Scotch College Academy Strings in Concert - Ponte Stefano, Florence

Enjoy an inspiring free concert with the string orchestra from Scotch College in Australia! No tickets needed - just show up! The string orchestra from the all boys Scotch College in Melbourne, Australia, will perform a variety of pieces for string orchestra including pieces by Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Sibelius, Mendelssohn and Vivaldi. Acamemy Strings is the premier string ensemble of Scotch College, Melbourne, comprising the School’s most accomplished violinists, violists, cellists and double bassists. The ensemble is distinguished by the calibre of its players, the ambition of its repertoire and a strong tradition of artistic excellence. Its programs range from major works of the classical string repertoire to contemporary Australian and international compositions, demanding a high level of technical command, stylistic awareness and ensemble discipline. This particular group represents the next generation of Academy Strings musicians and reflects the exceptional depth of string playing at Scotch. Drawn from across the School, the ensemble includes outstanding young musicians, some as young as eleven, performing alongside senior students at an advanced level. Their participation reflects a carefully developed pathway in which exceptional musical potential is identified early, nurtured through specialist tuition and ensemble training, and challenged through repertoire of genuine artistic substance. Academy Strings members also perform within the Scotch Symphony Orchestra and have participated in international concert tours, appearing in major European cultural centres including Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest and Prague. These tours provide students with opportunities to perform internationally, engage with distinguished musicians and teachers, and experience some of the world’s great musical traditions first-hand. The ensemble performs regularly at significant Scotch College concerts and special events and collaborates with guest artists, visiting musicians and other leading school ensembles. Former Academy Strings musicians have progressed to major conservatoria and tertiary institutions in Australia and overseas. Alumni have received scholarships to prestigious institutions including the Royal Academy of Music in London, while others have established professional careers in orchestras and ensembles throughout the world, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Academy Strings seeks to cultivate not only exceptional individual musicianship, but the discipline, refinement, listening and collective responsibility required at the highest level of ensemble performance.