Aim: Support our West Riding Ensemble apprentice Maria Nikolaeva (17) as she makes her debut as leader of a professional string quartet.
The West Riding Ensemble is a professional string chamber group, based in Sheffield. Uniquely, we offer opportunities to talented young players to work alongside seasoned musicians in an apprenticeship-style training environment - not only performing in professional settings, but also learning the tools of the trade that all freelance musicians need to make a career in performance.
Founder David Milsom’s expertise not only as a player but also as an internationally-known scholar of string performance styles brings to the table a rich pool of knowledge, and enlightens the ensemble's fresh, informed approach to established repertoire.
We hold firm to the principle that professional musicians should always be paid a fair fee for the work they do. Concerts are financially risky, and although we work hard to publicise our performances and bring in audiences, there is never a guarantee that costs will be covered from ticket sales alone.
This programme of three iconic string quartets (Beethoven op.18/4; Shostakovich 8th quartet; Dvorak 'American' quartet) has been put together by WRE apprentice Maria Nikolaeva (17) and will be her first concert leading a professional string quartet. This provides a unique and invaluable experience for Maria as she prepares for building a career as a musician, supported and guided by three colleagues all highly experienced in chamber music performance.
This concert will cost £2100 - £2300 to put on. We are seeking to raise £500 to support the project beyond projected ticket sales.
WRE is a not-for-profit organisation. We pay fair fees to all those involved in a professional concert, and re-invest all surplus funds in our educational objectives.