outreach —Workshops — chamber music seminar — masterclasses

Outreach Master-Classes & Workshops

Sponsored by MCMS

Since the Melbourne Chamber Music Society was first organized, we have been committed to community educational outreach programs. With the unique opportunity to utilize the internationally renowned artists from our series, we contract with them to hold Master Classes for both the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra program and for selected schools in the Brevard School system. The participating students have an exceptional opportunity to get instruction, encouragement, and inspiration from these famous professional musicians. In addition to the formal master class program, we have also facilitated the use of local retired professional musicians with expertise in classical chamber music to provide coaching to selected Brevard County school music students.

 We make an effort to provide these workshops to different schools and organizations each year to involve as many different students as possible.

 Quoting the West Shore Jr./Sr. High School music director Mr. Michael Waller, “Being exposed to professional musicians on a regular basis will raise the level of expectation of each student involved and through them, the entire (West Shore) music program. This is certainly a worthwhile program. The educational benefits the students will receive are priceless.”

 Benefits –

• Talented students benefit from specialized coaching instruction. They will, of necessity, be more aware of each musical choice they make because in such a small ensemble those choices can have a significant effect on the group performance.

• All music students in the school music program benefit through raising the level of expectation in the entire program.

• Students in the program have the opportunity to interact with professional artists and see firsthand the rewards and demands of a professional career.

• The Melbourne Chamber Music Society benefits through building interest in classical music and a future audience.

• Local professional musicians benefit through the opportunity to prepare talented students for music appreciation and perhaps careers.

• The Brevard musical community and the MCMS in particular benefit by developing a new generation of music talent to support many musical endeavors.

 The following pages describe workshops since 2003. On occasion, two or more workshops may be held in one year depending on the availability of the artists and the students’ schedule. These programs provide a unique opportunity for advanced training in chamber music by top level coaches from around the world.

Education and outreach have been an integral part of the Melbourne Chamber Music Society since our inception. Each year we strive to have one or more of the ensembles or individuals appearing in our international concert series provide a clinic or masterclass for a local school or organization like the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Some of the highlights include a 2012 masterclass with world renowned violinist, Midori, a 2013 masterclass with trumpet virtuoso Alison Balsom (one of only two she gave on her entire U.S. tour!) and a 2018 clinic for West Shore Jr./Sr. High School orchestra students by violinist Sirena Huang, winner of the inaugural Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition.

Most recently the Goldstein-Peled-Fiterstein Trio gave a workshop for the music students at Eau Gallie High School. The trio performed for the students, spoke about their backgrounds and took questions from the very attentive audience.

Some other top level ensembles providing outreach events in the past include: American Chamber Players, Spanish Brass, Carducci String Quartet, Kuss String Quartet, Vienna Piano Trio, Borealis Woodwind Quintet and the American Brass Quintet.