32nd International ESTA Conference in Rotterdam, NL, August 16th – 21st 2004
The conference took place in several available halls within the Doelen Concert Hall building, home of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and the Music School. It is situated in the city centre, which was rebuilt after the war. The waterfront and the port could only be seen from outside of the Conference campus or from our hotels. A reception hosted by the Mayor in the Town Hall was a social highlight, demonstrating that politics here are taking notice of music education. The programme brochure, doubling as the ESTA Netherlands journal, was of a remarkable graphic design. New Dutch music was introduced in many of the concerts, including the results of a competition in composing Caprices for solo violin. Some crossover performances were heard for the first time. Each day of the Conference began with chamber music played by pupils from the Hellendaal Music School.
Presentations included:
Lectures:
| Leo Samama, NL | An introduction to Dutch music |
| Peter Leerdam Jules Kirch, NL |
Double bass presentation |
| Dorothée Wortelboer, NL | Baroque dance |
| Ilona Sie Dhian Ho, NL | Learning to practise meaningfully |
| Ivan Straus, CR | Violin masterclass |
| Antoine Frendo, Malta | Music in Malta |
| Anders Groen, DK | Alexander Technique and tone production on the cello in Bach |
| Jaap ter Linden, NL | Cello masterclass |
| Jaap Bolink, NL | Violin-making in Holland |
| Marianne Vrijland Anne van Laar, NL |
The Suzuki method for cellists |
| Miroslav Lawrynowicz, PL | The Paganini Caprices and their significance in teaching |
| Els Knaven-Rats, NL | Tension and relaxation in cello playing |
| Salome Janner, CH | “Music for trees and flowers” – a viola project in the Basel botanical gardens |
| Coosje Wijzenbeek, NL | “A look into my cooking pots” |
| Merit Palas, FIN | Interpretative gestures in Bach’s solo sonatas |
| Martin van der Linden, NL | The violin in Argentinian Tango |
| Ludmilla Volkova, Ru | Teaching in the Volga region |
| Katja Mervola, GB | Interdisciplinary projects at the Guildhall School |
| William Lovell, GB | Grade exams (stages of teaching) |
The ‘ESTA Students of the Year’ were Swiss double bassist Thierry Rogen and Polish violinist Wojciek Plawner.
At the Delegates’ meeting, after the usual agenda items (finance, organisation, etc.) had been dealt with: Kjell-Åke Hamrén (Sweden) was elected as Vice-President to succeed Elspeth Iliff (UK). Peter Esswood (UK) was elected as a new member of Central Board. After a break, ESTA Belgium was reinstated, with Mark Lambrecht as President. There is an intention to admit ESTA Israel. A representative of the Association of European Conservatoires and Music Colleges expressed the wish for closer co-operation with ESTA. Barbara Stroebel-Brack (D) reported on the sittings of the NGOs at the Council of Europe.
