Music Education ProgrammeThe Pharos Trust’s music education programme, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture, involves a series of educational concerts for secondary school students and music teachers from public and private schools across the island. These events are organised during the day as a special event for students, in addition to the evening concerts.
The Pharos Trust first organised educational concerts in 2004 for students and music teachers in Nicosia and Paralimni – the first of its kind in Cyprus. The overwhelmingly positive feedback encouraged us to include educational activities permanently in our annual programme. Since then, more than 10000 students and 400 teachers have participated in these activities. We are grateful to all those world-class soloists and ensembles who have so graciously agreed to share their expertise and passion with the young people of Cyprus.
Objectives and philosophy
The objective of the programme is to encourage aesthetic development through musical activity. Our philosophy is that music enhances the quality of life and should be appreciated, learned and enjoyed for its intrinsic value. Music can also form part of a healthy lifestyle which acts as a counterpoint to self-destructive attitudes and habits. Through unique musical experiences, adolescents can develop an appreciation of music as a means non-verbal expression of feelings and thoughts, and can use this as a coping mechanism in everyday life.
Young people are the future of a country. We believe that investing in education and culture is an important aspect of the overall development of the life of a country and its people. An investment in education of the young in this field is therefore an investment in Cypriot society.
Further, one of the Pharos Trust’s aims is to contribute to dialogue across ethnic, religious or cultural boundaries, and we hope that our educational programme can contribute to this end by engaging young people from all Cypriot communities in cross-cultural communication, promoting mutual tolerance and respect. We sincerely hope that our project will help build bonds of trust and better understanding and help dissolve the prejudices that unfortunately still exist in many young people’s minds.
Programme
The Pharos Trust music education programme for 2007 included 13 educational concerts/workshops, with the same number of activities planned for 2006. We endeavour to be in a position to continue and expand the programme in the next few years.
Musicians/ensembles who participated in the 2005 programme:
1. Paavali Jumppanen, (piano) Finland: Four concerts on February 9 and February 10
2. The Fibonacci Sequence, UK: Two concerts on March 10
3. Skampa Quartet, Czech Republic: Two concerts on May 12
4. Peter Bruns, (cello) Germany& Roglit Ishay (piano) Israel:Two concerts on May 16
5. Florilegium, UK: Two concerts on May 26
6. Nash Ensemble, UK: Two concerts on November 4
7. Andrew Manze and The English Concert, UK: Two concerts on December 5
Musicians/ensembles who participated in the 2006 programme:
1.Trio Ondine, Denmark: Two concerts on January 20
2. Emma Kirkby and London Baroque, UK: Two concerts on February 3
3. Zehetmair Quartet, Germany: Two concerts on March 3
5. Ensemble Modern, Germany: Two concerts on May 19
6. Chilingirian Quartet, UK: Masterclasses for piano and violin on May 27
7. Naoki Kitaya Baroque Ensemble, International: Two concerts on October 23
8. Szymanowski String Quartet, Poland: Two concerts on December 14
Musicians/ensembles who participated in the 2007 programme:
1. Alex Chaushian, (cello), UK & Ashley Wass (piano), UK: One concert on January 24
2. Angelica Catahriou (mezzo soprano), Greece & Emmanuel Olivier (piano), France:
One concert on February 26
3. The Leipziq Quartet, Germany: One concert on March 19
4. 7th International Pharos Chamber Music Festival: Four concerts on June 4-5 at Kouklia
5. Altenberg Trio Wien, Austria: Two educational concerts on November 7
6. Lendvai String Trio, UK: Two concerts on December 13
Some Musicians/ensembles participating in the 2008 programme:
1. Margarita Elia (soprano) and Manolis Neophytou (piano) One concert on February 27
2. The Kopelman Quartet and pianist Elizaveta Kopelman Two concerts on March 13
3. Haroutune Bedelian (violin) and Lorna Griffitt (piano: One concert on April 164. 8th International Pharos Chamber Music Festival: Four concerts on June 3-4 at Kouklia
5. Vasilios Avraam (guitar): One concert in October
6. Paavali Jumppanen (piano): Two educational concerts on November 12
7. Daniel Levy (piano): ‘THE JOY OF MUSIC’A two hour event directed to young people.
8. Cleo Mitilineou (soprano) and Voula Avgouropoulo (piano): One concert on 26 November
The Pharos Trust 24 Demosthenis Severis, 1080, Nicosia, P.O. Box 21425, 1508 Nicosia, Cyprus T 357 22 663871 F 357 22 663538 E info@thepharostrust.org
