The Dorset Cello Classes

Welcome to the Dorset Cello Classes. Open to graduate and postgraduate students, the April classes are an opportunity for a week of study in a peaceful but fun setting in Dorset, receiving coachings, private lessons and public masterclasses by London Symphony Orchestra cello principal, Rebecca Gilliver, and renowned pianist, Paul Janes. The week culminates in a celebration concert for the students in Church House on the Saturday evening. For information on the April session and how to apply, please check the 'Classes' and 'Apply' pages.

The Dorset Cello Classes were set up in 2019 with the concept of providing a few days of focused study for young professional cellists. Young musicians nowadays have so many distractions in the form of bombarding emails, social media, the need to finance their studies and the difficulty of beginning a career in music. Creating a peaceful space in a beautiful place where they can simply study and learn is the key to the Classes. All classes are open to the public and free to attend.

In 2020 the courses were online; in 2021 they were held both in Wimborne and in London - in 2022 we finally returned properly to Dorset. Eight advanced students were invited to Wimborne for an intensive week of music making, culminating in a wonderful final concert the week after Easter. April 23 followed a similar formula, with April 24 postponed until this September, due to work commitments. Back to our traditional Easter-time classes for 2025, the final celebration concert will be at 7pm on Saturday 26th April - a date for your diary. Without exception, every concert the students have given have been incredible celebrations of their dedication, their personal struggles and triumphs. Audiences have been consistently moved, astonished and elated by the achievements of these young musicians.

The pandemic made me think about those who leave college and then are faced with what can be a daunting prospect of finding both musicial satisfaction and employment in what is increasingly, a difficult and competitive music industry. Having to finance themselves as well as having time and space to continue to develop their musical personalities is quite a balancing act and needs support from those of us lucky enough to have entered the profession at an easier time. The course is primarily aimed at college leavers and young professionals, but of course, we also welcome students undertaking their postgraduate and graduate degrees.

Coming originally from Dorset, I wanted to bring the music home, to where I had my first inspiration in the forms of the Dorchester Schools Orchestra, the Dorset Youth Orchestra, Music clubs at the Dorford centre in Dorchester and of course my extraordinarily inspiring first teacher, David Norton. Whilst my connection with Dorset is in the Dorchester area, the person who really set me on the path to music was the man who bought me my first little cello - Donald Hall, a wonderful family friend, my godfather and the headmaster of my Junior School in Dorchester, many moons ago! Although he has sadly left us, he lived in Holt just outside Wimborne so I decided to site the course in and around Wimborne in his honour. Paul and I hope to be giving a fundraising concert in the spring, to raise enough money to provide some scholarships for students in need of financial assistance. We are so grateful for your support and encouragment for the classes.