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ENSEMBLE INFO

Ensemble Contact:

Email:

camilla@laserenissima.co.uk

1994

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Emerging Artists Programme: A new, distinctive, on-the-job development scheme to transform learning of historical playing for four emerging string-players: we will offer training, bespoke mentoring & on-the-job paid opportunities over 12 months. We seek a grant towards activities for four emerging string-players during the first six months of the scheme (JUNE-NOVEMBER 2026) as well as towards the overall costs of : 3 concerts & a new album.

a) EMERGING ARTISTS PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES:
• AUDITION DAY June 2026: open to players of period stringed-instruments in final year of study, postgraduate level, or within five years of graduation. Adrian Chandler (director), Robin Bigwood (harpsichord) & one regular LS string player will make up the audition panel.
• TRAINING DAY September 2026: exploring repertoire & playing techniques, as well as a chance for 4 emerging artists to meet LS players and plan their mentoring journey.
• ON-THE-JOB PAID OPPPORTUNITIES: September-November 2026, working as full members of LS: 4 emerging string-players will rehearse/perform in 3 concerts each (London, Liverpool & Gloucester) and for 8 recording sessions each (contributing to a new album for release on Signum)

B) RECORDING & 3 CONCERTS
Our budget also includes the cost of delivering three concerts in the autumn (with full band) as well as the cost of recording the new album in October 2026 in Cedars Hall, Wells as we cannot run the scheme without these activities taking place. Repertoire for the training day will be recorded in October, and will include concerti grossi by composers Corbett, Locatelli, Valentini and Vivaldi.

WHY THIS PROJECT MATTERS: Our application is for more than concerts & recordings: your grant will enable LS to develop a new scheme, making coherent our, to date, more piecemeal support for emerging string-players, including drawing on learning from a 2020 pilot which helped establish Jacob Garside, Simone Pirri and Thomas Kettle: all regularly play with us now.

“La Serenissima played an integral part in helping me become established on the UK’s early music scene. It gave me my first professional work on gut strings and first professional recording ever.” Thomas Kettle, viola

The project plays to our strengths, capitalising on our leading-edge specialism in historically-informed performance of Italian baroque music. Artistic Director, Adrian Chandler is an inspirational teacher, making us well-placed to provide a rigorous training for string-players.

While other ‘HIP’ schemes exist, often players are placed at the back, usually playing later repertoire within much larger sections: this means there is no comparable opportunity for musicians to take responsibility within a small section and really contribute at a high level. Our Emerging Artists Programme will change this, providing a truly intensive opportunity for exceptional young string-players to transform their playing and contribute to the lifeblood of our ensemble.

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