Dear Pro Cordians
Alongside the launch of the brand-new Pro Corda website, and as we enter into Pro Corda’s 51 st year, I would like us to embark on a new engagement with our many Pro Cordians across the globe who, like me, hold memories of their childhood times at Pro Corda as a transformative and uniquely beautiful experience in their lives.
It is always a lovely moment when Alumni return to Pro Corda. Some an impromptu visit after many years away, others now send their own children to our courses, others attending one of our London events or concerts. People’s memories and experiences are as diverse as the many incredible personalities who have made up the fabric of Pro Corda throughout half a century.
Some things I hear a lot of Alumni say though are the same – the smell of their first Pro Corda lunch on their first ever course as they walked into Leiston Abbey House (where of course once upon a time all the meals were served before the building of the Guesten Hall!); memories of our two Founders and, at some point at least, being brought into the Georgian Room to explain oneself before Miss Hewlins for a misdemeanour, before then experiencing her forgiving kindness after a lesson had been impressed upon young minds!
Andrew QuartermainCEO & Artistic Director
And of course, for some of our Alumni, it is not Leiston Abbey that forms the backdrop to Pro Corda memories but rather North and West courses. Various locations (depending on the era) for the former – from Ripon Choir School to Sedbergh. Wells Cathedral the setting for the latter.
Our Alumni have gone on to take leading positions in the world’s most celebrated Symphony Orchestras, Quartets, and other ensembles. They have become great teachers. Some of them coming back regularly to Pro Corda to coach the next generations of our students.
In equal measure, others have gone on into the worlds of law, politics, journalism, medicine, and many other fine professions – taking what is surely the most precious “half” of the Pro Corda educational experience into those jobs every bit as much as those who entered the music profession: namely the human and social development that is so uniquely developed via chamber music training – the overriding ethos and ambition of the Founders.
One thing surely binds every Alumni’s Pro Corda memories – whether long ago or recent, whether at Leiston Abbey or north or west: Friendship. The friendships made at Pro Corda really do last a life time and really are among the most special bonds ever formed, because they were the bonds formed over chamber music. Among friends with shared passions and artistic obsessions. In a place where we all felt comfortable to be who we are.
The modern-day Pro Corda, I hope, takes that last context as its guiding mission across all its programmes. Quite apart from the educational and moral reasons for widening Pro Corda’s offer, we had to expand to forge a sustainable plan for continuing to make the very costly and complex Leiston Abbey our beautiful long-term home, not just for our current Pro Cordians but for the next generations who will come through Pro Corda’s doors over its next half century. Rather than hire Leiston Abbey out for weddings that have little or nothing to do with the charity’s objectives, we took the decision to develop and expand term time programmes – all drawing on the core principles of chamber music – that serve different and diverse spectrums of education and society. Those who struggle with communication because of autism, for example. Those who lack confidence because of other educational needs. Those who wouldn’t otherwise get to access Pro Corda but who now also get to call it their creative home. For those students as well, our aim is to provide a sanctuary where they too can feel comfortable with who they are.
Now really is a great time for all Pro Cordians, wherever they are in the world, to come together as we secure the future for the next 50 years.
Back at Leiston Abbey, our immediate plans (after much work to the Barn, Guesten Hall and Chapel) is to carry out much needed refurbishment to Abbey House. All contributions to this project will enable it to happen, so if you are able to help us with this please do get in contact with me: [email protected]
We have so many exciting developments and plans to share, both in terms of our development of Leiston Abbey to form fit for purpose facilities for Europe’s only full-time site dedicated to chamber music education and the courses themselves. Equally we want to hear all your news and updates. So, with the new Pro Corda website we are launching a new Alumni page which will give live information moving forward of latest Pro Corda events for Alumni. I’ve asked Alumni from different age groups and regions to network with their Pro Corda contacts in their
areas. This way we hope to build up more regional social activity for Pro Cordians, rather than just London or Suffolk based events – which I accept many of you can’t make.
The modern-day Pro Corda, I hope, takes that last context as its guiding mission across all its programmes. Quite apart from the educational and moral reasons for widening Pro Corda’s offer, we had to expand to forge a sustainable plan for continuing to make the very costly and complex Leiston Abbey our beautiful long-term home, not just for our current Pro Cordians but for the next generations who will come through Pro Corda’s doors over its next half century. Rather than hire Leiston Abbey out for weddings that have little or nothing to do with the charity’s objectives, we took the decision to develop and expand term time programmes – all drawing on the core principles of chamber music – that serve different and diverse spectrums of education and society. Those who struggle with communication because of autism, for example. Those who lack confidence because of other educational needs. Those who wouldn’t otherwise get to access Pro Corda but who now also get to call it their creative home. For those students as well, our aim is to provide a sanctuary where they too can feel comfortable with who they are.
Now really is a great time for all Pro Cordians, wherever they are in the world, to come together as we secure the future for the next 50 years.