Welcome to Rosin Academy
We have now successfully run 4 x 2 day courses in April/August 2022 and January/September 2023, plus a mini event in April 2023, and you can see some videos from past courses on this website.
Our next course will be on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd January 2024 prior to schools starting back after Christmas in the Music Department of Nottingham University. Again, we are excited to announce that members of the much acclaimed Villiers Quartet have again agreed to tutor on the course. As Quartet-in-Residence at Oxford University, VQ have many years experience coaching students.
We will, of course, work closely with the University to ensure the safety of all particpants on the course with regard to the latest Covid guidance.
Students were coached by Katie Stillman, Tamaki Higashi & Carmen Flores of The Villiers Quartet, Toby White of The Jubilee Quartet and our Course Director Derek Williams.
The Typewriter - Leroy Anderson
Extract from String Symphony No. 2 - Mendelssohn
Support us to hire sheet music and create a bursary fund for future courses: Just Giving
Music Department & Djanogly Recital Hall
Nottingham Lakeside Arts,
University Boulevard,
Nottingham NG7 2RD
Click here for map and directions
Making Music
Our 2023 course/programme has been made possible, in part, with support from ACMP Associated Chamber Music Players
Our Course Director
Derek Williams grew up in Nottingham surrounded by family music-making, playing string quartets from the age of 7 and subsequently studying in Birmingham with Ernest Element, a pupil of Carl Flesch.
Since 1983, he has been Music Director of Nottingham Symphony Orchestra and went on to co-found the Nottingham Youth Orchestra, with whom he commissioned several works including a Jazz Violin Concerto from Sir John Dankworth, and toured Europe and the USA annually with great success until his retirement from NYO in 2013. Derek is also the Artistic Director and driving force behind the East Midland's newest orchestra, The Trent Chamber Orchestra, which had its inaugural concert on 15/01/2023.
His empathic approach and gentle encouragement of young people has inspired many to become professional musicians and he continues to teach and in particular to enable youngsters to share his life-long passion for chamber music. This has led to the launch of the Rosin Academy which holds 2-day chamber music courses in the school holidays.
About the Villiers Quartet
Named after Villiers Street in London, the Villiers Quartet encompasses the grand and iconic spirit of the extraordinary music tradition in Britain and has been praised for "exquisite ensemble playing" (Seen and Heard International), and their absolute "commitment and virtuosity" (The Sunday Times). The Villiers Quartet is the Quartet-In-Residence at the Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building at St. Hilda's College, Oxford University.
Read more click here...
Left to right:
Carmen Flores (Vla), Katie Stillman (Vln1),
Leo Melvin (Cello), Tamaki Higashi (Vln2)
How can I get involved in chamber music?
We want to encourage as many young string players as possible to sample the thrill of playing chamber music with like minded peers!
Contact details:
rosin.academy@gmail.com
