Back in 1969, while humanity took its first steps on an extraterrestrial surface, Pamela Spofforth and Elizabeth Hewlins were busy on Earth, working to preserve and expand the provision of chamber music in the UK – both women would go on to receive MBEs in recognition of their considerable contributions to music. As part of that work, in the same year, Spofforth and Hewlins formed the Pro Corda Trust, an organisation that continues to thrive nearly 50 years on. I spoke with Andrew Quartermain, artistic director and CEO of Pro Corda about what reaching that milestone means.
‘At this exciting time, it's very much about us looking to the future. In fact, our mission is very much our founding ethos as well: to develop the human being alongside the musician. That's what we feel chamber music itself is about, so we want to use the fiftieth anniversary to really get that out there as never before. We think it's a mission that not only crosses the various disciplines within music education but that is education wide. At a pivotal point in education in general, academisation of so many schools and people worrying about their budgets, we're saying that this is an incredible way not only to teach young musicians but to really develop good behaviour and social skills.’
This all sounds wonderful but, when faced with enduring problems such as slashed arts budgets and the low take-up of music among young people, how has Pro Corda managed to last so long?
‘On a practical level, there aren't that many other people doing what Pro Corda does. With orchestras and choirs there's obviously a lot of fantastic stuff happening regionally and nationally but there aren't as many chamber music schools. The foundation of Pro Corda, if not unique, was unusual for the time.’
Half of the young people attending residential course have additional needs and/or disabilities © DAVID PARKER
Evolution
A big part of ensuring enduring success is an ability to adapt to changing needs, especially when it comes to something like chamber music, a genre that doesn't enjoy the greatest of reputations when it comes to attracting young musicians. ‘I think in the last ten years, it's been about almost redefining the founding ethos. For example, we're now doing a massive SEN/D programme, with schools from up and down the country coming to us for courses during term time,’ explains Quartermain. ‘We use music theatre as a medium and negotiate together with the students how we might use that to break down barriers of communication – in particular, the results with young people with autism have been quite significant. Overall, it's been about widening that definition of what chamber music can do.
‘It's not just that weird thing that people think is archaic and old-fashioned and we've tried to turn that on its head and say actually, the name is archaic but what it is, fundamentally, is an amazingly dynamic teaching tool that can be used for so many things.’
Ensemble playing encourages the development of social and behavioural skills © MATT ROBERTS
Wide reach
Many of the courses that Quartermain mentions take place at the retreat house at Leiston Abbey in Suffolk, a grade two listed building, which has been the home of Pro Corda since 1977. As you would expect, the abbey is a tranquil place, a charming building that also serves as a residential retreat, its beauty and isolation providing the perfect place to engage young musicians – aged between five and 24 – with chamber music. Beyond this, some of the other opportunities on offer include residential courses in the north and west of England and weekly classes held in London.
While Pro Corda is always hard at work throughout the UK, the anniversary sees them take that up a notch with the current concert schedule listing three events in Florence. Quartermain is particularly excited about the upcoming launch event on 7 October at St Georges Hallam Square in London that will give a platform to young musicians. It's not just London-based activity, though: ‘We'll be up and down the country, with performances at BBC Leeds and Wells Cathedral,’ enthuses Quartermain. ‘These will mainly involve our young ensembles, comprised of our incredibly gifted string players and pianists. On the SEN/D side, there are celebration events, music theatre performances and an exciting partnership with Encore Radio – a young digital station centred on musical theatre. We are becoming Encore's educational partners, focussing on autism and stage performance and what it can do to help young people with autism. On the outreach side, we'll have BBC Radio Three coverage of our core course students. It's a very busy schedule – hopefully we'll still be here in 50 years time!’
For more information about the 50th anniversary, as well as event listings for the concert series, please visit procorda50.com
