Florence tour 2019
Pro Corda students in Florence
For the second year, and thanks to the kindness of a very generous sponsor, Pro Corda students have gone on tour during the October half term week to Florence.
This year we are taking members of the Intermediate and Senior courses together with Pro Corda North students.
Working intensively with Pro Corda coaches throughout the week at their Villa, the students will give 3 high profile performances during 5 days – including a concert on 22nd October in the incredible 1,000 year old Church of San Miniato al Monte.
All students attending the fully funded tour have fundraised in lieu of tour fees for both the Leiston Abbey House Refurbishment project and also the Pro Corda North scholarship fund within our new partnership with the ARCO scheme, which will see gifted students from Cape Town come over to our North course each August following successful pilots in 2018 and 2019.
Outreach Director Laura wins Global prize
Outreach Director Laura wins Global prize
Pro Corda’s Director of Outreach and Schools, Laura Feeney, has just been awarded the Hildegard Behrens Foundation Global Humanitarianism Entrepreneurship Prize upon graduating from the Global Leaders Program.
During the nine-month Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Teaching Artistry, Civic Leadership, and Organizational Management Laura developed skills to enable her to write a business plan for a SEND music professional development programme.
Laura undertook fieldwork assignments in Chile, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Suriname where she worked with local non-government organisation music programmes. During these placements she taught local students, trained local teachers, analysed business structures, developed new programmes and raised awareness of SEND music through lectures and workshops delivered in each location. Laura also gave a SEND music workshop at the Youth Orchestra of LA National Symposium in July.
The Pro Corda SEND Music professional training will be launching in 2020 as a new development programme within our Outreach delivery to empower school staff to deliver specialist training in SEND schools throughout each term and at the heart of curriculum. You can read more about the Professional Development programme, and contact Laura, by clicking the link below
Inspired by the humanistic legacy of legendary 20th Century dramatic soprano Hildegard Behrens (1937-2009), the annual Hildegard Behrens Foundation Global Humanitarian Entrepreneur Prize recognizes the merit of distinguished Social Enterprise initiatives that take an innovative approach to harnessing the power of music to add value to their communities.
Abbey House Fund Pledge Card Appeal
Abbey House Fund Pledge Card Appeal
November will see the start of refurbishment works, and adding of new facilities, to Pro Corda’s main student accommodation – the Abbey Farmhouse at Leiston Abbey. Part Tudor, part Georgian, “Abbey House” has formed a second home to so many hundreds of Pro Cordians since the late 70s when the Trust purchased the site.
These days it forms an artistic and creative home to more students than ever before, and across all sections of society, with Pro Corda running a full time programme of courses throughout the year.
The Abbey House refurbishment forms a central part of Pro Corda’s long term ambitions to develop Leiston Abbey to secure fit for purpose facilities long term for Europe’s only full time site dedicated to chamber music education.
Much work within this has already been carried out. The Barn Concert Hall re-thatching and timbering, works to the Guesten Hall and 14th century Lady Chapel, a new recording and composition studio.
Our long term dream is new purpose built studios. But first we must see to the student accommodation which lies at the very heart of the Pro Corda experience.
We’ve made a positive start on the fund thanks to several Principal Donors and a range of energetic student fundraising. But there is a long way to go and we must make a start in November.
To this end, we’ve launched a “Pledge Card” appeal to all Pro Corda families. Current course student’s families will have received a specially made CD recorded by CEO Andrew Quartermain in the new Guesten recording studio. Titled “A little gift from Leiston Abbey,” it features works by Haydn, Liszt and Schubert.
All pledge cards returned (and all amounts) will translate into the immediate help we need to make this refurbishment happen, and to full effect.
If you haven’t received the CD (not available in the shops!) and would like one, and to take part in the appeal, please contact Andrew using the form and a pack (including the CD) will be posted to you by return.
All those who take part, together with all those who have already fundraised for Abbey House, will be recorded in a special 50th Anniversary Abbey House book to be produced by the Spring. All supporters of the appeal will also be invited to a special Spring Ball at Leiston Abbey next year to view progress on the house and to come together for a fine social occasion.
Please consider taking part in this appeal – you really will be making an immediate difference for so many hundreds of children, young musicians, those with additional needs who attend our outreach courses, and all the hundreds of current Pro Cordians who call Leiston Abbey House as their home.
Thank you from us all!
50th Anniversary feedback
50th Anniversary feedback
Now nearly 2 months on from Pro Corda’s 50th Anniversary Concert at the Southbank’s Purcell Room in association with Arts Council England, and the great feedback really has put Pro Corda in pole position as it embarks on the next half century.
From parents and families to funders, from politicians to famous musicians in the audience – the range of Pro Corda performances demonstrating the full spectrum of our unique chamber music training seems to have made a real impression.
To bring back the memories (or to see what you missed!) click on the below clips from a very special day in Pro Corda’s history:
Greatest Showman
Shostakovich: Senior Orchestra
Schubert Double Cello Quartet
Prep / Primary / West Choir
Pro Corda on BBC Radio 3
Pro Corda on BBC Radio 3
Pro Corda featured on BBC Radio 3 today as part of Essential Classics with host Suzy Klein. The feature is a trip down memory lane as cellist and music blogger Davina Shum (pictured) recalled first arriving at Leiston Abbey, performing in the Barn, and experiencing the Abbey house.
You can listen here:
It’s a truly beautiful feature, set to the backdrop of the world famous Doric Quartet – amongst our most distinguished alumni – performing Schubert (mixed with a little interlude of snooker balls and common room laughter just to complete the audio atmosphere and make it a truly authentic portrayal of a Pro Corda course!
We hope you enjoy the segment. If you would like to be part of an incredible musical journey too, then do take a look at all the courses on offer and come and join us soon.
Pro Corda documentary goes live
New Pro Corda documentary
In June this year, Leiston Abbey became a film set for a week when a group of very special Pro Corda students became the stars of a brand new Pro Corda documentary!
Made by former BBC Producers and filmmakers Graham Maughan and Veronica Reinhardt, and thanks to generous support by the Reinhardt Trust, “Achieving the Extraordinary” captures the magic and incredible results of a Pro Corda “Create Together” course.
This series is about to enter its 15th year and has served hundreds of students with additional needs up and down the country. The film opens the door on the unique methods used on these Pro Corda courses – all of which draw on the core principles of chamber music.
Particular highlights include Pro Corda’s Director of Schools and Outreach Programmes, Laura Feeney, leading an improvisation session with a severely autistic student where his sudden moment of awakening engagement (always an incredible feeling) is captured on camera. Also our new Creative Musicianship coach, violinist and broadcaster Noel Vine talking about the ways in which students with additional needs can create the most profound of new compositions.
The real stars are of course the children themselves. They tell their story throughout the film and describe what Pro Corda Create Together means to them.
50th Anniversary Concert Announced
50th Anniversary Concert Announced
Pro Corda has released tickets to its 50th Anniversary Gala Concert at Purcell Room, Southbank Centre on Sunday 1st September from 2pm.
Pro Corda’s celebratory concert, marking the end of its 50th anniversary year, will feature chamber music repertoire together with a short music theatre presentation from students across all courses and artistic programmes.
It’s the culmination of our 50-year celebrations. Please do come and join us. You can pick up tickets by clicking the button below
50th Anniversary Gala Concert
Pro Corda is using the 50th Anniversary milestone to ensure its unique training and the universal resonance of chamber music education is secured for generations to come over the next 50 years.
The 50th Anniversary Fund’s target is £2,000,000 of which £1,000,000 will be designated to major refurbishments of Pro Corda’s student accommodation, the Abbey House, and other upgrades and developments of the Leiston Abbey Estate. Together we can all make this happen and leave the perfect legacy for those many thousands yet to experience the magic of Pro Corda.
How can you get involved?
- Become a 50th Anniversary Principal Donor. We will set up a meeting at your convenience to discuss the exciting and unique opportunities on offer to Principal Donors.
- Set up your own 50th Anniversary Fund campaign – from organising a concert to a JustGiving campaign, these will also play a central part.
- Donate to our 50th Anniversary campaign. You can click the Donate button at the top of the page at any time!
All gifts, of whatever size, are hugely appreciated and will enable this Fund to be achieved. All those who get involved will be recorded in a special 50th Anniversary Commemorative book to be published at the conclusion of the “50 at 50”.
Garfield Weston Grant
Garfield Weston grant
Pro Corda is delighted to announce that it has received a grant from Garfield Weston Foundation towards the development of the organisation in its 50th anniversary year.
Arts Council funding
Arts Council funding
Pro Corda is delighted to announce its funding award from Arts Council England (ACE) towards its 50th Anniversary Gala Concert at London’s Southbank Centre on Sunday 1st September 2019. The concert will celebrate all of Pro Corda’s activity involving students from across the country.
Chamber Champions announced
Chamber Champions Announced
Four ensembles were selected as “Chamber Champions”, the highest accolade for the finest chamber music understanding and performance, at Pro Corda’s Chamber Music Festival for Schools Finals. They were:
- Highgate Junior U12 Quartet
- Brighton College U14 Cello Trio
- Kings College, Wimbledon U16 Trio
- Charterhouse School U19 String Trio
