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Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama unveils innovative residency for two award-winning string quartets
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (supported by The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust, with additional funding from the Colwinston Charitable Trust) has launched a bold and transformative two-year string quartet residency. This innovative program places world-class string quartet practice at the core of the College’s vibrant community, aiming to influence the future of string playing across Wales and beyond.
The residency provides significant financial support to both The Carducci String Quartet and The Fibonacci Quartet over the next two years. The model is designed to offer crucial support to these ensembles, fostering artistic excellence alongside cultivating the next generation of musicians and bringing world-class music into the heart of the local community. The initiative embodies the College’s mission to empower its emerging artists to develop creative and sustainable careers at the highest levels and to make an impact on the world around them.
‘This exciting new residency brings two extraordinary string quartets into the College, at very different stages of their careers, and each with unique energy and vision at a pivotal time for the arts.
We are providing them with a creative base in a creative community, and stability to grow their artistry in an environment that nurtures collaboration and innovation.
But it’s not just about musicians perfecting their craft; it’s about making a real difference. In today’s climate of real challenges for the arts, the quartets together with our students will become increasingly embedded within local communities through public engagement, working in education and even healthcare.
We want to equip our students to be impactful leaders in society, and to build both the artistic skills and practical experience to be able to do this.’Helena GauntRWCMD Principal
Both the Fibonacci Quartet - emerging stars, Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) artists and recent winners of the Borciani International String Quartet competition, featuring RWCMD graduate Elliot Kempton - and the renowned, award-winning Carducci String Quartet, bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to the residency. Throughout their time at the College they will rehearse, perform, and collaborate closely with students, offering them unparalleled mentorship and artistic insight, and exploring contemporary approaches to performance and engaging new audiences.
Plans are currently being developed in partnership with Cardiff and Vale Music Service, and Making Music, Changing Lives (an Ely-based charity which offers free musical opportunities to people facing deprivation) to craft projects with the quartets to inspire young musicians and string players and break down barriers to high-quality music education.
'The Frost Trust is delighted to support this very valuable and innovative residency. The Trust has a dual purpose in setting up these residencies: to help some British string quartets to survive, grow, and develop a home in their region, providing some stability in a precarious existence. And to encourage and inspire youngsters in the region to love string playing and chamber music.
The Royal Welsh College is perfectly situated to realise our aims, with its fine concert hall, its strong and developing chamber music ethos, its outstanding chamber music teachers, and its outreach connections with regional schools and charities which aim to foster string playing in youngsters.
We want to assist inspiring and hardworking teachers who have been working against the odds to pass on the immense gift of classical music to the next generations.’David WatermanTrustee, The Frost Music Trust
‘We see this residency as an opportunity to develop fresh, collaborative projects and establish meaningful connections within the College and the wider community.
The dynamic exchange of ideas and the chance to work in such an inspiring environment will help us refine our own artistic vision while fostering new opportunities for local engagement.’The Carducci String Quartet
‘The Royal Welsh College provided me with exceptional training for a career in chamber music.
It is now such a privilege to give back to the College’s chamber music programme with my quartet. We are so excited to collaborate and perform with the students, and to build meaningful connections with both the College and the wider community.’Elliot KemptonRWCMD graduate, The Fibonacci Quartet
Editors notes
The residency includes three high-profile concerts annually at the College’s Dora Stoutzker Hall, alongside chamber coaching, mentoring, and workshops in local schools and communities.
The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust
Since 1993, the Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust has supported work with young string players across the UK, with particular emphasis on chamber music, through grant-making to charitable organisations.
‘The Frost Trust also supports residencies in three other parts of the UK in regions which currently have many challenges in financing classical music education at the most elementary and the most advanced levels. But they all have vibrant, enthusiastic, highly committed and experienced musical organisers who know exactly how to make the best use of a Resident String Quartet.' David Waterman
The Colwinston Charitable Trust
The Colwinston Charitable Trust was established in 1995 by its founder and Chairman, Mathew Prichard CBE, and distributes grants to UK Registered Charities delivering high quality work in the Live Performing Arts and the Visual Arts. The funding is primarily directed towards Wales.
The Trust derives its main income from royalties from the London production of ‘The Mousetrap’, the murder mystery written by Agatha Christie, which is the longest running show of any type in the world.
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
RWCMD attracts the best creative talent from across the globe. As Wales’ national conservatoire, we fire imagination and drive innovation, offering training to over 800 actors, musicians, designers, technicians and arts managers from more than 40 countries. Our students’ extraordinary talent and potential is fused with exceptional teaching and unrivalled industry links, to bring dreams to life. A space for everyone, creative ambition and collaboration are central to our excellence.
