Some frequently asked questions about our music making
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What are we aiming for? Varied concert programmes comprising both straightforward and more challenging works which, coupled with the inspirational energy of the tutors, results in meaningful rehearsals leading to stunning and memorable performances in front of local, enthusiastic, capacity audiences. What standard do I have to be? We recommend the equivalent of ABRSM Grade 4 and above plus some experience of playing in ensembles. Some have attended in the past with less experience than this, our supportive, inclusive approach ensuring they have enjoyed the course. We ensure players of grade 7/8+ are suitably challenged What music do we play? Since we cater for a wide range of players and interests we choose a very mixed programme that has included music of the renaissance, baroque and classical periods, 20th century and contemporary works. Favourites include works by Ades, Britten, Elgar, Grieg, Maxwell Davies, Nyman, Piazzola, Purcell, Sibelius, Shostakovitch and Vivaldi. |
Do we play any Greek music? We always include some Greek music in our concert programme, sometimes through commissions. This commitment has recently been reinforced by taking on an additional teacher for our Concert Strings course, the Greek violinist Danai Loukidi. Do we make links with local musicians? Strings in Greece is committed to building strong musical links with local musicians. Our final concert is regularly shared with the Philharmoniki, a wind band based in Potamos and usually includes music written or arranged by its director Panayiotis Leftheris. In the summer of 2019 we set up the Kythera Community String Orchestra, an ensemble we will continue to support and help develop as a key resource for anyone living on the island, young or adult, who wishes to learn a string instrument And with Greek composers? We have commissioned several works from Greek composers, most recently through calls for pieces. The winning work in 2014 comprised three short pieces by Michail Vekiaris. You can download the score of the first piece below 
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