Bursaries available for young period-instrument musicians this summer
The Music Summer School and Festival (MSSF) is now accepting applications for bursaries to cover up to 90% of the cost of their annual Baroque Orchestra course, taking place from 1 to 8 August in East Anglia.
Created for emerging Early Music artists to have an ‘immersive, professional-level experience’ in the comfortable surroundings of Gresham’s School in Holt, Norfolk, this year’s course will focus on German late baroque through large-scale works by Fasch, Telemann and JS Bach, with an intensive rehearsal schedule led by renowned conductor and harpsichordist Steven Devine. Expert coaching will be provided by Conor Gricmanis (baroque violin), Gavin Kibble (baroque cello) and Gail Hennessy (baroque oboe).
Musicians are expected to be at an advanced level with a ‘solid grounding in period style’, with baroque instruments pitched at A=415.
Previous participants, such as natural trumpet player George Sharman, have praised the courses for not only the chance to gain experience in a large ensemble, but also to make friends and industry contacts: ‘I very rarely get the opportunity to play in a large ensemble with the natural trumpet; therefore, this gave me invaluable experience. It also allowed me to meet like-minded musicians and tutors.’
The MSSF runs multiple courses over two weeks each summer, designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities and musical genres. Formerly taking place at Dartington School in Devon, the Summer School Foundation has been in its new home in Holt since 2023.
Alongside the Baroque Orchestra course, other Early Music options include Advanced Baroque Chamber Music with The Brook Street Band, Recorder Consorts with Rhiannon Evans, Viol Consorts with Gavin Kibble, and choirs and vocal ensembles with both I Fagiolini and The Lyons Mouth. Many of the course’s tutors will also perform in public concerts – view the full list of Early Music performances on our MSSF Festival profile.
To apply for a bursary, visit the MSSF Baroque Orchestra Bursary page.