Category Archives: News

News

ESTA UK and 88 Education

Posted on by Stephen Bingham

ESTA UK appoints 88 Education as Exclusive Partner for Mainland China

We are delighted to announce the appointment of 88 Education as our exclusive partner in mainland China, marking an exciting new chapter in international collaboration between the UK and Chinese music education communities.

Through this partnership, 88 Education will work closely with ESTA UK and ESTA UK’s Director of Music for China & South-East Asia to promote ESTA UK’s accredited professional development programmes — including the Certificate for Music Educators (CME), Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert), and MA in Practical Teaching — validated by the University of Chichester.

The agreement establishes 88 Education as ESTA UK’s sole official partner in mainland China, supporting student recruitment, teacher training, and the development of innovative cross-cultural projects, masterclasses, and professional exchanges. During the three-year appointment, 88 Education will also hold Gold Corporate Membership status with ESTA UK, recognising their contribution to strengthening international links and professional opportunities for string educators.

Philip Aird, Chief Executive of ESTA UK, commented:
“We are thrilled to be working with 88 Education to extend ESTA’s reach across China. This partnership brings together shared values of educational excellence, collaboration, and community — helping to connect teachers and students through world-class training and professional support.”

Linna Hardwick, CEO of 88 Education, Academic Director of ESTA in mainland China added:
“It is an honour to partner exclusively with ESTA UK. Together we will provide Chinese students and educators with access to internationally recognised qualifications, creative exchange opportunities, and a global professional network.”

This new collaboration reinforces ESTA UK’s commitment to supporting music teachers worldwide and to building sustainable pathways for international study, professional growth, and artistic collaboration.

News

Face to face teaching

Posted on by Stephen Bingham

A return to face to face teaching in the new COVID world: help and guidelines

Bulletin No 1
6th July 2020

European String Teacher’s Association (UK Branch) understands the magnitude of the current and ongoing situation for its members working in the state and private sector. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on all aspects of our lives, be it health, education, financial pokies online australia payid security or mental well-being.  There are signs of a possible return to normal life in the near future, however the need for caution and careful planning has never been more important.

The return to face to face teaching is in our estimation some way off yet. The advice as to when and how this should be requires clear guidance. If you work for a music service, local authority or school then it is important to carefully adhere to the guidance and instructions issued by that organisation.

If you teach privately and/or are planning in future to return to face to face teaching, it is imperative that you follow the government guidelines and undertake a risk assessment.  This is vital for the safety and well-being of all parties and for your ESTA public liability cover to be valid.

In Brief:

  1. What is Government advice?
  • The latest guidance for private teachers from the government can be found here. One to one and group teaching. Please be aware that this advice and guidance may change. We strongly advise members to regularly visit the government site for updates. 
  1. ESTA’s recommendations
  • At the time of writing ESTA believes that return to face to face teaching is too early.
  • Schools may take individual positions on the return dates, but ESTA is sensitive to the need not to give blanket advice – the Leicester return to lockdown highlights the impossibility of such advice.
  • Looking forward – ESTA members should prepare a risk assessment for teaching at home/students’ home
  1. Am I insured?
  • If a member is sued by a student alleging that their negligent actions caused them to catch Covid-19 then cover would apply unless the member was deliberately and wilfully flouting any relevant legislation. (Hencilla Canworth – 19th June 2020)

ESTA will continue to monitor and advise on the situation. In the meantime, we are collecting some sample risk assessment forms for private teaching to help you formulate your own risk assessment, tailored to your personal circumstances, be it in your own home, pupils’ home or other establishment.

 

News, Obituaries

David Angel

Posted on by Stephen Bingham
David Angel

We were shocked to hear of the sudden death, on April 10th, of David Angel – 2nd violin of the Maggini Quartet. His quartet colleagues, Julian, Martin and Michal write:

“David Angel sadly died on the evening of Monday 10th April, unexpectedly, of a presumed heart attack, on a Maggini Quartet course in Oxford. He died doing what he loved and excelled at – playing, sharing and teaching his total passion for music. A human and musical giant for all who knew him and were fortunate enough to work with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his many colleagues.”

David Angel

David Angel was a founder pupil of the Yehudi Menuhin School, where he studied with Yehudi Menuhin, Frederick Grinke, Jacqueline Salomons and Nadia Boulanger. In 1971 he won an Associated Board Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, continuing his studies with Frederick Grinke and receiving chamber music coaching from Sidney Griller, winning prizes for both solo and chamber music. He was a co-founder of the Maggini Quartet in 1988.

David’s solo playing has received acclaim, winning high praise in The Times for performances of Bach’s Chaconne and E major Concerto with the London Contemporary Dance, and in the Financial Times in 1988 for a performance at the Almeida Festival. He played ‘Autumn’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on many occasions, notably at the Barbican with the London Mozart Players, and was also a soloist with London Musici.

Co-leader of the second violin section of the London Mozart Players, he led the second violins of many of the leading London chamber orchestras including London Chamber Orchestra, London Musici, Orchestra of St. John’s and Sinfonia 21.

David had a long-standing duo with pianist David Elwin, with collaborations including their maiden tour of Japan in 2007. He was also in great demand as an ensemble player, working with Divertimenti, ‘Jeux’, Capricorn and the Prometheus Ensemble.

He was an ARAM and in demand as a teacher and chamber music coach; in autumn 1993 he was appointed Professor of quartet playing at Birmingham Conservatoire. He was also an Honorary Fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University and Brunel University.

More about David can be found at www.maggini.net

News

Composed

Posted on by Stephen Bingham

John Beder
John Beder

John Beder, producer of a new film documentary about performance anxiety, is looking for screening venues in the UK in April and May. You can contact him via the film’s website, or you might like to attend one of the screenings which has already been scheduled:

“The film explores what without exception all of us, performers, have experienced and known well – first, love for our craft and stage, and then performance anxiety at the other end of this beautiful and exciting spectrum. Congratulations to the director John Beder and his team for completing this project and for inviting all of us to a meaningful and necessary conversation.”

Christoph Eschenbach

 

News, Obituaries

William Roskelly (1919 – 2017)

Posted on by Stephen Bingham
William Roskelly

We were saddened to hear of the death of cellist and teacher William “Bill” Roskelly on 24th February, aged 97.

William Roskelly

William – known to all his friends as Bill – began cello lessons at the age of 7 and won a scholarship to the RCM in 1928, aged 19. However his studies were interrupted in 1940 when he signed up with the RAF Volunteer Reserve along with many of his classmates. Bill was posted to 217 Squadron at RAF St Eval in Cornwall, part of Coastal Command.  His active service took him to the Shetland Islands, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Rhodesia, South Africa and finally to Ceylon. Only 3% of this sqadron made it through two tours of operations and so Bill was immensely lucky to survive 6 years of service as a gunner/navigator and then as a pilot – despite several crashes!

 

Bill resumed his studies in 1946 and, needing to have financial stability, he abandoned his plans to become a soloist and instead managed to secure a position wit the LSO, and also played with the Royal Opera House orchestra – a punishing schedule. In 1953 he took a sabbatical year in order to further his cello studies under Pablo Casals in France, and after 10 years with the LSO – and with a young family to provide for – Bill decided to turn to teaching.

 

After initially working in Staffordshire he accepted a position as Music Advisor in the London Borough of Newham, a post he held until 1984, when he performed the slow movement of the Elgar Concerto to mark his retirement. In 2015 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from ESTA.

 

We will be printing a more detailed article about Bill’s fascinating life in the June edition of Arco.