Masterclass Student Masters

In late July 2016, a group of talented young musicians enjoyed the support and encouragement of experienced virtuosos at "Schloß Neuhardenberg" as they take their first steps towards a professional career. The Foundation Schloss Neuhardenberg provided the setting for the master class run by Jan Vogler and his fellow tutors as part of his ‘Masterclass Student Masters’ series of events. The participants not only attended a master class supervised by the star cellist for one week but also developed a chamber music programme which they then performed at the end of the course. I had the opportunity to observe the tutors as they worked with their students during several rehearsals, and witness the intensive process of developing a piece of classical music. And then afterwards to see the students and tutors presenting the results of the workshops in a public concert at the Schinkel Church in Neuhardenberg. The ‘Masterclass Student Masters’ programme was initiated in order to give young musicians who are at the beginning of their careers important stimuli for their further development through joint performances with famous virtuosos. It was set up in 2009 by the German Savings Banks Association in collaboration with the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. The Neuhardenberg workshop now features in the programme for the fourth time. The workshop in turn is held in cooperation with the Moritzburg Festival, which is the base for Jan Vogler’s various activities to a certain extent and which he has directed extremely successfully since 2001.