Sussex creative and entrepreneur

This week I am in the company of the musician and artistic director of the Shipley Arts Festival, Andrew Bernardi, as he prepares to launch the festival’s 2019 programme of concerts across the Horsham district and beyond. Andrew is one of a number of creatives at the heart of our county’s rich arts offering.

I have long been a passionate advocate and supporter of building communities through arts and heritage in West Sussex, values which I share with Andrew Bernardi.

I ask Andrew what inspired him to become a musician. He replies: “I come from a musical family, my mother was playing piano at a Mozart concert where my parents met.

“They had no intention of making me a professional musician, to the contrary actually. But I realised when I was about six that I had to be a musician, that it was my vocation.

“My Godmother gave me my first full-sized violin and I’ve still got it. It looked big on me but I’ve only ever played full-sized violins.”

Andrew would win a place at the Skinner’s School. He continues: “Everyone encouraged me in my music but it was suggested that there were safer careers.”

Andrew led the Kent Youth Orchestra. He describes how winning the Lawrence Atwell scholarship for violinists to go to the United States and Brazil with the Youth Orchestra was life changing. He says: “I studied alongside a golden generation of musicians, we have all gone on to leading roles in the music world. In Brazil we stayed with top people but I became aware that the waiters came countryside, towns and communities out of the favelas and that they could which feed and inspire him. have been us if we’d grown up there. He walks in the footsteps of some

“It changed us and I realised that illustrious musicians and composers I wanted to do something for society here in Sussex including John through my music.” Ireland, Ralph Vaughan Williams and

Having read music at Leeds he Sir Edward Elgar. His work reflects taught at Worth Abbey where he a sense of calling and vocation to formed their community orchestra continue this musical tradition in our and his chamber ensemble. The county. Through the festival and its qualities of Benedictine Christian patrons Andrew Bernardi, continues spirituality still resonate with him. to commission new and exciting work

It was at Trinity College London, from some of our nation’s leading while working on his post-graduate contemporary composers including scholarship, that Andrew’s Roderick Williams, OBE, and entrepreneurial qualities were first Malcolm Singer. recognised. “They told me I would be I ask him what his violin means a successful violinist but as important to him. He reflects: “With the was my ability to bring things Stradivarius violin I finally hear the together and make them work.” This sounds I imagined. It’s a very personal insight has been borne out by Andrew relationship a musician and their Bernardi’s career as a violinist and instrument.” by starting the Shipley Arts Festival Relationships are important which is now acknowledged as being to the success of the Shipley Arts one of the UK’s most highly regarded Festival and the array of international Classical Music festivals. musicians who return year after year

Andrew’s support of young, are responding to the aspirations, talented musicians through his String loyalty and vision of its artistic Academy gives voice to his belief in director, Andrew Bernardi. community and creating opportunity The 2019 Shipley Arts Festival for others. season will be exceptional. To find out

The String Academy has strong more go to www.shipleyartsfestival. links to the Yehudi Menuhin School co.uk. thanks to Andrew’s work. It is clear RIGHT: Sussex creative Andrew

that Yehudi Menuhin influenced him, Bernardi with his Stradivarius

“He conducted me and I led for him violin beneath the Grinling

on several occasions. I admired his Gibbons carved instruments at

sense of humanity, his facilitation of Petworth House which were both

communities through outstanding created c.1696.

music making, and creating pathways

Rupert Toovey is a senior director of

and opportunities for young

Toovey’s, the leading fine art auction

musicians - things that I aspire to.”

house in West Sussex, based on the

Andrew’s life as a violinist has

A24 at Washington - www.tooveys.

taken him all over the world but it

com - and a priest in the Church of

is his family and being rooted in the

England Diocese of Chichester.

heart of Sussex with its gentle hills,