International project celebrates emerging classical talent

London, UK, 19 June, 2014 - The project “Emerging Classical Talent in the
EU” [ECT-EU], organised with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union, brings together 32 musicians from four partner countries, including Sweden, Estonia, Italy and Wales, with an aim to present outstanding emerging artists and composers to a wider audience and spread the word about the positive effects of music on the human brain.

A total of 15 concerts will be held during the 22nd Rapla Church Music Festival (EE) and the 40th Festival della Valle d'Itria (IT) in July, and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (UK), the Stockholm Musikaliska Concert Hall (SE) and in the churches of Kalmar County (SE) in October. The participating musicians will prepare programmes with exciting works of European composers, including three new commissions (Tina Andersson, Daniela Terranova and Mark David Boden).

The ECT-EU project also aims to raise awareness of the European Brain Council’s initiative "Year of the Brain" which draws attention to how music can effectively be used to retrain and re-educate the injured brain, and how the process of learning music changes the brains auditory and motor areas, which as a result grow larger and interact more efficiently.

Swedish Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth says: “I'm pleased that Swedish artists, together with musicians from different European countries, are part of an initiative that draws attention to the connection between music and health issues. The European Union has put forward new programs and greater resources to promote European cooperation within the arts and the creative sectors. This is essential to bring people from different European countries together and promote mutual understanding.”

Participating ensembles and soloists in the ECT-EU project include the string orchestra Camerata Nordica, the Swedish Wind Ensemble, Sinfonia Cymru, Pille Lill  (soprano), Andreas Lend (cello), Oksana Sinkova  (flute), Virgo Veldi (saxophone) and young singers from the "Rodolfo Celletti" Belcanto Academy: Amy Elizabeth Corkery (soprano), Angela Giovio (mezzo-soprano) and Joonas Antti Ilari Asikainen (baritone).

Leelo Lehtla, Project Manager, comments: "We hope these concerts will portray the creative atmosphere that is fostered by bringing so many musicians with different backgrounds together. Also, we are very committed to spreading the word about the importance of music for the development of the human brain ­ the research supporting these findings is remarkable."

The Coordinator of the project is the County Music Organisation of Kalmar (Kalmar Läns Musikstiftelse, SE) and the coorganisers are Pille Lill Music Fund (Muusikute täiendõppe keskus, EE), Sinfonia Cymru (UK), Paolo Grassi Foundation (Fondazione Paolo Grassi, IT) and Swedish Wind Ensemble (Stockholms Läns Blåsarsymfoniker, SE).

Kjell Lindström, General Manager of Camerata Nordica, says: "We are excited and proud to serve as Coordinator for this project. Our hope is that these concerts will showcase the exceptional classical talent that Europe has to offer and also set a positive example of the European Union as it funds projects of this nature in support of culture in its member states."

In addition to the three new commissions, the programmes feature rarely played pieces from Galina Grigorjeva, Nino Rota, Alban Berg, Pavel Haas, Erwin Schulhoff, Salvatore Sciarrino, Pehr Henrik Nordgren, John Fernström among others.

For more information please visit: www.classicalfestival.eu

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Notes to Editors

Concert Dates: Estonia, Rapla: 18 July, 2014 Estonia, Haapsalu: 19 July, 2014 Estonia, Tallinn: 20 July, 2014 Italy, Cisternino: 22 July, 2014 Italy, Martina Franca: 23 - 24 July, 2014 Wales, Cardiff: 4 - 6 October, 2014 Sweden, Stockholm: 8 - 10 October, 2014 Sweden, Lofta: 11 October, 2014 Sweden, Oskarshamn: 12 October, 2014 Sweden, Kalmar: 13 October, 2014

Project Manager & Media Contact in Estonia: Leelo Lehtla leelo@plmf.ee +37 256 484 244

Media Contact ROW: Karolina Davison karolina@fromswedenproductions.com +44(0) 7527 846 070