About the NCMC course
The National Chamber Music Course, now in its 29th year, is a week long residential course for string players aged 10 to 18 years who have attained a standard of grade 5 or above.
The course is unique in its accent on all-round musicianship and personality. Its aim is to develop
both playing technique and ensemble skills through the medium of chamber music. To achieve
this there is a high ratio of teachers to students.
Each student's day includes working in two chamber groups, predominantly string quartets, rehearsing with orchestra and choir and taking part in instrumental workshops. As a
compliment to this basic programme, there are regular sessions that give students a broader opportunity for self-expression. These may feature drama, movement, improvisation or another musical activity.
Daily concerts are given by tutors or students. Students may bring a prepared solo. The course reaches its climax with a day devoted to concerts, to which all parents are invited.
More Music… The music continues long after the day's chamber and orchestral coaching have finished. Students can further their playing experience in a relaxed and informal atmosphere after supper. Every evening there is the opportunity to join tutors in instrumental groups to play through repertoire by composers ranging from Bach to Britten. A small group meets in a separate hall on most evenings to sing madrigals, part songs and other small-scale choral works.
History of NCMC
The National Chamber Music Course was the inspiration of Elisabeth Waterhouse and grew out of her lifelong passion for chamber music. In 1976 Elisabeth, pianist ,violist, teacher of Alexander Technique and a leading teacher of Suzuki violin, with her husband the bassoonist William Waterhouse started a small music camp.
Within a few years this had developed into the present course for up to 64 young musicians of grade 5 standard and above. Elisabeth continues to take a guiding interest in the running of NCMC and her son Graham and daughter Celia remain actively involved.
Previous NCMC tutors have included:
Frances Angell, Gordon Back, Tim Boulton, Ruth Butie, Filomena Cerrpus, Ron Colyer, Dona Lee Croft, Paul Cox, Carolyn Davies, Sue Dorev, Simon Fischer, David Fruhwirth, Ruth Furne, Leonie Gershon, Nancy Green, Sue Harris, Hela Hartund, Colin Howard, Carolyn, Joe and Yasuo Ichnose, Steven Isserlis, Erika Klemperer, Boris Kucharsky, Sophie Langdon, Felicity Lipman, Rhuna Martin, Richard May, Margaret Moncrieff, Marianne Olyer, Simon Over, Isidor Saslav, Jan Schmolck, Francis Shaw, Richard Shaw, Susanna Stanzeleit, Amanda Stirling, Lizzie Stone, Jonathan Stone, Celia, Graham, Lucy and William Waterhouse, David Waterman and many others.