Ehnes joins Royal Academy of Music as visiting professor

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This article was published 12/04/2017 (3421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s own internationally renowned violinist, James Ehnes, has achieved yet another personal and professional milestone after joining London’s Royal Academy of Music as a visiting professor of violin.

Ehnes’s relationship with the renowned music school goes back a number of years, he said, adding he visits often and has given master classes, lectures and private coaching to students in the past.

“(My relationship with London’s Royal Academy of Music) sort of, very naturally, turned into a really nice and really friendly relationship, so I was very honoured when they contacted me about making it somewhat official. I’m certainly very pleased to be officially associated with them this way.”

Being able to go back to London on a regular basis allows Ehnes to build relationships with students and keep track of their progress, he said, and opens up opportunities with the music school.

“I am looking forward to continuing some of the relationships with the students that I have and building new ones. There’s also some nice plans in place of performing with the academy and working together on some upcoming, high profile projects so that will be exciting,” Ehnes said.

Stepping into the role of a professor also developed naturally over time, Ehnes said, attributing his experience as a guest professor at Brandon University as helping shape that.

“There’s a lot that can be learned in this business through experience, and I don’t think of myself as an old man, but I’ve been doing this for a while,” Ehnes laughed. “I do have experience and things that I’ve thought on, worked on and hopefully figured out that I can help upcoming players with. I enjoy it — the process of trying to help someone with their playing helps me with my playing.”

Teaching music has a way of transcending distance, Ehnes said, adding that teaching at BU and London’s Royal Academy of Music are similar in a lot of ways.

“Music is an international language, and it’s not just of language itself but also how to talk about music and think about music — really the process is pretty similar no matter where you are,” Ehnes said. “Even when I’ve been in places working with students where there are language barriers, it’s not a big deal. Somehow instrumentalists figuring out the way they play becomes sort of this shared vocabulary. It’s always interesting, always challenging and thought provoking.”

The Canadian music scene is respected world-wide, Ehnes said, adding that he is proud to be able to be part of that.

However, London’s Royal Academy of Music has been teaching musicians for almost 200 years, something Ehnes said, as a Manitoban, is especially impressive.

“The history of the school is very long and illustrious,” Ehnes said. “When you’re there, it’s a very vibrant, living institution filled with exciting young people making their way in the musical world. But sometimes if the hallways are empty you think of the history of that building, and (German composer) Felix Mendelssohn walking down the hall, it gives you perspective, especially being from a province that’s less than 150 years old. That has some resonance.”

Ehnes will begin his role as visiting professor with a master class on June 15.

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