Benedetti Foundation Launch Global Violin Sessions

The Benedetti Foundation have announced the Global Violin Sessions: A Cultural Exchange Part One, from 16 November to 13 December, will take participants on the start of a trip around the world through the eyes of the violin. This inspiring online initiative follows the enormous success of the first ever Virtual Sessions in May this year.

Virtuoso Violinists will teach the participants

Trumpeter, composer and educator Wynton Marsalis has written a short tune which will be played by Nicola Benedetti and then passed round four countries – America, Hungary, Finland and Serbia – over three weeks. Virtuoso Violinists in each country will make the piece their own, based on their country’s musical tradition, by changing rhythms, twisting notes, and adding all sorts of colours and effects. The participants will gain insight into the musical worlds of each tradition and will be taught, through a combination of live and pre-recorded lessons, by a stellar line up of great musicians.

Who are the Virtuoso Violinists?

The Virtuoso Violinists for the Benedetti Foundation’s Global Violin Sessions: A Cultural Exchange Part One are Tessa Lark (bluegrass tradition) and Mark and Maggie O’Connor (American folk fiddle tradition) for America – Week One; Roby Lakatos (classical, jazz and folk idioms of Hungary) and Geza Hosszu-Legocky joined by his award-winning group the Five-DeViLs (Hungarian gypsy-Roma traditions) for Hungary – Week Two; Pekka Kuusisto (inspired by the traditional music of Finland) and Nemanja Radulovic (inspired by the Eastern European folk tradition) for Finland and Serbia – Week Three.

“What happens if you take one tune and send it around the world?”

Nicola Benedetti explained, “Music has always shown us the similarities and diversities of the human story with nuance, clarity and accuracy. It gently but undeniably states a worldview that requires no rebuffing. There is space in the world for us all. There is space for our individualities and particulars and differences. We are all allowed to be who we are and have love and acceptance of that identity. But how often do we demonstrate acceptance, curiosity and openness towards the story and cultures of others? What happens if you take one tune and send it around the world? The Global Violin is about to start to find out and we can’t wait!”

During weekends from 21 November to 6 December, the Benedetti Foundation will work live with participants of all ages and stages from all over the world to prepare the repertoire. All live sessions will take place on Zoom.

Woven together by Wynton Marsalis, and supported by the Ayoub Sisters, the Benedetti Foundation will produce a series of compositions based on folk traditions of America, Hungary, Finland and Serbia. The final film, premiered on Sunday 13 December at 5pm on Facebook and YouTube, will bring these tunes together and take a visual and aural journey around these cultures through the eyes of the violin.

Join the Benedetti Foundation’s Global Violin Sessions

If you’d like to join the Benedetti Foundation’s Global Violin Sessions: A Cultural Exchange Part One sign up before 9pm on Friday 13 November. The Sessions are free but with a recommended donation of £20 – £30 per person. Please donate what you can – no-one will be prevented from joining due to financial circumstances.

To find out more about the Benedetti Foundation’s Global Violin Sessions: A Cultural Exchange Part One click here.

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