For the second year of the National Gallery's programme for music students (undergraduate and postgraduate) we wanted to examine the nature of performance and what makes a great soloist. The project is entitled "Performing through Art" and its purpose is to inspire all budding soloists throughout the UK and help them find their voice.
Last year, students from Cambridge University took part in the National Gallery project "Composing through Art" and I do hope that they will also be able to take part in this year's project "Performing through Art" as well.
Becoming a great soloist is more than being an accomplished musician: it is about learning to communicate with an audience and being inspiring to listen to. Our study day for "Performing through Art" on 25 November 2009 will explore the issue of performance in depth and it will culminate in a public concert of UK student soloists at the National Gallery in June 2010.
In order to take part, students will need to attend the study day on 25 November 2009 when three world renowned musicians: the pianist Joanna MacGregor, the composer and cellist Philip Sheppard and the Radio 3 New Generation Artist, singer Elizabeth Watts will speak about their performance styles and their sources of inspiration. They will also discuss how they would use the National Gallery collection as a source and how the students might link it to a wide range of music.
The study day will further examine the affinities between art and music and after a tour of the gallery with our lecturers, the students will be shown one painting in depth. Over the next three months they will be invited to submit their own demo recordings of music which they have personally linked (in as eclectic a way as possible) to this chosen painting. From these recordings, students will then be selected to take part in a public concert in June 2010 in the National Gallery in front of the painting.
Similar to last year, students will need to book places on the study day in advance through our website at http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/student-study-day-25-november
If you have any further questions about this wonderful opportunity then do contact me gayna.pelham@ng-london.org.uk or my colleague Lee Riley lee.riley@ng-london.org.uk
We would also welcome any music faculty staff who were able to come with their students on 25 November 2009 and of course they would not be charged to attend.
