The University of St Andrews will launch its St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP) Virtual Conservatoire next month, a new feature of its five-year StAMP project.

The online learning environment aims to build on the successful format of the StAMP Brass Camp held in July this year which hosted participants from all over the world for seminars, ensemble rehearsals, performance classes and other events.

Launch

It will be launched on 8th November and will welcome brass players of any age and ability from anywhere in the world — free.

Richard Michael, Honorary Professor of Jazz at the University of St Andrews and a recent collaborator with Wynton Marsalis' rhythm section on the Benedetti Foundation Virtual Sessions, will lead participants in aspects of improvisation.

In addition the renowned musicologist Trevor Herbert will join with Richard in a panel discussion with The Wallace Collection about self-expression and interpretation in brass performance.

The Wallace Collection will also lead a session on Proposer-Aginor Mimart's forgotten brass septets from the 19th century.

Insights

Led by Professor John Wallace CBE, the ensemble recently made socially distanced recordings of all six of Mimart's septets on period instruments. They will share their insights about these important prototypical pieces of brass chamber music that provide a missing link in the evolution of brass music and performance.

Music will be available for anyone who wishes to join in and play along.

Historical instruments will be displayed by Sandy McGrattan and Stephanie Dyer — including the cornett and sackbut, two of the most important brass instruments from the Italian Renaissance.

In the lead up to the conference, horn virtuoso Sheona White will host an interactive masterclass which should provide an invaluable experience for players.

It will be launched on 8th November and will welcome brass players of any age and ability from anywhere in the world — free4BR

Online content

Speaking to 4BR, Dr Bede Williams, Head of Instrumental Studies said: "We have an excellent team to deliver two hours of jam packed online content. I'm particularly looking forward to the discussion about self-expression and interpretation.

It's a subject which is made complicated by competitive environments in which the objectivity of doing what is 'on the page' can seem incongruous with our inner urge to be creative when we play."

The Virtual Conservatoire is part of Fringe of Gold, Scotland's only non-competitive festival for wind, brass and percussion hosted annually by the University of St Andrews.

Details

The 2020 festival welcomes special guests Markus Stockhausen (trumpet) and Maximiliano Martin (clarinet).

For full details of the festival, visit: https://stamp.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/events/fog/

To register for the Virtual Conservatoire or find out more information, visit: https://stamp.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/virtual/.

Registration closes Wednesday 4th November.