will run from Sunday 26th to Friday 31st July inclusive!
All the tutors have already gained a huge amount of experience teaching online during lockdown and we believe that, while it is not the same as face to face, we can still benefit enormously from live lessons and observing others learning. There will still be ample chance for discussion and group support so we will make sure the central ethos of positivity from the Aboyne Cello ‘family’ will be preserved!
Students will receive 3-4 hours individual lessons and you will observe lots of other online lessons during the Festival, so we learn together and with each other in the same way as usual.
There will be cello chamber groups and you will all receive parts in advance. Obviously internet ‘latency’ will mean we can’t all play together simultaneously, but there are many ways we can put everyone’s parts together remotely and enjoy contributing to creating chamber music.
There will be one cello orchestra piece with online support for you to learn parts etc.
Each day will start with a wonderful warm-up session to make sure our bodies are ready, and our brains and bodies working together effectively.
There will be opportunities to see concerts, with Philip Higham playing live (not to be missed!!) and an advanced students concert, and the Festival will conclude with an event including the chamber/orchestra pieces and selected solos.
There are other, more light-hearted elements to the festival in the pipeline – keep an eye on social media for details!
Although some content will be available free online, which will hopefully help to spread the news about the festival, you need to sign up by filling in the NEW application form on the website in order to take part in lessons and chamber music. We really need this done by Saturday 27th June please, so do it now!!
The cello festival cost has been reduced to £220 for full student involvement, and for adult learners who will not be involved in so many face to face sessions the cost will be less, depending on how many lessons you have. Bursaries will be available if the pandemic has made this a real impossibility for you.
Please keep an eye on our website and Facebook page and spread the word 😁!
Apply here!
Welcome to the Aboyne Cello Festival and Summer School!
Started back in 2005, the Aboyne Cello Festival is now established as one of the cello highlights of the year.
Eight days of intensive cello workshops, lessons, chamber music, cello orchestra and all-round Cello Inspiration! Our wonderful team of world class tutors get fully involved in nurturing the development of all cellists on the summer school, and also provide a series of professional concerts at super venues across this wonderful area of Scotland.
We welcome participants of all ages and stages and can offer a bespoke experience. There are sessions for adult amateurs as well as intensive sessions for conservatoire students and those working towards music conservatoire. There are also opportunities for younger students to have group and individual lessons.
The Aboyne Cello Festival brings recitals that would grace top venues anywhere in the world, and teachers of major international standing to this fantastic part of Aberdeenshire, and we look forward to welcoming you as a student or a member of the audience. Please contact us for further information.
James Halsey
Festival Director
