THE YORKE TRUST

Developing high quality music education in the community...

Welcome to the Yorke Trust!

Music can make an enormous contribution to a happy life. It is something which should be available to all young people, above all to those who have musical talent which might otherwise remain unfulfilled.

Our aim at the Yorke Trust is to provide opportunities for students and children from all walks of life to study and to perform in the un-pressurised atmosphere of the North Norfolk countryside, away from the competitive environment of university and school. We have been doing this to the highest possible standards since the foundation of the Trust in 1984, and we have been doing it virtually free of charge.

Our work began with the Yorke Mini-Bass Project, an innovative scheme to enable children to play the double bass, for which we received generous funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Acquisition of premises in Norfolk enabled us to broaden our horizons and focus on singing as well as providing facilities for instrumental courses and workshops for children.
Trustees invite you to join them in planning for the future and help continue this valuable work in the years ahead. You can do this in a number of ways: by coming to events; by making a donation or by remembering us when making your will.

Thank you for your support!

- Rodney Slatford, OBE

Yorke Trust Benefit Tea Concerts 2023
The second series of concerts in support of young musicians who have been unable to perform to live audiences because of the pandemic.

With the profession in unprecedented turmoil, aspiring young musicians are in desperate need of encouragement. This second series of benefit concerts takes place against an uncertain background and is supported by generous private sponsorship and also some seasoned professionals giving their services for which Trustees are extremely grateful.

Founded in 1984 the Trust’s first project was to develop an innovative scheme The Yorke Mini-Bass Project to enable children to take up the double bass using specially designed equipment suitable for small people. On the eve of the Trust’s fortieth anniversary we are proud to present some highly talented young bassists who, forty years ago, would not have had the opportunity to take up the instrument before their teens.

I am personally grateful to Geoff Parkin of ROSL, Alison Cox from the Purcell School, Caroline Emery from the Menuhin School and Carys Barnes at the Royal Academy of Music for helping me devise this series which will be continued in the autumn.

Rodney Slatford OBE, Founding Chairman

Sunday 21 May
Double Double Basses!
Levi Andreassen & Nathan Perry (double basses) with Ignacy Stefanowicz & Yume Zamponi (violins) and Edward Leung (piano)
Menuhin School bassists trained by Caroline Emery are joined by two Menuhin School violinists in an entertaining programme including fireworks by the 19th century virtuoso Giovanni Bottesini, two tangos Balvanera and La feria de San Telmo by Andrés Martín, Gareth Wood’s Duo, and Edgar Meyer’s Concert Duo for violin & double bass. Nathan Perry began playing aged eight in the mini-bass programme at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Levi Andreassen is from USA and both bassists have scholarships to the RCM from September. They are semi-finalists in the forthcoming International Society of Bassists competition at the University of Michigan in June, Nathan being the youngest competitor in the event.

Sunday 4 June
A recital by Carys Barnes (viola) with pianist Jennifer Carter
Carys Barnes has visited South Creake for the last ten years on National Strings Courses. She performs a recital of hidden gems of 20th-century British viola repertoire, including music by William Alwyn, Cyril Scott and William Reed. This performance is dedicated to the memory of Heidi Butler who hosted numerous students for the Trust over a long period.

Friday 23 June – please note the date and time 19:00!
Purcell School Impulse Outreach Team
Alison Cox OBE, Head of Composition at The Purcell School and Founding Chairman of The Commonwealth Resounds, brings another group of talented young students to work in schools during their brief but hectic annual visit to Norfolk. Working from the Yorke Trust’s Old Norwich Arms and Old Chapel, their popular programmes are always special.

Sunday 2 July
The Iseult Ensemble formed whilst studying at Royal Academy of Music, performs a varied program with string quartets from Mendelssohn to Caroline Shaw.

Sunday 16 July
A piano recital by Sam Bishop
Sam is from Suffolk studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in his second year. His grandmother lives in Heacham and had a holiday home in South Creake! His programme includes a classical sonata by either Beethoven or Schubert and Cecile Chaminade’s beautiful Automne. There are also items with viola by Rebecca Clarke.

Sunday 30 July
A concert featuring three young prize-winners from New Zealand, given in association with the Royal Over-Seas League. Details to be advised. Geoff Parkin, Artistic Director at ROSL is kindly supporting this event which will also give the over-seas visitors a chance to see some of the wonderful local countryside. Whilst Norfolk has fewer sheep than New Zealand, we hope to make the young musicians feel at home! This concert is dedicated to the memory of Beth Wilson, a New Zealander and founding trustee of the Yorke Trust who is sadly missed.

With many thanks for those who have generously supported this series financially.

All concerts begin at 15:00 and are in The Old Chapel, Burnham Road, South Creake, NR21 9JF
Tickets £12.00 from 01328 738482, Text 07899 771366 or email to carol.jennings2@btinternet.com.
Light refreshments will be available at all events.
All programmes subject to change. Please check with the Yorke Trust website.

The Yorke Trust launches a new Friends scheme!

Our aim at the Yorke Trust is to provide opportunities for students and children from all walks of life to study and to perform in the un-pressurised atmosphere of the North Norfolk countryside, away from the competitive environment of university and school. We have been doing this since 1984 and we have been doing it virtually free of charge.
Trustees invite you to join them in helping to continue this valuable work in the years ahead.

By becoming a Friend of The Yorke Trust, you join a group of supporters whose generosity provides a regular income to help us fulfil our aims.

For more information, visit our "Become a Friend" page on the website or download the Friends Application Form which has all the information you need.

The Yorke Trust | UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 1158927 | Phone: +44 1328 823501