The objective of the project 'Groningen String Masters' was the further professionalisation of the string orchestra Camerata Ardesko, and the professional integration of the ensemble. The preparations for the project took place in November and December 2007, and the project itself started in February 2008 as 'Groningen String Masters'. This name refers to acquiring mastership in the string segment of classical music, but also to a contemporary realisation of the traditional master-apprentice relationship in the coaching trajectory. What we refer to is the way the project wil take shape, with the development of Camerata Ardesko with its specific assembly and characteristics as its central point of focus.
The two projects the lectorate organised in the past years within the framework of 'Groningse Nieuwe', have shown that the integrated approach of artistic coaching on the one hand and business and marketing coaching on the other, is considered very valuable by the musicians. It supports them during the beginning of their careers and it helps them launch their own initiatives. The ‘learning by doing’ approach also proved to be very useful for the musicians' future projects. Because of this approach the musicians learned to develop a sustained repertoire of knowledge and skills and this allowed them to give shape to later initiatives independent of guidance. That is why we also work with this method for the project ‘Groningen String Masters’.
Camerata Ardesko
The string orchestra Camerata Ardesko consistst of a mix of very talented musicians, who graduated recently or who are about to graduate from the Prince Claus Conservatoire. All ensemble members live in the city of Groningen. The members all have the wish and the intention to give further shape to their professional career through the ensemble. Camerata Ardesko was founded in 2006 by an international group of (near) graduates who also happened to be close friends. The members come from countries as varied as Australia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Romania and The Netherlands. They see music not as a job, but as a way of living and they wanted their orchestra to reflect this philosophy. The orchestra mostly works without a conductor, because they feel this way musicians are more actively involved in the process of music making. They also believe that this results in a greater intimacy and tightness of the ensemble. The name Camerata Ardesko also reflects their philosophy. Camerata refers to a group of 16th century Florentine artists who gathered regularly to share their ideas about the arts. Ardesko means 'to set fire to', or 'to excite'.
Camerata Ardesko are: on violin Melanie Waite, Romana Porumb, Hieke Dam, Any Bermudez Otero, Mara Oosterbaan, Hartini van Rijssel and Floor Bram. On viola Chirstophe Weidmann and Luis Diez Arcaro. On cello Pedro Vaz and Zoe Wallace. On double bass Alex Osipenko.
Guest musician cellist Michel Strauss
Michel Strauss (1951) started his musical education with cellist Jean Brizard. At the age of 14 he entered the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris, where he won his first awards in chamber music and cello, under the supervision of Paul Tortelier and Maurice Grendron. He continued his studies in the United States at Yale University with Aldo Parisot. He then returned to France to work on the further development of his activities as a chamber musician and a soloist.
Michel Strauss’ great qualities as a cellist and teacher gave wonderful impulse to the ensemble. He coached Camerata Ardesko in a very direct way during this project. He introduced them to different ways of playing together, and let the ensemble experience this by hearing and especially by listening. This brought about a growing awareness that certainly had its effect. With his free and intelligent way of playing Michel Strauss also taught the orchestra how to respond effectively on a soloist, on each other and how to deal with new musical situations that arise. He also went into aspects of playing in an ensemble without a conductor.