Czech violinist Pavel Fischer to return as director of Australian Festival of Chamber Music’s famed Winterschool program
Applications for the world-renowned music education program close May 14
Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM), Artistic Director Kathryn Stott has announced that the internationally acclaimed violinist, composer and teacher Pavel Fischer will return in 2019 to direct the Festival’s famed Winterschool program.
The 12-day AFCM Winterschool offers tertiary level music students the opportunity to learn from some of the best chamber musicians in the world through private and public masterclasses, group coaching sessions and more. Applications close on May 13.
On what students at this year’s Winterschool could expect from his leadership, Pavel Fischer said, “I aim to teach students how to make music, not just read notes. Music is a lifestyle, it’s a mental as well as physical discipline and it’s a total philosophy, it’s my aim to teach students to create beautiful music from sound.”
In 2019 Pavel will focus on building performance stamina amongst the Winterschool attendees, they will receive intensive coaching for the first two days of the program, group coaching and masterclasses on other days, and they will participate in multiple pop-up performances in and around Townsville.
Student will also have the opportunity to perform in the main Festival program alongside world-class musicians, with two violin parts available in a Vivaldi piece and a string ensemble performance on the final night.
Says Artistic Director, Kathryn Stott, “I am thrilled that Pavel Fischer is returning to the Winterschool program. Having collaborated with him on many occasions I know what an inspirational musician he is and his dedication to work with young musicians is very special,” she said.
The AFCM Winterschool runs throughout the Festival, which takes place in Townsville from 26 July 26 to 4 August. Music students who are members of rehearsed ensembles are encouraged to apply. Ensembles can be made up of all instrumentation from duo upwards, i.e. String Quartet, Piano Trio, Flute Quartet, Wind Quintet.
Students are offered extraordinary access to national and international artists for lessons, masterclasses, coaching and mentoring sessions including a daily group session. These sessions are exclusively available for students enrolled in the program and provide an opportunity to interact with musicians on a range of topics in a small and interactive setting.
Participation in the Winterschool also includes free admission to selected AFCM concerts and not only that, students spend a day bonding as a group on the magnificent Magnetic Island. Few Winterschools can offer a tropical island retreat as part of their program!
Applications for the Advanced Winterschool program are open until May 13 at
ABOUT PAVEL FISCHER
Pavel Fischer was born in Zlín in 1965. He comes from a musical family background, his father, Eduard Fischer, was a well-known composer and conductor who also founded the ŠKO in Zilina. In the years between 1979-85 he completed his studies of the art of violin playing at the Prague Conservatoire, which he further continued at AMU (1985-89) under the guidance of Professor Nora Grumlíková. As a soloist he has performed with a long list of both Czech and international orchestras. During his time at the Prague Academy of Music he concentrated intensively on the study of chamber music and in the year 1988, together with the pianist Ivo Jančik, became the outright winner of the international chamber music competition in Trapani, Italy. He has worked with such excellent musicians as – Josef Suk, Jiři Bárta, D. Pecková, Melvyn Tan, Kathryn Stott, Wolfgang Holzmair, Ronald van Spaendonck, Nikolaj Demiděnko, Janine Jansen and more. Recently Pavel has become even more dedicated to his teaching activities – giving masterclasses both at the Royal College and the Royal Academy in London, the Concertebouw and the Quartet Academy in Amsterdam, at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and, in 2008, he became a violin tutor at the RNCM in Manchester and as of this year also at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Pavel plays a Joseph Gagliano violin.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
26 July – 4 August 2019 | Townsville, North Queensland
Tickets on sale now at
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