A leader in music education
We inspire young people from all backgrounds to enjoy the many benefits of music-making as we work with individuals and schools to encourage creative thinking, build confidence and create career pathways.
String Academy
Our outstanding String Academy programme has impacted on the lives on many young musicians since its formation in 2000 and we are delighted that it has served as a pathway for former pupils to gain scholarships to the Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban, Charterhouse, and the Yehudi Menuhin School with many of our former members now in leading roles within the music industry.
The String Academy meets three times per term, usually in Sussex and is coached by professional musicians. Students benefit from very specialised tuition from some of the UK’s most highly regarded string players who are carefully matched to the needs of each student.
The Academy is open to young people aged 10-20 years old and from Grade 3 to Diploma Level standard. We have scholarship opportunities available to encourage participation from all backgrounds.
Opportunities for ”side by side” performances with some of the UK’s leading professional musicians are important for pupils and include performing in the Shipley Arts Festival, in London, in Edinburgh for corporate and charity occasions and for parents and friends. Confidence increases as students rise to the occasions, often meeting with famous people and industry leaders at these events.
String Academy pupils join the Summer School held at Yehudi Menuhin School alongside students from Trinity Sannyi Music Academy Exchange programme.
To find out more about String Academy, please contact Andrew Bernardi andrew@bernardimusicgroup.com who will be happy to discuss in further detail with you.
Trinity Sannyi Summer School
Our Trinity Sannyi Summer School takes place at the world renowned Yehudi Menuhin School near London, inviting young musicians from Asia to learn, play and perform with their peers from the UK and to receive tuition from world-leading musicians and tutors.
A unique music and cultural exchange programme, it gives students the opportunity to explore and experience the British musical scene while living and studying within a safe, creative healthy and stimulating environment.
The programme is for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano players and applications are welcomed from students aged between 9-20 years old and of Grade 4 standard to diploma level.
To find out more about the Trinity Sannyi Summer School, please contact Andrew Bernardi andrew@bernardimusicgroup.com who will be happy to discuss in further detail with you.
Schools
We take music into schools across Sussex and beyond, engaging with young people through workshops, masterclasses and concerts to break down the barriers between audiences and the concert platform and to encourage a lifelong love and appreciation for music.
Our recent work in schools includes the 2019 Arts Council England funded Dragons Project which invited over 300 children from seven local schools in Sussex to workshop and perform “Dragons” by Malcolm Singer alongside professional musicians, members of our String Academy and pupils from the Yehudi Menuhin School. Another memorable occasion took place in 2019 when we were able to invite children from a local Sussex school to perform at a concert with actor Julie Walters and author Julia Donaldson for a charity event.
We can tailor our workshops and events to the needs and ages of pupils with our main objective being to encourage pupils to listen, imagine, ask questions and to share their ideas about how music makes them feel.
To discuss how we could work with your school to enhance lives through music and bring benefits to pupils that inspire creativity, please contact Andrew Bernardi andrew@bernardimusicgroup.com

Alumni
Our education programmes provide unique pathways for young musicians and we are delighted that many past members of our String Academy have gone on to enjoy great successes including:
Will Duerden who was a finalist in BBC Young Musician 2018.
Claire Sainsbury who became manager of the Royal Opera House.
Fabio Sarlo who became manager of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ben Jenkins who became manager of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Other pupils have gained professorships at music colleges including Dan James and Victoria Greenwood both on staff at Junior Trinity Laban.
Please keep in touch and share your career moves with us to inspire others by contacting us at andrew@bernardimusicgroup.com