EYESHENZHEN  /   Art

Music students invited into Clara Schumann’s world

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Doria Nan  | From: Shenzhen Daily | Updated: 2019-03-27

Now in the third year since its launch, Shenzhen Poly Theater’s music summer camp is dealing with more mature subject matter and will enlist choir trainees in addition to string players.

Trainees during a learning session at last year’s strings summer camp. Photo by courtesy of Poly Theater

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Clara Schumann’s birth, who was herself a prominent composer and concert pianist of the Romantic era — besides her better-known identity to the public as the wife of composer Robert Schumann and the romantic interest of Johannes Brahms. She was the mother of eight children, one of whom died as an infant and another suffered from mental illness and was committed to an asylum. She was a firm supporter of her husband, promoting his works. She also championed the works of other contemporaries including Brahms, Chopin, and Mendelssohn.

“I’ve always ‘met’ this great woman while learning to play the works of Schumann and Brahms as a child,” said violinist Lin Haoli, a doctoral student with the Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati and music director of the summer camp.

“Last year, I signed up for a course focusing on women musicians and took the chance to do a lot of research on Clara Schumann. Her passion for music, devotion to her husband and family, and persistence during hard times inspired me.”

That has given Lin the inspiration for a concert to present Clara’s life in the form of music.

At a concert that closes the weeklong summer camp, Lin and his friends from the New World Chamber Players will present works by the Schumann’s, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt as well as violinist Joseph Joachim, a friend and long-time collaborator of Clara.

Trainees at the camp will perform alongside the musicians, who are studying or have graduated from prestigious music colleges in Europe and the United States. The trainees will also play two pieces by themselves.

During the camp that runs from July 19 to 25, one-on-one instruction will be combined with group study, both in rehearsals by section and rehearsals with the whole chamber orchestra. Each strings trainee will be given at least three one-on-one sessions, which can be taught in English if the trainee opts to.

There will also be mini-concerts and lectures for the 80 trainees and their parents on various topics, such as how to balance one’s workload between musical practice and general school curriculum.

Tutor Yang Fan, a violist with a doctorate degree from the Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, said this year’s curriculum adds more time for rehearsing with the tutors and will be more fun for the learners.

“Music is not just about skills, it’s more about human feelings presented by the music and the stories behind each note,” Lin said. He said he hopes the summer camp will help trainees find their passion for music.

“Learning a form of art brings children joy and helps them grow up healthily,” said Zeng Ruoming, general manager of Shenzhen Poly Theater. “Music can give people an emotional outlet in tough times and can be their loyal friend for life.”

Those who are above age 4 and have taken regular classes in strings for at least half a year and those above 6 who love singing can apply. Candidate trainees are required to submit a short video of their musical practice to szblyjzx@163.com.