Supporting The Future
Educational development is a key aim of the Foundation to nurture new talent and bring the performing and visual arts to the next generation. Each year we seek supporters to help us ensure that Corfu maintains its historic and vibrant artistic tradition. We are delighted to have supported the following:
- Four students from the Ionian University to participate in a week’s masterclasses with the international soprano, Susan Bullock and tenor, Richard Berkeley Steele. These masterclasses were open to professional singers as well as a smaller number of promising undergraduate students.
- Free attendance for singing students from the Ionian University to observe these masterclasses.
- Support for a talented young flautist from the University to work with William Dowdall, the international flautist, followed by a concert supported by the Foundation and a week in Dublin to study with James Galway.
- Participation of a mezzo-soprano and Head of Vocal Studies at the Ionian University in the 8th Crear Malcolm Martineau Masterclass in UK. Also funding for the cost of her travel to the States to produce a special edition CD containing the songs of Napoleon Labelet, the Corfiot-born composer.
- Funding for a promising young Corfiot pianist to travel to Germany to study with the internationally acclaimed pianist Hideyo Harada.
- Funding for the restoration of the Steinway piano in the Ionian Academy.
- Training of 8 children from the St Spyridon Children’s and Youth Choir to appear in La Boheme.
- Funding for the St Spyridon Children’s and Youth Choir.
- Funding for the Charities Hamogelo and Melissa.
The First International Vocal Masterclasses in Corfu
We were delighted to welcome two great opera singers of international acclaim, Susan Bullock, soprano, and Richard Berkeley-Steele, tenor, to give a series of masterclasses in Corfu. These were attended by professional singers of some experience as well as a smaller number of promising undergraduate students from the Ionian University in Corfu and sponsored by the Corfu Arts Foundation.
The programme comprised individual lessons, as well as a common masterclass and the repertoire included opera, oratorio and lieder. All attendees received a certificate of participation. A final concert was given in the Ionian Academy by the students as well as by Susan Bullock and Richard Berkeley-Steele.
The quality of the teaching, the extraordinary improvement of the students during the week as evidenced in the final concert and the excellent response we had from both the students and the public have encouraged us to repeat the masterclasses soon.
