Who We Are
Bridgepoint Music, a new music charity based in Rye, was founded with the sole purpose of changing people’s lives through the power of classical music. The organisation has two main branches, The Bridgepoint Ensemble, which is a collection of some of the finest professional musicians in the country who come together in Rye and at other venues to give concerts as well as pass on their knowledge and experience to the next generation through masterclasses and chamber music coaching. They will also be involved in taking music to care homes across the region, performing to people who can’t always get to a concert hall.
The second branch is Rye Music Centre, which will comprise the Bridgepoint String Orchestras, three ensembles for school-aged children.
Find out more about our manager, founder, trustees, and events below.
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About Us
Bridgepoint Music is a new charity created to bring classical music of the highest quality to people in Rye and beyond. Founded by Sarah Kowitz, the trustees share her vision of improving people’s lives through the power of music in a variety of ways which will include: giving public concerts with world-class musicians, working with disadvantaged children in local schools, and tutoring and mentoring young musicians; playing to care home residents in the local area; commissioning new works by British composers and leaving a legacy of recordings. All of this work will also be helping to support professional musicians with a policy of paying fees that properly reflect their skill and the amount of time they put into preparing for concerts.
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Our Trustees and management
Tom Elliott graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1998 and immediately embarked on a busy career as a freelance violinist. He was made a member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Tom founded Glossop Music Festival in 2014. He was given the opportunity to run the Northern Chamber Orchestra in Manchester. Now divides his time between running Bridgepoint Music, teaching classroom music, giving one to one violin lessons and being Engagement Manager for Hastings International Piano Competition.
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The Bridgepoint Ensemble
The musicians that play with the ensemble are among some of the finest in their chamber musicians in the country, comprising leaders and principal players of orchestras such as The Mahler Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Academy of Ancient Music, London Mozart Players and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. They will come together in Rye to rehearse, perform, collaborate with other musicians and composers and coach young players and ensembles.
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Rye Music Centre and the Bridgepoint String Orchestras
The Bridgepoint String Orchestras has been running since the Autumn of 2022 as the Rye Music Centre. These orchestras are for children and young people from a range of schools in Kent and East Sussex who come together to take part in high-quality string ensemble playing. The groups have a mix of ages and abilities from pre-Grade 1 to Grades 5, 6 and above.
Membership of the Bridgepoint String Orchestras is £50 per term, which covers the 10 rehearsals every term plus concerts.
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Past Concerts
Concerts are at the heart of Bridgepoint Music’s programme, with several performances a year across Rye and Hastings areas.
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Future Concerts
A weekend of events including free workshops and taster sessions, followed on the 25 July with a performance of the Bridgepoint Ensemble featuring the multi-talented Matthew Sharp, baritone, cellist and “Virtuoso of the Arts”, according to The Times.