International Chamber Music Course for Young String Players

Set up in 1998, the International Chamber Music Course for young string players will celebrate its 12th birthday in 2009. It is organised by Xenia Ensemble Association in collaboration with ConCorda (Eire). The course concentrates on the study of chamber music, of fundamental importance in the development of every young musician.

The course is held at the Pracatinat Centre, near Sestriere in the Italian Alps, and lasts two weeks beween the end of July and the beginning of August. Every year 50-55 students take part, aged 14-24. Pre-established groups are offered a specialized programme.

The philosophy of the Course is to convey the musical and technical skills required to play chamber music in an enthusiastic and non competetive spirit. The students are coached by highly qualified staff who also perform in concert during the course. The studnts have ample performance opportunities including the annual "Passeggiata Musicale" at the suggestive setting of the Forte di Fenestrelle.

Since its first year, many internationally renowned musicians have come to Pracatinat to meet the students: Quartetto Borodin, Natalia Gutman, Valentin Berlinsky, Quartetto d'Archi di Torino, Dora Swarzberg and Quartetto Prometeo, the latter has been in-residence for the last three years. In 2005 a chamber music workshop was held with the celebrated Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

The series of concerts "Incontri con la Musica da Camera", organised by Xenia Ensemble during the Course, takes place in the Forte di Fenestrelle and other important venues in the region. The course is organised in collaboration with:

CONCORDA - IRISH ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH ORCHESTRAS, EIRE

and with the support of:



Course e-mail:
corso@xeniaensemble.it