Trent Chamber Academy tune up for classical evenings

Instruments made at the world-renowned Newark School of Violin Making will be put through their paces at a concert later this month.

Members of the Trent Chamber Academy, who are largely drawn from students at the school in Kirkgate, will perform music by Beethoven and Brahms in Newark Town Hall on April 28 and 29, from 7.30pm.

Students at the school spend weeks making instruments, including violins, violas and cellos, which are then chosen by members of the string orchestra to be used in the concert.

Mr Alessandro Gomez, leader of the orchestra, said: “The pieces of music we are playing are very special.

“Beethoven is one of the biggest names, while Brahms created a lot of music but made sure he only played his best.

“It is always very exciting to have a concert where the players are all using instruments made at the school.”

The concerts will run in association with Lutherie 2017, a conference held annually in Newark drawing professional, amateur and student violin makers from all over the world.

Everyone involved

The concert costs were covered by a quick-fire instrument-making fundraiser in which students made instruments for 24 hours over three days before selling them.

First year student Miss Alicia Goode, 21, said the concerts allowed everyone at the school to be involved.

“I like the opportunity to try different instruments and it’s nice to be able to play one that one of my friends has made,” she said.

“We will try them out before choosing one.

“I’m looking for one that feels comfortable to play.”

The concerts will feature around 30 people from the school, plus students from the woodwind school at Newark College and the Newark Piano School.

The guest conductor is Mr Nic Fallowfield, the musical director of the Midland Sinfonia orchestra, and the guest soloist is violinist Marketa Nadvornikova.

More information about the concert is available at www.violinmaking.co.uk