Curated in partnership with Poole Society for Young Musicians and Broadstone Music Series Aspiration through Inspiration, is a series of professional masterclasses led by a handpicked, distinguished and often, award winning guest tutors.

We are thrilled to announce the return of the series in autumn 2021, offering students access to some of the country’s premier musicians. Each event is developed in collaboration with the guest musician(s) with a shared desire to restore ambition to the area folliwing the challenges of the last 18 months, and to support the aspirations of our young instrumentalists.
For this terms masterclasses, click here 

Previous Guests

Ruth Rogers: 15th April 2021
Merley House

We are honoured to be welcoming Ruth back to the area to lead the 3rd of our new series. Welcoming all grades of violinist’s, the day will provide students with the opportunity to play and learn together with the offer of a masterclass for those Grade 7 and above.

Bio: In 1997 Ruth was awarded a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music to study with Itzhak Rashkovsky. She graduated in 2001 with First Class Honours and was awarded the Tagore Gold medal – the College’s highest accolade – by HRH The Prince of Wales. Further study followed in the Netherlands with Herman Krebbers. As a soloist, Ruth’s playing has been described as ‘not calculated in any sense, her performance style and technique so assured that the music flows as a natural consequence of innermost understanding. Ruth Rogers must be one of the most gifted young violinists in Britain.’ (Musical Opinion.)

Chris Avison: 16th April 2021
Merley House

Chris said this about the workshops… ‘I’m really looking forward to coming to Dorset and working across the day with the students. After the year we’ve all had it will be fantastic to spend some time looking at how we can not only inspire each other to get better but also find ways to motivate ourselves to come out of these tough times with a burning desire to continue performing not only individually but in our ensembles too when we can finally get back to them. Music is so important to our lives and well-being; it will be great to take some steps back towards some kind of normality and hopefully send the students away hungry for more music-making’.

Bio: Chris obtained his Bachelor of Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, studying under Philippe Schartz. He went on to gain a distinction in his Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy for outstanding performance in his final recital, studying with James Watson, Rod Franks, Robert Farley, John Hutchins and Mark David. In 2018, Chris was made an Associate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2019. Chris is the Principal Trumpet of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since September 2013. He also performs regularly with many other orchestras across UK. Alongside orchestral playing, Chris has played in several West End productions, as well as being a member of and running Inner City Brass.

Aspiration through Inspiration (2020)

Catherine Martin
Baroque to Beethoven
Wed 28^th October

The series launched last October with masterclasses and an inspirational day for violinists, led by violinist Catherine Martin, leader of the Gabrieli Consort. The day included a unique opportunity for our students to hear and try instruments and bows dating back to the 1600s ranging, from very early baroque to late classical.

Born and raised in Broadstone, Catherine began playing the violin at the age of 4. Her post-school studies led to a degree in music at Oxford and the Advanced Solo Studies postgraduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she first became interested in historical performance. Catherine now leads the Gabrieli Consort and Players, which specialises in music between 1600 and 1850.

In 2012 Catherine was invited by Kirill Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to coach the players on baroque and classical repertoire. She also runs regular weekend workshops and concert performances with amateur baroque orchestras and modern chamber orchestras who wish to know more about the field of historical performance.

Joely Koos
Cellobration
Friday 30^th October

The second in the series was a day of solo masterclasses offering cellists ‘inspiration through a performing adventure’ – it included improvisation and a fair amount of fun, led by renowned cellist Joely Koos and supported by local cellist and valued Hub partner, Claire Jones.

Like Charlie, Joely dreamt of owning a chocolate factory as a child but realised that her true love was the cello at the age of 9. Having musical parents was a bit like being in the circus and inevitably she was drawn into the family business! Joely now pursues a varied musical career as a chamber musician, soloist and orchestral principal.

Performing as Principal with both the English Symphony Orchestra the City of London Sinfonia she also records and won a Grammy for backing Amy Winehouse on “Rehab”. For the last twenty years, Joely has enjoyed being Professor of Cello at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. She is a co-founder and tutor of “Cello Dynamo” – a residential course for young cellists – and is regularly invited to give masterclasses at the London Cello Society.