6 ECTS points – NO course fee

Master class leaders

Miriam Fried Biss Violin
Philippe  Graffin Violin
Thomas Riebl Viola
Marko Ylönen Cello
Håvard Gimse Piano
Per Nyström Chamber music

Aurora Chamber Music together with the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Musikakademi Vänersborg welcomes a group of  80 exceptional artists from all over the world to apply for the Aurora Master Classes in April-May 2011

In recent years, over 1200 amazing artists from 50 countries have participated during the now world famous Aurora festivals.

Master classes  - Chamber music –  Seminars
Relish the chance to perform in public and exchange creative ideas.
Take risks, inspire audiences, meet people and have fun.
Become an integral part of a performing arts community of which many of the world’s most important performers are also members.

We take pride in what we offer our participants so take time to read all of the information included in this document before you apply, so that you know what the Aurora Festival & Master Classes is all about.
Welcome!

Ola Larsson/General Manager and Per Nyström/Artistic Director

Important information

• Your submitted application is binding and you can not remove it with less than a signed medical certificate
• Last application day is February 15th
• The list of selected students will be sent to all applicants by e-mail at the latest March 15th
• The payment for your food and accommodation has to be oaid latest March 20 and cannot be refunded.
• Without any exceptions you have to be 100% present in Vänersborg between Tuesday April 26th. 14.00 and Monday May 2nd 22.00
• There will be no piano accompanists for the master classes
• Concerts and the seminar are obligatory for everyone.
• Write one A4 size paper reflection on the seminar subject, that subject/literature will be sent out to the selected students at the latest March 20th . This written reflection is to be handed over to the course administration before leaving Vänersborg May 2nd.

Master classes & Chamber music

• All participants will be offered at least 2 open individual master classes and at least 2 open chamber music lessons.
• Each participant is responsible for bringing his/her own solo and chamber music scores to Vänersborg. Bring a copy of each score for the use of the professor in the master classes/chamber music.
• There will be no piano accompanists for the master classes
• Groups and repertoire will be selected by the course management before arrival in Vänersborg so that participants have time to learn their parts for the chamber music.
• All participants will perform in front of the public, in master classes and concerts during the festival.
• You can apply as an established ensemble or suggest other selected participants to play chamber music with, please follow the instructions in the application form. Minimum 3 musicians in each ensemble

Accommodation

There is no course fee, however the participants pay for their own traveling costs and a small fee for Auroras administration of the accommodation which is SEK900.
For housing April 26th – May 3rd we have 3 offers for you:
1) Room at private host families April 26th – May 3rd for 900 SEK in total. (read more below)
2) Hotel room – Part in double room April 26th – May 3rd we offer you a price of 2600 SEK in total incl breakfast. http://www.strandhotell.com/ 5 min to course venue
3) Hotel room – singleroom April 26th – May 3rd we offer you a price of 3950 SEK in total incl breakfast. http://www.strandhotell.com/ 5 min to course venue
These 3 deals on accommodation only applies to bookings of all 7 nights 26th – May 3rd . The reservation has to be prepaid byMarch 20^th and cannot be refunded. If you wish some extra nights before or after the period please follow the instructions in the application form

Important!

It is important for you to know, that the fee of SEK900.- is a symbolic fee that you pay to Aurora (not to the host-families) , who is administrating the accommodation options for you. The host-families are doing this on a volunteer basis and they and their families receive free-tickets to the festival concerts as a compensation and gesture of gratitude from Aurora. This accommodation option is just an offer from Aurora/the host-families, and of course free of choice. You can choose not to take any of our accommodation offers, and organize your own accommodation, then you pay of course no fee of SEK900.-.

Auroras different offers gives you, even with the fee of 900 SEK included, a discount of around 30-40% off!!

Instructions for accommodation at private host families

April 26th – May 3rd
We are very pleased to be able to offer all participants private and cheap accommodation at so many nice host families in Vänersborg. Important instructions if you want to take advantage of this offer.

1.  Accommodation can be a bit outside Vänersborg. You must then organize and pay for your travel by bus to and from Vänersborg every day.
2.  You must follow the host family’s rules and show respect for their daily routines. Keep your room and bathroom clean and tidy every day.
3.  You must arrange your own breakfast. If the host family provides breakfast, be sure to offer payment for it.
4. You have to bring your own bed sheets or sleeping bag and towels

Food card

You can buy our special ”Food card” for the course. That includes 10 hot meals (lunch and dinner). The meals are of basic and good standard including salad, drink, bread and coffee. There will also be vegetarian alternatives. The Food card costs 800 SEK. The restaurant is located in the same building as the course so it’s very convenient. The Food card has to be prepaid by March 20th and cannot be refunded. This is just an offer from Aurora, and of course free of choice

Studying credits

The course is worth 6 studying credit points (ECTS) 6 weeks of fulltime studies in the form of self-study / preparation during weeks 12-16 and in the form of an intensive course week 17. We publisch the repertoire for the chamber music 15/3. You have to participate in all lessons/rehearsals/concerts/seminars during the period of April 26th – May 2nd

Where?

Vänersborg is a town located 80 km north east of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Read more about Vänersborg and see map
here

The easiest connection to Vänersborg is trough Gothenburg. From both airports in Gothenburg you find Airport busses going to the Central train station (around 30min). From Gothenburg central train station you take a regional train going every hour to Vänersborg and the tickets for that doesn’t have to be booked in advance, just buy them when you arrive to the station. The train takes around 60 min to Vänersborg and costs around 70 SEK.

It’s also possible to take trains from Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo directly to Trollhättan but that normally takes a bit longer time and have to be booked in advance.
Information about all the trains in English

Application

Please read all the information in this description as well as in the application form before applying. You have to apply at latest February 15th by sending the online application.

1. All applicants should have the basic qualifications needed for high school studies. You should document your advanced skills in your application.

2. It is optional to include a recording with the application. We are happy to listen to them.
If so, you must submit it before 15 February as an MP3 file. follow the instructions carefully in the registration form.

3. The selection of students for this course will be based upon musical skills, education and experience to create balanced chamber music ensembles and national dissemination

The number of places is limited. We will send all applicants the list of selected students at the latest Mars 15th.

Badge

All  participants receive an Aurora Festival badge. This allows free access to the Festival concerts

Practice rooms

We have many practice rooms and pianos that can be reserved at course venue.

Contact

Ola Larsson General Manager – Aurora Chamber Music. Ph+46 (0) 70 654 12 50.
Per Nyström, Artistic Director – Aurora Chamber Music. Ph +46 (0) 708 19 43 47