Sunday 19th November 2023 at 3.00pm in St Stephen’s Church
Ailsa Burns is a violinist from Leicestershire, who recently graduated with first class honours from her undergraduate degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, under the tutelage of Gina McCormack. As a soloist, she recently performed Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Fiddle Dance Suite’ at the RNCM, and enjoys bringing music by new and underrepresented composers to her solo recitals. In January, Ailsa performed as soloist and leader with the RNCM String Orchestra, and has previously enjoyed solo performances with orchestras in De Montfort Hall, Leicester, and with the Bardi Symphony Orchestra. As an orchestral player, Ailsa has taken part in side-by-side projects at the RNCM, leading the 2nd Violins alongside Chamber Orchestra of Europe members and also performing with the Manchester Camerata. Ailsa co-founded the musical collective, Nomad, who curate live music events bringing together classical music and other genres. She brings her love of folk music to the Manchester-based world fusion group K’in Ensemble. With these groups Ailsa has had the opportunity to play at Manchester International Festival and Bridgewater Hall. Alongside performing, Ailsa is passionate about music education and has been a Benedetti Foundation Ambassador since 2021. She plays on a Voller violin generously loaned to her by the Benslow Trust.
Nina Savicevic needs little introduction as she has enthralled the Inverness audience on two previous visits. On 25th February 2022 she played the last music event in the Old High Church before its doors were closed and on 12th February 2023 she performed a delightful eclectic programme in St Stephen’s Church. A prize winner of both national and international competitions, Nina is the recipient of the prestigious Wright Scholarship at the Royal Northern College of Music. In 2013 Nina was awarded a full scholarship to study under Hilary Coates at Wells Cathedral School, one of the UK’s specialist music schools. During her time at Wells, Nina gained success in various competitions, most notably winning first place at the Birmingham Piano Competition, first place in the piano category at Taunton Young Musician, and third place and Audience Prize at the Windsor International Piano Competition. She has competed in BBC Young Musician Competition and was a finalist at the Scottish International Youth Competition. Nina was also awarded the Robert Lewin Scholarship from Awards for Young Musicians which enabled her to work alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios.
Born in Exeter 2001 of Croatian-Serbian descent, Nina often performs across the UK and abroad, actively promoting Serbo-Croatian classical music. Her overseas engagements include concerts in Croatia, Serbia, France, Germany and Hungary. Currently studying for her Masters Degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, as well as performing Nina has an active teaching career. In April 2023 she was the founder and curator of the inaugural Topsham Music Festival which was a huge success with all events selling out. Nina is already preparing for the next Topsham Festival in April 2024.
PROGRAMME
Jessie Montgomery : Rhapsody No 1 for Solo Violin
Antonin Dvořák : Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major. Op. 57. B.106
Karol Szymanowski (arr. Paul Kochanski) : Zarzyjze, kuniu. No 9 from 12 Kurpian Songs
Béla Bartók : Six Romanian Folk Dances, Sz.56
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