The Yehudi Menuhin School
The Yehudi Menuhin School
Org 1: The Society of Heads
Stoke d’Abernon, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3QQ
Telephone: 01932 864739
Age Range: Prep/Junior to 11, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Weekly Boarding, Full Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: A Level, AS Level, GCSE, IGCSE
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award
The Yehudi Menuhin School was founded in 1963 by Lord Menuhin and is situated in beautiful grounds in the Surrey countryside, close to London and within easy reach of both Gatwick and Heathrow.
The School provides specialist music tuition in stringed instruments, piano and classical guitar for approximately 90 musically gifted boys and girls aged up to 19 and aims to enable them to pursue their love of music, develop their musical potential and achieve standards of performance at the highest level. The School also provides a broad education within a relaxed open community in which each individual can fully develop intellectual, artistic and social skills. We are proud that our pupils develop into dedicated and excellent musicians who will use their music to inspire and enrich the lives of others and into friendly, thinking individuals well equipped to contribute fully to the international community.
Music. YMS offers principal study in violin, viola, cello, double bass, classical guitar, harp, piano and composition. Lesson allocations and provisions are carefully tailored to the needs of the individual, and focus is placed on encouraging the pupils’ artistic and social development through a diverse and holistic range of musical activities. Chamber music, in particular, is considered central to the pupils’ education, and every child will be regularly included in ensemble playing during their time at YMS. The majority of pupils at YMS have a supporting study, and all non first-study pianists study the piano. Lessons are also available in harpsichord, conducting, singing, music technology and jazz, whilst all pupils will be required to study composition as part of their course work. Pupils are frequently given opportunities to perform, whether in internal lunchtime concerts, public-facing recitals onsite, or via a wide-array of external engagements. Of particular benefit are the platforms provided for pupils to perform in chamber music settings alongside members of the music faculty and visiting artists, thus ensuring they develop their experience of working alongside world-class musicians at a young age.
The School holds termly assessments, each of which have different criteria designed to monitor pupil progress across all aspects of their artistic and technical development.
Academic Studies and Sport. The curriculum is designed to be balanced and to do full justice to both the musical and the general education of each pupil. Academic studies including the understanding of art, literature and science are considered vital to the development of creative, intelligent and sensitive musicians. All classes are small with excellent opportunities for individual attention, and as a result GCSE and A Level examination grades are high. To broaden their artistic and creative talents, all pupils work in a wide variety of artistic media including painting, ceramics and textiles. Pupils from overseas with limited English receive an intensive course in the English Language from specialist teachers.
The extensive grounds with an indoor swimming pool allow plenty of scope for relaxation and sport, including tennis, dance, badminton, football, swimming and yoga.
An International Community. The international reputation of the School brings pupils from all over the world who find a happy atmosphere in a large musical community. Pupils are cared for by the resident House Staff and Nurse. Both boarding houses include a mixture of shared and single rooms, with single en-suites for the most senior pupils. Special attention is paid to diet with the emphasis on whole and fresh food.
Fees and Bursaries. All pupils fully resident in the UK are currently eligible for an Aided Place through the Music and Dance Scheme which is subsidised by the Department for Education (DfE). Parents pay a means-tested contribution to the school fees based on their gross income assessed on a scale issued by the DfE. After two calendar years pupils from overseas may be able to obtain support through the Music and Dance Scheme. Until that time they pay full fees, although the school has some bursary funds available to assist with fees for pupils until they become eligible for the Music and Dance Scheme.
Admission. Entry to the School is by rigorous music audition, and prospective pupils are auditioned at any time during the year.
Charitable status. The Yehudi Menuhin School is a Registered Charity, number 312010. It exists to provide musical and academic education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
President Emeritus: Daniel Barenboim KBE
Co-President: Tasmin Little CBE
Chairman: David Buckley
Vice-Chairman: Geoffrey Richards
Dominic Benthall
Lord Norman Blackwell
George Bruell
Andrew Butcher
Kate Costeloe CBE
Hilary Cowan
John Everett
Andrew Hunter Johnston
John Pagella
Alice Phillips
Benedict Vanderspar
Jonathan Willcocks
Musical Patrons
Steven Isserlis CBE
Robert Levin
Sir András Schiff
Governors Emeriti
Daniel Hodson
Vanessa Richards
Headmaster: Robin Harskin
Director of Music: Ashley Wass
Deputy Head (Academic): David Bruce
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Melanie Bloor-Black
Bursar & Clerk to the Governors: Philippa Stanfield
Director of Development & Marketing: Clare Durnford
Music Staff:
Deputy Director of Music: Marco Galvani
Violin:
Ning Kam
Boris Kucharsky
Natalia Lomeiko
Sebastian Mueller
Akiko Ono
Alex Redington
Valeriy Sokolov
Robin Wilson
Gergana Raykova
Anna Ziman
Viola:
Louise Lansdown
Cello:
Matthijs Broersma
Alex Chaushian
Eun Cho
Indira Grier
Double Bass:
Caroline Emery
Guitar:
Richard Wright
Harp:
Keziah Thomas
Piano:
Ron Abramski
Anahit Tchaouchian
Mariko Brown
John Turville
Alexis White
Nigel Hutchison
Miho Kawashima
Edward Leung
Harpsichord:
Carole Cerasi
Choir:
David Condry
Chamber Music:
Matthijs Broersma
Elliott Perks
Alex Reddington
Alexander Technique:
Fuensanta Zambrana-Ruiz
Academic Staff:
Art: Priyanka Rana
Science: Karen Lyle, Jenny Dexter,
English: Alan Humm
German: Christiane Wagner-Tree, Karolin Gericke
History: Sarah Howell, Nicholas Gill
Mathematics: David Bruce, Sarah Lee
English as an Additional Language: Naomi Roberts
Japanese: Yoshiko Bransby
Chinese: Xiangyun Bishop
Turkish: Ayla Turacli
Spanish: Bertie Duncan
Swimming: Lucy Ashdown-Parkes
Yoga: Hannah Juliano
Dance: Katie Brewer