Europe

An ensemble music camp for young players across Southeast Asia’s Greater Bay Area is drawing the attention of international musicians.

Ten years ago, violinist Sophie Till was in Scotland working with players from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. I was there too, attending her sessions and participating in a lesson. When I returned to In Harmony Liverpool, I did so feeling that Sophie’s work would soon change the way we taught our young string players.

Sinfonia do Bairro, a Lisbon-based ensemble founded by Mariana Pinto, recently celebrated a major milestone with their first international tour to Paris.

Side by Side is now accepting applications for their international music camp in Gothenburg, Sweden through January 28.

Fourteen organizational partners from eight European countries gathered last month for the launch of the EU-funded AMPLIFY project, bringing together artists, technologists, and researchers to elevate “phygital” (physical-digital) experiences with music.

Fifteen youth music spaces across the UK are no longer at risk of closing thanks to critical support from Spotify and Youth Music.

Ron Davis Alvarez, Director of The Dream Orchestra in Gothenburg, Sweden, was nominated as one of the five finalists in the 2024 CNN “Heroes” contest sponsored by the United States-based multinational Cable News Network (CNN). The contest features “inspiring people who have found unique ways to help others,” and aims to elevate awareness of inspirational work by people around the world.

The Ensemble Executive Editor Patrick Scafidi recently interviewed Ron via email.

When I was growing up in Budapest, Hungary, I had the privilege of learning to play music through the pedagogy of Zoltan Kodály, the famous 20th century Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, music educator, linguist, and philosopher. 

Thanks to Kodály, our small country has a well-built school music system, which allows students to learn music theory from a young age and to experience active music-making.

SIMM (Social Impact of Music Making) has a lively roster of international research seminars and conferences across Europe this coming year.