String Classes

9th March 2008

printer friendly page

European Instruments: 9th March  (Section D)

Adjudicator: Oliver Gledhill MA(Mtpp) PGCA ARCM

Oliver Gledhill, cellist, was a Scholar at the Guildhall School of Music and won numerous awards including the ISTEL/Redditch Music Society Competition.  He studied with many eminent cellists including William Pleeth, Edmund Kurtz and André Navarra.  He has given acclaimed recitals at the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room, including three in the Kirckman Concert Society Series.  Festival appearances have included solo performances in England, France, Italy, Mallorca and the Czech Republic.  Oliver has recorded eight CDs, including the complete works for cello by Léon Boëllmann, which was awarded five stars for performance by BBC Music Magazine.

Oliver Gledhill is Professor of Cello at Junior Guildhall, and also teaches at Mill Hill School and Chigwell School.  He has edited music for Peters Edition and Durand.  His published writings include articles and reviews for The Strad Magazine and the British Journal of Music Education.  He is a Council member of the European String Teachers Association, an examiner for Trinity Guildhall, a mentor for the Associated Board’s Certificate of Teaching, and an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, for whom he has adjudicated at over seventy festivals.

Carnatic stringed instruments and vocal: Saturday 8th March (Section F)Adjudicator : Bhavani Shankar

Bhavani Shankar was born into a family of Artistes and his inherited and innate talent was nurtured since the age of five by his eminent gurus R. Srinivas, M. Vasudeva, Rao and Padmashri Umayalpuram and K. Sivaraman. Bhavani made his debut at the age of 10 as a Bharathanatyam dancer and since then has participated in scores of dance dramas and ballets.  He gave a brief  but memorable performance in the first ever Sanskrit film “Adhi Shankaracharya” produced by the renowned Director Sri G. V. Iger.

Bhavani has accompanied many leading musicians, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London invited him to join the organisation as a performer and teacher and he became a leading percussionist in the UK. Though a staunch stickler to time honoured and tested traditions, Bhavani is always receptive to new ideas.  He actively associates himself with experimental works in collaboration with the votaries of Western music and has worked with the popular pop group Massive Attack.

Bhavani is co-founder of SAMUDRA, a performing arts company propagating and promoting Indian Music and Dance by collaborating with Western Music.  His tours include Emotions, Jugalbandhi, Asian Mafia, Sitar funk and the Rhythm Sticks 99 Festival.  He has toured with Terry Riley, an American composer and father of minimalism for the band Sounds Bazaar.

Bhavani has provided Mridangam support to scores of cassettes both Audio and Visual in India and other parts of the world.  His album ‘Rhythm Divine’ is available in the market.

• Entries and enquiries to the String Secretary.

• A stamped addressed envelope is essential for you to receive a timetable.

• Competitors requiring an accompanist should contact Shirley Woods.

European instruments - must include at least one violin, cello, guitar or harp

Carnatic Classes including Carnatic Violin, Veena, Wind Instruments and Vocal