This intensive course includes expert tuition, individual coaching sessions, solo performances, practice and performance opportunities with a chamber music coach, workshops in Alexander Technique, mindfulness, and yoga. It is designed to give a holistic introduction to the musical, mental and physical skills needed to grow as a pianist and is suitable for those who aspire to study at conservatoire, university, and professional level as well as those who simply wish to hone their skills in an atmosphere which is fun, supportive, and encouraging.
Acclaimed pianist, Helena Buckmayer is a highly specialised expert in piano technique. By eradicating unwanted tension from an early age, she aims to enable every pupil to play in an effortless, pain-free way by combining highly sophisticated movements with musical expressions allowing uncompromised artistic involvement. She has taught students at St. Mary's Music School, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, St Andrew's University, University of Washington, USA. She has consulted for various British institutions, has a busy international studio being a regular course leader. The vast majority of her pupils move on to study at top conservatoires including Conservatoire Amsterdam, Hochschule für Musik in Dresden, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy etc. with many being prizewinners at national and international competitions including Piano Competition in Seville, London Online Piano Competition, Loretto Steinway Competition, Luigi Cerritelli. To share her expertise, Helena has been appointed the Presidency of World Piano Teacher Association- UK-Scotland.
As a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician Helena has toured throughout Europe, North America and Japan with several concerts being broadcast on television and radio, playing in venues such as Ulmer Kornhaus, Frankfurter Dom, Schloss Illertissen, Usher Hall, Queen’s Hall, Kobe Concert Hall, Matsue Concert Hall and Hamamatsu Concert Hall. On numerous occasions, her playing has been described as lyrical and poetic (Suddeutsche Zeitung) and having an almost elfin musicality (Broadway) while performing with orchestras such as Wurttembergische Philharmonie, Augsburger Philharmoniker, Sewannee Symphony Orchestra, Collegium Musicum, Orchestra of the Canongait and others conducted by renowned Philip Jordan, Roberto Paternoster, Kenneth Kiesler, Henning Kussel and more. Helena herself was a prizewinner at Yamaha competition and Jugend musiziert, Germany’s biggest youth platform. She has been privileged to have been taught by world renowned professors Bela Siki (Seattle), who was Dinu Lipatti’s assistant, Gyorgy Sebok ( Bloomington), Edna Golandsky ( NYC) and Bernard Roberts (RCM, London).
Piano Assistant: Anna Michels
Praised by critic David Smythe for her ability to “dance across the keys with spirit”, Anna Michels is a Scottish-Dutch pianist who combines her love of performing and teaching in a multi-faceted career.
Anna is a graduate of Maastricht Conservatoire where she studied a double Bachelor in Piano with Dr. Katia Veekmans, and Music Theory with Dr. David Lodewyckx and Inge Pasmans. During her time in the Netherlands, Anna was a prizewinner of international competitions, both as a soloist and chamber musician. These include prizes at the Prinses Christina Concours, the International Anton Garcia Abril Chamber Music Competition, the International Swedish Duo Competition, the Scando Vocallis Lied Duo Prize, and the Maastricht Concerto Competition.
Her passion for unearthing hidden treasures of the classical repertoire, with a focus on Scottish composer Ronald Center, has culminated in giving lecture-recitals internationally, including at the London International Piano Symposium and Musica Scotica Conference.
Born in Scotland, Anna began piano lessons at the age of seven, and studied with Professor Heather Slade Lipkin at the Junior Academy of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, before moving to St Mary’s Music School in 2013. There she made her debut concerto performance with Schumann’s Piano Concerto in the Edinburgh Music Festival Final, as well as winning the Director’s Recital Prize. She was a prizewinner of numerous national competitions, including the Rotary “Young Musician Competition”.
Anna is a recipient of the Cross Trust and was awarded the Falkirk Civic Trust ‘Young
Personality of the Year’. She is currently studying for her Master’s in Piano Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Head of Keyboard, Aaron Shorr.
Chamber Music Assistant: Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery is a violinist from Glasgow with a particular passion for chamber music. His formative music education was at St Mary’s Music School where he studied with Andrea Gajjic. He then completed his undergraduate degree with a First Class Honours at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Richard Ireland, artistic director of ChamberStudio. While at the Academy he was awarded the Poulett Scholarship and Regency Prize for excellence. Upon graduating, he spent a year in the Netherlands learning from Yuzuko Horigome before returning to the UK to work at the Purcell School.
Richard performs all across Europe in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and as a soloist. Additionally, he has been coached by some of the world’s finest chamber musicians, including by members of the Doric, Ysaye, and Guarneri string quartets. He brings these insights into his work with talented young musicians, encouraging a spirit of enthusiasm and inquisitiveness towards the chamber repertoire.
Workshop Coordinator: Philip Sharp
Location and Facilities
St Marys Music School is one of five specialist music schools in the UK, designated by the UK government as providing the highest standard of music training and development. The School is located right in the heart of the stunning city of Edinburgh, capital of Scotland and home to the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. Both will take place during the time of the Piano Summer School and provide a stimulating backdrop for the learning and cultural experience of every student on the course.
Access to the School is easy with a quick journey by tram, bus or taxi from Edinburgh International Airport which is just 20 minutes away and has direct access to airports throughout the UK and abroad. Haymarket train station is just two minutes walk away.
As well as making use of our fleet of pianos, including a new Model B Steinway, students will enjoy all the facilities of this historic school, including twin ensuite bedrooms (sharing with one other student), beautiful gardens, sports court and table tennis and pool tables.
Investment
Financial Support
The Piano Summer School is a fully inclusive residential course with a fee of £875 (Travel not included but funding is available).
Funding is available towards fees and travel expenses. Please contact Dr JoAnna Collings, Bursar at bursar@smms.uk for more information.
APPLY
Applications are now open. Please click on the link below to complete the application form:
Please note the closing date for applications is 7 June 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact our admissions department.
admissions@smms.uk
"Edinburgh - The most beautiful of all the capitals of Europe" Sir John Betjeman
A perfect place for family and friends.
Did you know? Edinburgh Festivals peak during August with more than 25,000 artists and entertainers with over 1,000 shows per day. And St Mary's Music School is right in the heart of it all. So while you're hard at your study why not bring along parents and friends and let them discover what's on offer?
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