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Chamber Music in Wales is set for a renaissance as ten young musicians selected to take part in the first ever Ensemble Cymru Chamber Music Academy begin their own classical journey.

The Academy, the first of its kind in Wales, and based at Ucheldre Centre in Holyhead, Anglesey, will give top young musicians, up to 19 years of age, the opportunity to receive high level coaching by Wales’ leading chamber ensemble. Launched in November 2009 it will run for six months and end with a performance by the young musicians on April 25th 2010 at the Ucheldre Centre.

All performers selected as part of the Academy were done so on the strength of their experience, commitment and standard of playing and as part of the learning programme the students will perform alongside Ensemble Cymru’s principal players. They will also be coached in their own ensembles and experience performances by Ensemble Cymru’s principle players throughout the year.

Music business workshops by the Ensemble’s Executive Officer will also help develop the skills necessary to manage and promote their own professional ensemble.

Ensemble Cymru has an annual programme of over 150 concerts and workshops to over 15,000 people of all ages. It was short listed as one of UK’s top 3 ensembles in Royal Philharmonic Music Society Awards in 2006. It is resident ensemble at the North Wales International Music Festival, Bangor University, Rydal Penrhos School and Gŵyl Fama (Flintshire) and champions Wales’ tradition in chamber music in communities and schools across Wales and internationally.

The Academy is supported by funds from the Anglesey Music Trust and the Friends of Gwynedd Youth Music with support from the William Mathias Centre, the William Mathias Schools Service and local teacher representatives Margaret Scourse and Jane Parry.

Ensemble Cymru’s Artistic Director, Peryn Clement-Evans, said, “The Ensemble Cymru Chamber Music Academy will be seeking to excite young musicians and to nurture their enthusiasm for what is one of the most demanding and inspirational types of music that there is to perform.

“Chamber music is classical music for between 2 and 30 players. The word chamber signifies that the music can be performed in a small room, often in a private salon with an intimate atmosphere. Because of its intimate nature, chamber music has been described as ‘the music of friends’. The tradition in Wales reaches back to the beginning of the 20th century with the formation of the now defunct university trios in the 1920’s.

“Wales, leading composers past and present including William Mathias, Alun Hoddinott, Daniel Jones, Grace Williams, Huw Watkins, Gareth Glyn and Guto Puw have written music in this tradition which, though of world class and one of Wales’ greatest treasures, is comparatively neglected and unrecognised.

“The youngsters have already bowled me over with their enthusiasm and I hope that through their commitment and our support that it will lead to the birth of a new era for chamber music in Wales.”