Opening musical minds with Celebrity 6

Will Conway, Artistic Director of St Mary’s Music School, explains the impact of the Celebrity 6 series on young musicians through lockdown and beyond.

“Bringing international artists to St Mary’s Music School to share their thoughts and advice and to work with our pupils has always been part of our curriculum. Not even a pandemic has stopped us doing that and in fact this year we have welcomed more celebrities than ever before through our second series of Celebrity 6.

This term has seen Sarah Willis, Steven Isserlis, Zoë Beyers, Malcolm Martineau and Tabea Zimmerman bring a programme of music, insight and conversation, which is open to both our own pupils and young musicians and music teachers across the UK.

The series has given, and continues to give, a huge boost to everyone who takes part, particularly in a year that has been so challenging and has demanded so much self-motivation.

The message from all these wonderful musicians has been consistent - love what you are doing and communicate that love and enjoyment to your listeners in the most creative, informed and committed way possible. In their individual ways they have helped us all to understand how to do this better using practical, methodical, creative, poetic and humorous means and through their own colourful language.” “You have the opportunity to build a new-look industry. The power lies with you and you can choose not to do it in the same way as we have done. My challenge to you is to break the mould.”

Zoë Beyers, Leader of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

“Have fun with the music - shape it, shape every phrase, you are the evangelist telling the story… if the bow dances then the music will dance.”

Steven Isserlis, Cellist and Vice President of the School

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St Mary’s Music School Trust Ltd is a charity, number SC014611. Registered in Scotland 54504. Registered office: Coates Hall, 25 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 5EL All images and text © St Mary’s Music School 2021 unless otherwise stated Design by IL Design | Words by Fiona Duncan & Allison Traynor | Photography by Euan Robertson, Jannica Honey