Easter Course 2025
13 - 19 April
The course meets for a week in the idyllic surroundings of Bryanston School in Dorset.
Bryanston School, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0PX, UK
Welcome to the Gathering of the Clans Easter course 2025. We are back at the superb facilities of Bryanston School where we can enjoy time together, work hard on our cellos, enjoy the lovely countryside, the fabulous gym and swimming pool, the varied diet of nutritious food, and much needed time to relax in the evenings!
As ever the course offers a cello lesson every day, accompanied masterclasses, performance platforms and student concerts; all this is done in a non-judgemental supportive atmosphere alongside some of the best teachers around and the best piano accompanists (this time JP Ekins and Stephen Gutman) who know the cello repertoire like the back of their hands!
We are all on a cello journey with its disciplines and routines. Ultimately the aim is to go on stage ‘fearlessly’, ready to share our best performances. This is our aim and I feel there is much to learn from the course in this regard.
There is plenty of time to talk to each other and the staff about college training and routes into the profession. For our adult learners or students not intending to become professional musicians there is support for your pathway too. The foundation of knowledge about our instrument is common to us all …so come to Bryanston, for an ‘immersive cello week’ and be inspired. Read the feedback dotted around the website in case you need convincing!
Sue Lowe
(Artistic Director)
If you would like to discuss anything about the course then get in touch on 07916 172700
The Faculty
Jonathan Aasgaard, Principal Cello, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Cello Professor Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Adrian Brendel, is an international soloist with many collaborations, is Artistic Director of the Plush Festival and is Cello Professor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Martin Johnson, Principal Cello RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Dublin and Cello Professor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music; Tim Lowe, Guest Principal Cello to many UK orchestras and Cello Professor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Matt Lowe previously with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and was Director of Music at Bradfield College, now combining a coaching, teaching and performing career based in Belfast; Sue Lowe previously Assistant Professor at the Royal College of Music, was Cello tutor in University Music Departments (Cambridge, Oxford, Durham, Leeds, Hull, York) and for many years taught at Chetham's School of Music and Eton College.
An outstanding feature of the course, is the exceptional quality of the pianists. We are delighted to welcome back JP Ekins who is well known for his skills as a duo partner and is currrently working at Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Stephen Gutman is recitalist based at Guildhall School of Music and Drama; John Lenehan is much recorded pianist, composer and long-term duo partner with Emma Johnson and Tamsin Little.
The Facilities at Bryanston
The facilities at Bryanston are second to none! The school is set in its own grounds two miles from the lovely market town of Blandford Forum in the heart of Dorset countryside (‘Hardy Country’).
Due to numbers there are normally separate boys and girls houses with each person allocated an individual room where, within social time limits, you can practice, rest, revise for upcoming academic exams and spend quiet time.
There is access to the Internet through the school intranet. There are pool tables in the houses. We provide two house-parents to ensure the "juniors" are happy and feel included and get to bed in reasonable time!
The food, of which there are always many options, includes a pasta bar, an omelette bar and a salad bar, of the highest quality. There is also a Coffee shop on site, for those who need caffeine!
The Music Schools building
The Tom Wheare Music Schools Building is a modern, state of the art facility, designed by the prize winning Hopkins Architects containing a wonderful concert hall, a recital room, large rehearsal rooms, and smaller individual practice rooms.
The concert hall and the lovey recital room are named after the school’s most famous music alumni, the conductors Mark Elder and John Elliot Gardiner. The building opens at 07:00am for students to start the day with a practice session and closes at 10:00pm. Instruments can be securely stored in the building overnight.
We also have access to all other school facilities, including brand new swimming pool, gym, squash courts etc. All of these are supervised by professionals.
Application Process
The fee
The fee for the course is £850 which includes full board, single room, access to all the school’s facilities, and teaching fees.
Travel
Travel from London Waterloo to Gillingham, Dorset on 13th. Times to be announced.
The journey time from Gillingham to Bryanston school is about 45 minutes.
Please mark your Mini Bus requirements on the application form.
A deposit of £300 is required to secure your place and should be sent at the same time as the application form. Please follow the links on completion of the application form below.
To speak to Sue Lowe (Artistic Director) Tel: 07916 172700
We will accept applications up to 7th March.
Balance of fees must be paid on or before 30th March.