Cellos at Belle Serre

Chers amis,   VENEZ NOMBREUX! Violoncelles à Belle Serre   CONCERTS DE VIOLONCELLES   Mardi 11 juillet 18.00 avec Mark Lacey, clarinette, Camille Galinier, piano et Susan Urbita, violoncelle Samedi 22 juillet 18.00 avec Judith Choi Castro, violon, Andrew Wilson-Dickson, piano  et Florian Belbeoch, violoncelle   A l’auditorium du Conservatoire de Musique et de Danse du Tarn, 12 bd Mendès-France, 81100 Castres   Les concerts clôturent les stages intensifs de violoncelle à Belle Serre dirigés par la soliste…

Throwing down the gauntlet? Well, with our twelve cellists at Belle Serre at Week 1 of the Cellos at Belle Serre summer courses, and if we can ‘twist the arms’ of our chamber music tutors, clarinettist Mark Lacey and pianist Camille Galinier to join us on the ribs or table, and perhaps even invite our chef Bob to play the ‘scroll’ or ‘spike’ part, we could have the makings of a challenge to all play…

With study visits and summer cello courses getting under way here at Belle Serre in SW France and cellists flying in from the USA, Canada, Spain, France, Ireland, the UK, Holland and Norway, I’m also very much looking forward to two autumn cello days in the UK, one in Hampstead, North London on Saturday 14th October 2017 and the other in Winchester, Hampshire on Saturday November 18th 2017. Click on these links for full details…

“A brilliant day!” was just one of the very positive messages I received after an intensive and very happy cello day in Cambridge last weekend. Fifteen of us met up for cello ensembles and a technical workout in the morning, followed by an afternoon master class in which four players performed a wide variety of repertoire (some of it new to many of us, including a delightful piece by Arensky and a little known concerto…

There are still a few places available for the Cambridge Cello Day on Sunday March 5th. Do come and join me for a fun day of cello playing: a technical workout, practice tips and cello ensembles in the morning, an afternoon master class, and we’ll be rounding off the day with polishing and performing our favourite pieces from our ensemble work. Details of the day’s schedule, what to bring with you and how to find…

“I had the best cello week of my life at Belle Serre!” Just one of the great reviews and feedback messages we have had from last summer’s cellists here at Belle Serre. Here are some more comments from our 2016 guests:  “It was lovely to escape to your beautiful home and spend time making music with great people”. “Thank you for the marvellous week I spent at Belle Serre. You were all so welcoming and…

Come on down to sunny Castres in SW France and enjoy one of our fabulous cello courses at Belle Serre next summer. Bookings are now open for the two July courses: Week 1 runs from July 5-12 and Week 2 from July 16-23. Full details in English and in French on www.cellosatbelleserre.com Check this blog for regular updates and the latest news about what’s happening on the two July 2017 cello courses, our end of…

Three very happy and successful summer cello courses at Belle Serre have just come to an end. Huge thanks to everyone who took part – our cellists, tutors, cooks and helpers – three weeks of beautiful music-making, wonderful food, super concerts, all in great company and, as ever, full of joy and laughter. Here’s a link to photos of the courses on flickr. A l’année prochaine!!  

News just in – announcing a short course for intermediate level cellists: I am holding a long weekend course at Belle Serre in September (arrivals Thursday 15th Sept evening, departures Monday 19th Sept morning) and I would be delighted if you were interested in taking part or if you could pass on the news to fellow cellists who might like to take part.   The course is for intermediate level players (as a guideline, from…

Pianist Pippa Harrison is no stranger to Belle Serre, having played for the cello master classes on the summer courses for the last three summers. With violinist Gemma Sharples and cellist Verity Evanson, the Albany Piano Trio has inspired us with performances at Belle Serre of trios by Haydn, Beethoven, Rebecca Clarke, Charlotte Bray, to name just a few. This year, Pippa is joined by two newcomers to the teaching team, violinist Esther Hopkinson from…