience.”

Levon Chilingirian is equally enthused, saying:

“Springboard provides a great chance to develop the musical understanding of our younger colleagues by not only giving them master classes but also having the opportunity to rehearse and perform chamber music with them. Some of my most memorable learning experiences as a young player were during musical encounters with older and more experienced players.”

Music at Oxford and the Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building are extremely grateful to Awards For All and the Oxford City Council for their funding, which has enabled Springboard’s first event to happen.

Saturday 24th May 2008
Jacqueline Du Pré Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Oxford, 0X4 1UD
Springboard
Tomorrow’s Musicians Today
10.00 - 10.45 String Quartet
11.15 - 12.00 Piano
12.30 - 13.15 Clarinet / Piano
14.15 - 15.00 Soprano / Baritone / Piano

18.00 - 18.30 Pre-Concert Discussion
19.00 – 21.00 Evening Concert

Tickets
Individual Recitals £6
Evening Concert £15
Day Passes £20
Four Day Passes for just £40

Box Office 0870 7500659
Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street Oxford
www.springboardoxford.com

ENDS

For further information and print quality images contact:
Victoria Bosher
Tel. 01865 242865
Email victoria@musicatoxford.com

Date: 20.03.08

Notes To Editors:

Springboard website is still in development. In the meantime information and tickets can be purchased online at www.musicatoxford.com.

Music at Oxford is Oxford’s premier classical concert promoter, bringing a prestigious selection of world-class artists to the city. Our season of concerts runs October to June. For more information see our website www.musicatoxford.com or email info@musicatoxford.com.