IT will be a musical home from home.
One of Scotland’s most acclaimed musicians, the violinist Nicola Benedetti, is bringing her talents back home - literally - to stage a concert in her family home, to raise money for music tuition in North Ayrshire.
Ms Benedetti, a vocal supporter of music tuition, is to hold the concert for around 160 guests at her family home in West Kilbride, along with the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and his Quartet.
She hopes the concert on 14 July, the first time she has staged a public performance at her childhood home, will raise, through around 160 tickets, “significant sums of money” for music tuition.
Ms Benedetti, who is releasing a new album next month, said: “Obviously I grew up there, playing all the time, but this will be quite unusual circumstances.
“Part of the house had been converted for my sister’s wedding and it was one of those things where we thought: if we can put it into good use for some reason, then we should.
“This is our first attempt. Obviously, you are opening up your private home to people you don’t know, but we all decided that we were going to go for it, and hope it goes smoothly.”
She added: “It was largely my Mum’s [Francesca] idea - it was not something that I imposed on her. I think it’s something that she really wanted to do. I am very excited about it, I think it will be quite an evening for everyone who is coming.
“I hope it will raise both money and awareness. We are still working out exactly what we will do with the money will raise, talking to the various people that we have got to know over the years, that manage the music services in Ayrshire, but they are just the most dedicated, brilliant, wonderful people. We admire them so much.”
Th evening will include a one-hour recital from Ms Benedetti and regular duo partner, pianist Alexei Grynyuk, as well as a dinner.
The tickets have been offered on the Eventbrite system at £50 each on a first come, first served basis.
Ms Benedetti has been vocal for years in her support for music tuition, and is establishing her own Foundation.
She added: “One of the founding values of the charity I am setting up now is to encourage music making at all levels of participation, not just in schools, but within communities.
“When we do it, people always think, ‘why don’t we do this more often?’, but it takes a lot of effort, a lot of foresight and participation from a lot of people, and sometimes you need inspiration and reminders, maybe events, to create energy.
“So I hope some of the money we raise will go towards something that hasn’t been done before.”
Ms Benedetti’s new album is released on 12 July on Decca Classics and features recordings of two works written especially for her by Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin.
Music tuition was once again in the news this week.
Last week, Midlothian Council suggested its entire service - including preparation for formal qualifications - should be run by an outside service sparking accusations of ‘privatisation’.
However, at a meeting of the full council the plans were later put on hold.
Ms Benedetti added: “It never takes me by surprise - things that don’t have a clear presence and prominence in the culture we are surrounded by...it doesn’t surprise me that something contrary to the common thought process is deemed only necessary for those who can pay for it. It does not fall into the realms of being a right for all people.
“As much as I will fight for musical lessons availability for all young people, hand in hand with that you need to put the same amount of effort into showing what it is we are so keen to preserve.”
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