International Musicians Seminar

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International Musicians Seminar

The International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove is one of the premier short course seminars in the world.

IMS Prussia Cove nurtures and inspires world-class musicians, bringing together emerging artists and acclaimed performers from across the world to make music together in a remote part of Cornwall, UK. Founded by Hungarian violinist Sándor Végh, now under the Artistic Direction of cellist Steven Isserlis, with Sir András Schiff and Ralph Kirshbaum as artistic advisors. It offers musicians from all over the world the opportunity to participate in seminars which are unique in both their approach and environment. They attract maestri of world standing who encourage traditional values of musicianship and develop the artistic potential of tomorrow’s leading musicians.

09/09/2026

Free family concert! The Quartet Sounds. 17 Sept, 6pm-7pm at St John's Hall, Penzance.

Don't miss our free, hour-long performance which explores some miniature gems of chamber music, showcasing stand-alone works of the quartet repertoire.

The concert is part of our community outreach programme and will be presented by Patrick Bailey, featuring guest performers Penzance Junior Strings and Band of West Strings.

No need to book tickets, just come along. You can find more information on our website: https://www.i-m-s.org.uk/events/view/free-concert-the-quartet-sounds/

Penzance Orchestral Society Concerts Penzance Truro SinfoniaTruro and Penwith College Cornwall Concert Orchestra Cornwall Youth Choirs

28/08/2026

We're looking forward to our upcoming Autumn Tour, and especially visiting Wiltshire Music Centre for the first time on Friday 9 October, 7.30pm.

As ever, Artistic Director Steven Isserlis has handpicked the talented group of musicians and curated the programme of Saint-Saëns, Fauré,Dvorák and Edgar Meyer's Duet for Cello and Double Bass, with and . Tickets are onsale now, so book early to guarantee a spot.

Steven himself is also performing at Wiltshire Music Centre on 23 September.

For other tour dates, including performances at Wigmore Hall, Champs Hill Records, Minterne House please see our website for details.

Thanks to Kaupo Kikkas - visual artist for the photo of Will Duerden.

05/08/2026

As the Open Chamber Music seminar draws closer, we're thrilled that so many prestigious musicians are making the journey to the most westerly part of Cornwall to study, rehearse and perform chamber music with colleagues from around the world. As ever, our participants are truly international, with over 30 different nationalities represented.

The range of music being rehearsed is equally eclectic! We have over 60 different works being studied, from Arensky to Thomas Adès (who is also Composer in Residence during Week 3), Mozart to Mustonen, Brahms to Bartók.

Full repertoire and participant lists are all on our website; have a look!

Don't forget Friends of IMS are welcome to Prussia Cove to listen to rehearsals; and everyone is welcome to the public concerts each weekend! All details at www.i-m-s.org.uk

Thanks to Gabriel Mara Isserlis for the photo of Thomas Adès rehearsing at IMS last year.

Steven Isserlis fans

04/08/2026

Thanks Cornwall Living for highlighting our upcoming series of Autumn concerts taking place around West Penwith next month in the latest issue.

The concerts form part of our Open Chamber Music Seminar, which brings together distinguished professionals and outstanding younger musicians from around the world to work collaboratively in groups to explore gems of the chamber music repertoire.

These inspiring performances are renowned for their artistry, energy and musical excellence. It is an rare opportunity to hear musicians of this calibre perform in Cornwall.

Free tickets for Under25s. Tickets on sale now - and also available on the door. www.i-m-s.org.uk

Concerts Penzance Steven Isserlis St. Michael's Mount Chapel Street Music Trelowarren Cornwall Penzance Orchestral Society Penlee Cluster The Minack Theatre The Morrab Library
Photo by Antony Crolla.

30/07/2026

We're very excited about our Autumn Tour concert at West Road Concert Hall- it's never too early to get some dates in the diary! Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm

Steven Isserlis has picked a fabulous line-up of musicians performing a brilliant programme: from Edgar Meyer's blisteringly virtuosic duet for cello and double bass, which blends classical traditions with American bluegrass, to Fauré's soaring, magical Piano Quartet No.2.

Add in Saint-Saëns's sublime Piano Quintet and Dvorák's perennially irresistible String Quintet and you have a night to remember!

*Free ticket for Under25s*
Tickets are on sale now; all information on our website: www.i-m-s.org.uk

Charles Owen

Cambridge Summer Music Cambridgeshire Live University of Cambridge

27/07/2026

A reminder that all our Autumn concerts in Cornwall are now on sale.

Hear some inspirational chamber music from world-class musicians in venues including St. Michael's Mount Falmouth Parish Church King Charles the Martyr Trelowarren Cornwall Marazion Community Centre.

Under the Artistic Direction of Steven Isserlis, 120 musicians from around the world come to study at Prussia Cove each week, rehearsing an extensive chamber repertoire. They are placed in groups which bring together distinguished professionals and outstanding younger musicians, who work collaboratively to explore these works in depth. The result is a series of inspiring performances, renowned for their artistry, energy and musical excellence.

There are three concerts every weekend, from 18 September to 4 October. Full details on our website: www.i-m-s.org.uk/events Free tickets for Under25s.

Thanks to for the great photo rehearsing Brahms last autumn.

The Arts Society West Cornwall Penzance Events Penzance Orchestral Society Concerts Penzance Truro Cathedral Truro Sinfonia Truro Three Arts The Morrab Library Cornwall Music Network Cornwall Live

15/07/2026

We're pleased to announce our October Autumn Tour concerts are now on sale!

This year's tour features an exceptional line-up of chamber musicians, handpicked by Artistic Director Steven Isserlis: .

The tour starts in Truro, then takes in five venues across the south of England. We are delighted to revisit Minterne House in Dorset at the invitation of Guy Johnston, Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon for the first time, and to return to West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge, Champs Hill Records in West Sussex, and of course London's Wigmore Hall.

If you can't wait until October, you can hear Charlotte Spruit (pictured) perform as part of Cambridge Summer Music on Sunday! Thanks to Kaupo Kikkas - visual artist for the photo.

All IMS concert details and booking information is found on our website; www.i-m-s.org.uk

10/07/2026

📣 A reminder for Friends of IMS that the priority booking period opens today for concerts in the Open Chamber Music seminar this autumn.

There are concerts every weekend from 18 September to 4 October, in some wonderful venues including St. Michael's Mount chapel, Trelowarren chapel and local venues around west Penwith. These are always very popular, so do reserve your seats today.

As ever, the ensembles taking part in Open Chamber Music are put together so that a balance of young players from recent Masterclass seminars work together with more experienced and established musicians. Performers and programmes are announced nearer the time, but a full list of participating musicians can be found on our website: www.i-m-s.org.uk

Thanks to for the photo of a Fauré rehearsal with .candida .levy

Young Classical Artists Trust - YCAT Cornwall Concert Orchestra Cornwall Youth Choirs The Radford Charitable Trust The Morrab Library Penzance Events Penlee Park Open Air Theatre Penzance Orchestral Society Relubbus & St.Hilary Facebook Group Penlee Cluster Trelowarren Cornwall

06/07/2026

This weekend a group of young Cornish musicians have been working with musicians from IMS Prussia Cove in our thriving Outreach programme.

Over the weekend, the IMS musicians - Thomas Mathias, Clélia le Bret and our Outreach Consultant Tim Boulton - led a lively workshop and rehearsal with B.O.W.S (Band of West Strings) before coaching students on chamber music repertoire including Schumann's Piano Quartet and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet.

Today the group are visiting several local primary schools and giving whole-school concerts, with Patrick Bailey leading the lively, informative sessions.

Thank you to everyone taking part, and to our Funders for their invaluable support.
St Aubyn Foundation St. Michael's Mount Cornwall Community Foundation

28/04/2026

📌 It's never too early to get some dates in the diary!

We're delighted to announce the concert dates for the Open Chamber Music seminar this autumn. There are public performances every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the seminar - starting on 18 September.

The final concert in Cornwall is on Sunday 4 October which is the start of the Autumn Tour - featuring concerts in Dorset, Wiltshire Sussex, Cambridge and London.

Photo by Ali Zigeli.

More information on all concerts are on our website: www.i-m-s.org.uk

Charles Owen Francesco Dillon Adi Tal

Address

London
SE17LG

Telephone

+44 (0)207 7620 4405

Website

http://www.i-m-s.org.uk/

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