For the first time a 12 days master class will be held at Château de Promenois in Burgundy attended by 16 youngsters from the orchestra of the music school of Gjakova. Main input will come from the experienced Cello Soloist and professor Niels Ullner  and the singer professor Hanna Hjort, both from Denmark, supported by Pellumb Vula and Ljejlja Bekjiri and Adhurim Grezda as teacher for winds and vocals respectively. The master class is organized and hosted by D. and G. Fankhauser as main sponsors. Talks to the Municipality of Gjakova and others for complementary support are on-going.

We are grateful to the Swiss Embassy for taking care of all cost for the necessary visa.

The first week will focus on rehearsals with the orchestra and the vocals. This retreat for intensive rehearsals compliments the work Pellumb Vula is doing for four years now with the orchestra. The program includes a public concert in the city of Arnay-le-Duc and one to finish the master class at Château de Promenois. Most participants will profit from this last additional input to their formation before they enter the music academy in Pristina after the summer.

The second week is dedicated to beautiful Albanian, Kosovar and other folk music and songs including an open air concert in nearby place called Clomot. There will time to explore the rich cultural heritage of Burgundy, Romanic churches, cities of Beaune, Dijon etc.

The music program prepared during the stay in Burgundy will be also presented in concerts in Prishtina and Gjakova in September.

Everybody is looking forward to an enchanted summertime within this group of gifted musicians surrounded by beautiful nature and in a stimulating setting.

Dorothea Fankhauser

Masterclass 2014 with cello professor Nils Ullner at Château de Promenois