The Benedetti Foundation announces its autumn 2024 activity

Overview

  • Live Sessions: two Benedetti Sessions, five Residencies and three adult learner sessions all with a wide geographic spread across the UK

  • Annual Ambassador Programme for students/graduates aged 19+, training and developing the next generation of leading and innovative musicians and educators

  • First Youth Ambassador Programme takes place offering a range of activities to help participants explore a future in music

The Benedetti Foundation was established in 2019 by inspirational Scottish violinist and dedicated music education advocate Nicola Benedetti. The Foundation delivers transformative experiences through mass music events and aims to ensure equal access to music participation and appreciation for all. The Foundation announces its Autumn 2024 activity which will feature two in-person Benedetti Sessions, 3 - 5 days residencies across the UK and three in-person sessions for adult learners. The annual Ambassador Programme continues to work with students and recent graduates developing practical and instrumental teaching skills and growing a love for performance and the first Youth Ambassador Programme takes place offering a range of activities to help participants explore a future in music.

Live Sessions

Benedetti Sessions, Residencies & Adult Learning The Live Sessions are transformative three-day orchestral and musicianship workshops and 5-day residencies. They are high energy, high inspiration in-person workshops which put the greatest music educators in front of young people, students and teachers. They provide a common goal to work towards, as well as being a place to make connections, and to collectively share the greatest examples of music education.

There will be two live Benedetti Sessions this autumn and each one will focus on the local area. The Benedetti Sessions take place in: Saffron Walden (4 – 6 October) and Perth (1 – 3 November).

There will be 5 residencies this autumn, and each one will focus on the local area with a wide geographical spread across the UK. The Residency Sessions are delivered in partnership with local music services to provide a motivational opportunity for young people and a source of support and uplift for instrumental teachers. Collaboration is at the heart of these sessions. They are designed closely with the partner organisations to ensure they are of greatest benefit in enhancing their day-to-day work. During each residency, the Foundation will visit local schools to lead primary music workshops and host professional development sessions for primary classroom teachers and instrumental teachers, as well as delivering a Benedetti Sessions Strings Day. To date the Benedetti Foundation has worked with 40,000 young people and 2,500 teachers through this programme.

This autumn the Residencies include Scottish Borders (17 - 20 September); Kirklees (14 – 18 October); Nottingham (11 – 15 November); Dundee (18 - 22 November) and Durham (25 – 29 November).

Back in May 2020 when the Foundation held its first Virtual Sessions, it quickly became clear that a new strand was developing in adult learning. The Foundation was overwhelmed by the response from adults who wrote in high numbers to say how much the online activity had helped them during the challenges of the pandemic. Many people were furloughed and lacked any structure or purpose to their days, and this opportunity helped them to dust off their instruments and gave them a community to join. This community has continued to grow and develop with regular online activity and last season adult string learners had the opportunity to attend one-day sessions in person for the first time. This will continue in autumn with one-day sessions in Cardiff (28 September); Belfast (16 November) and Edinburgh (14 December) led by Benedetti Foundation Tutor Alex Laing.

Ambassador Programme

The Ambassador Programme runs annually and is a training scheme for young professionals (c.19-35) dedicated to developing their practical, instrumental teaching and workshop leading skills, as well as growing their love for performance. The programme is open to instrumentalists, singers, creatives and workshop leaders.

116 students and recent graduates are on the free training programme in 2024 with 77 joining for the first time. All UK conservatoires are represented, as well as students joining internationally. There are two concurrent cohorts each year, dividing the musicians into their best-suited category:

  • Instrumental Ambassadors: Focused on performance and teaching skills but also encompassing teaching workshops

  • Creative Learning Ambassadors: Equipping musicians to lead school and community work

By taking part in the programme, Ambassadors have the opportunity to:

  • Take part in regular personal and professional development sessions

  • Participate in four focused projects encompassing topics including

    • Lesson planning

    • Online content creation

    • Exploring the role of music in the community

    • Practical in-person sessions on creative workshop leadership (10 November) or collaborative chamber music making (instrumental strand) with Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective founded by violinist Elena Urioste and pianist Tom Poster (27 October).

  • Attend inspirational presentations from leaders across the sector

  • Rehearse, prepare and perform alongside like-minded players and prominent musicians

  • Prepare workshops under the guidance of trailblazing creative leaders

  • Observe and gain vital paid work experience attending the Foundation’s in-person and online activities to put learning into practice Develop confidence and leadership skills

  • Make new contacts with a wide range of sectors of the music and education professions

Peer learning and support is a crucial part of the programme. All Ambassadors join a small mentor group, led by a Tutor Mentor and more experienced Lead Ambassador, which provides the opportunity to work together and to prepare and practice teaching activities, expand their knowledge and understanding of instruments other than their own, explore the use of social media in music education and performance, discuss, debate and reflect on questions surrounding music education and their role as advocates, and form a close, supportive network with their fellow ambassadors.

The aim of this programme is to create a legacy of world leading and innovative musicians and educators. The time the Ambassadors spend with the Foundation is transformational in shaping their careers and in turn the experiences of the next generation of learners.

Youth Ambassador Programme

The Youth Ambassador Programme will run every autumn and spring term, and the first course takes place from Monday 9 September to Friday 13 December 2024, offering a range of activities to help participants explore a future in music. Applications for the Spring cohort will open in October.

The programme will offer the opportunity for participants to:

  • Explore different careers in the Arts and see what it’s like to work in the music industry from various angles. 

  • Learn to teach and start developing your own teaching style. 

  • Get creative and discover new ways to express yourself through performance. 

  • Focus on wellbeing and understanding how to balance mental and physical health with musical workload. 

  • Meet other young, passionate musicians, join mentor sessions, attend inspiring talks with leading professionals and participate in online and in-person activities. 

  • Gain hands-on experience and make connections. 

Course Outline 

  • Mentoring: each participant will join a mentor group that will meet online three times a month for engaging one-hour sessions. 

  • Get in to teaching: listen to talks from trailblazing educators and discover a range of teaching practices. Explore how creativity flourishes in different educational settings, like primary and secondary schools, special education and healthcare environments.

  • Performance Skills: hear from leading musicians and reflect on your own performance. Develop confidence and explore a variety of creative practices that enhance your artistry.

  • Wellbeing: learn from specialists about handling performance anxiety and nerves. Gain insights on how to take care of your mental and physical health as a musician.

  • Careers within the wider music industry: meet professionals from different areas of the arts world. From performers to Artistic Directors, Orchestral Managers, Producers, and more — discover the many musical paths available.

  • Hands-on-Experience: join The Benedetti Foundation activities including delivering workshops in primary schools and participating in mass string-playing days. 

Schedule 

  • 3 one-hour online mentoring sessions per month 

  • 6 one-hour online training sessions across the three months 

  • 1 in-person Youth Ambassador Day: 

    • Scotland: Sunday 13 October 12-5pm 

    • England: Sunday 27 October 12-5pm

    • Northern Ireland: Saturday 16 November 12-5pm 

  • 1 ‘hands-on’ experience day with the Benedetti Foundation Team 

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