The Inverurie Music workshop programme has become an important part of our season and it has been wonderful to see how local players have enjoyed these events in previous years. Look here to see a summary of last season’s events, and scroll down to find information about our plans for this season.

To book a place for any of these events, email inveruriemusic@gmail.com giving your name, address, phone number, instrument, and the event you would like to join.

String Ensemble Days with Aaron McGregor
Kemnay Church Centre, Church Lane, Kemnay

Saturday 4 November 2023 and Saturday 17 February 2024

These events are for local musicians who come together for the day with Aaron to be tutored on works for small string orchestra. There are around 20 places available for string players. Music is available in advance to allow for some preparation.

Music for Saturday 4th November 2023 is:
Herbert: Serenade, 1^st movement
Sibelius: Romance
Mozart: Divertimento in F
Florence Price: Adoration arranged for string ensemble

Cost: £25 standard price or £15 for for those in full-time education, and for those on disability or low-income benefits.

Timetable:
09.30                 Arrival and set up (refreshments provided)
10.00 – 12.00    Tutored Session
12.00 – 12.45    Lunch
13.00 – 15.20    Tutored Session (including refreshment break)
15.30 – 16.00    Performance session

Dr Aaron McGregor is a freelance violinist and Lecturer in Music (Performance) at the University of Aberdeen. Aaron’s performance background ranges across a spectrum of styles, including modern and baroque violin, and Scottish traditional fiddle. He has performed with ensembles such as the Dunedin Consort, Ludus Baroque, Oxford Baroque, Ex Cathedra, RSNO, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Ballet and Manchester Camerata. Aaron is a leading exponent of 17th and 18th-century Scottish fiddle music, performing regularly with Concerto Caledonia. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Aaron completed an MMus in Historically Informed Performance Practice with distinction at the University of Glasgow and the RCS in 2014. He led the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, NYOS strings, the Edinburgh University orchestras and performed concertos including Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, and Bach with the Edinburgh University orchestras. In January 2020, he completed a PhD at the University of Glasgow, his research focussing on the early history of the violin in Scotland.

Masterclasses/Workshops
King’s Pavilion, King’s College Campus, Aberdeen

These events provide local musicians with a great opportunity to work with professional artists performing in the Inverurie Music concert series.

Saturday 23 March 2024 with Madeleine Mitchell (violin) and Nigel Clayton (piano)

Morning session (10.00 – 12.00): Violin and Piano – individual tuition (each session lasts 45 minutes). Two violin and two piano sessions are available. Bring your own music to work on (sending details in advance to Inverurie Music).

Cost: £35 per person or £25 if in full-time education, or receiving disability or low income benefits

Afternoon session (13.00 – 16.30): Chamber music group tuition with groups which are formed depending on the participants joining the session. If already playing in a chamber group, you are welcome to join as a group. If the group is not already formed, Madeleine and Nigel will select pieces to work on and will send scores in advance.

Cost: £25 standard price and £15 for for those in full-time education, and for those on disability or low-income benefits.

Madeleine Mitchell has been described by The Times as ‘one of Britain’s liveliest musical forces (and) foremost violinists’. Her performances in some 50 countries as soloist and chamber musician in a wide repertoire are frequently broadcast for television and radio including the BBC Proms, ABC (Australia), Bayerischer Rundfunk, S4C and Italian TV when she won the Palma d’Oro, praised both for her vibrant lyrical intensity and pioneering creativity. She won a Royal Philharmonic Society Enterprise Award in 2022 for her creative project linking art and music in film. Madeleine is a Professor at the Royal College of Music, London. Nigel Clayton studied at the Royal College of Music, London, where he won prizes in every category of piano performance and was awarded the College’s yearly prize for his Bachelor of Music Degree. He has toured worldwide and throughout the UK. Nigel is Professor of piano at the Royal College of Music, London and visiting Professor of piano at the North East of Scotland Music School.

Sunday 26 May 2024 – Iain Milne (tenor) and Nicolai Karlsen (piano)

Morning session (10.00 – 12.00): Voice and Piano – individual tuition (each session lasts 30 minutes). There are four 30 minute sessions available, with both vocalists and pianists working jointly with Iain and Nicolai. Bring your own music to work on (sending details in advance to Inverurie Music).

Cost: £22 per person or £16 if in full-time education, or receiving disability or low income benefits.

Afternoon session (13.00 – 16.30): Choir – Iain and Nicolai will choose a choral piece to work on, with piano accompaniment (Iain will send the score out in advance). All singers are welcome to participate.

Cost: £25 standard price or £15 for for those in full-time education, and for those on disability or low-income benefits.

Iain Milne was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London and was a member of the National Opera Studio in London as well as of the International Opera Studio in Zurich. Milne made his opera debut in the title role of Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito. Roles on his repertoire include Orlando in Haydn’s Orlando paladino, the First Priest in Die Zauberflöte and Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos.

Nicolai Karlsen is originally from the Lofoten Islands in the North of Norway. He completed his Masters Degree in Music under Sergej Osadchuk in the Tromso Music Conservatory. He has since been working as a performing artist, teacher, accompanist and conductor, and is currently teaching at Toneheim Folkehogskole, the most prominent pre-conservatory music school in Norway.