Between December 6 and 9, the Clarinet Class of the National Academy of Advanced Orchestral Studies (ANSO) took part in a “Blended Intensive Programme” (BIP) supported by the ERASMUS+ programme, which took place at the Fontys Academy of the Arts Conservatory in the city of Tilburg (Netherlands) and was part of the European Clarinet Congress.
Metropolitana spoke to Professor Nuno Silva about the experience:
How did the opportunity arise for the Clarinet Class to take part in this Blended Intensive Programme in the Netherlands?
This BIP was the basis for organising the 12th European Clarinet Congress. As part of this, its artistic director invited around 10 clarinet classes from all over Europe to take part in the event. It was a great honour for me and the ANSO to be among the invited classes and to be able to take part in such a prestigious event.
What is your assessment of the Ensemble’s participation?
The ANSO students didn’t participate as an Ensemble, but as individuals. Although they were representing the ANSO, the students took part in concerts where they performed solo and with the piano and had masterclasses with various teachers. The performance of our students was praised by all the teachers they had lessons with and student David Silva won the audition to take part in the masterclass with Martin Fröst, for which there were only 2 places out of more than 100 students taking part.
I also gave a lecture and masterclasses to students from the other participating classes and, as a result of these classes, there are now several students interested in coming to study at the ANSO.
Would you recommend that students participate in programmes supported by the ERASMUS+ initiative?
ERASMUS is a programme that allows teachers and students to move around the various higher education institutions at European level, and as such it is a very useful tool, especially for a peripheral country like Portugal. Through this programme, our students can get to know the best that is practised abroad without having to worry about travel and accommodation costs. It’s undoubtedly a very good programme and one that I highly recommend to my students.
Find out more about the ERASMUS+ programme HERE.