Yehudi Menuhin School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yehudi Menuhin School
Address
Stoke d'Abernon Cobham , Surrey , KT11 3QQ England
Coordinates	51°18′23″N 0°22′36″W / 51.3064°N 0.3767°W / 51.3064; -0.3767
Information
Type	Private day and boarding school Music school
Established	1963
Founder	Yehudi Menuhin
Department for Education URN	125428 Tables
President	Tasmin Little
Head	Robin Harskin
Gender	Coeducational
Age	9 to 19
Enrolment	81
Houses	Harris House Music House

The Yehudi Menuhin School is a special music school in Stoke d'Abernon, Surrey, England. It was started in 1963 by the famous violin player and conductor, Yehudi Menuhin. This school helps young, talented musicians from all over the world.

The school is one of five main music schools for children in the United Kingdom. It gets money from the government, charities, and donations. This support helps students who love music to develop their skills.

The school teaches about 85 students, aged 9 to 19. They learn to play string instruments, piano, and classical guitar. Most students live at the school, while a few younger ones attend during the day. The school tries to make sure that money does not stop talented students from joining.

About the School

The Yehudi Menuhin School helps young musicians grow. It gives them a place to learn and practice music. Students get special lessons to become excellent performers. The school also provides a full academic education. This means students learn all their regular school subjects too.

The school wants to be a place where every student can reach their full potential. It aims to create a supportive community. The school is a registered charity in England. This means it works for a good cause and not for profit.

The Menuhin Hall

The school has its own concert hall called The Menuhin Hall. Many concerts are held here throughout the year. Students perform in these concerts. Famous musicians also visit to play and teach master classes. The hall has great sound, so it is often used for recording music.

History of the School

Yehudi Menuhin started this school because he wanted to help young musicians. He believed in giving them the best teachers and lots of time to practice. He also wanted them to play music together. Menuhin himself was taught at home when he was young. But he thought it was good for musical children to live and study with others their age.

Founding and Location

The school first opened in London in 1963. A year later, it moved to its current home in Stoke d'Abernon. The main building is an old Victorian house. It is surrounded by 15 acres of parkland. This peaceful setting is easy to reach from London.

Menuhin's Vision

Menuhin was inspired by a music school in Moscow. However, he wanted his school to be different. The Moscow school had many students and focused on training soloists. Menuhin started with only 15 students. He wanted to train "all-rounders" who could play in orchestras, chamber groups, or teach. He wanted them to be ready for any musical path.

In 1992, Natasha Boyarsky joined the teaching staff. She had been a top strings teacher in Moscow. Her arrival was a big step for the school's music program.

After Menuhin

Yehudi Menuhin passed away in 1999. After his death, the school raised money to build a new concert hall. The Menuhin Hall opened in 2006. The famous cellist Mstislav Rostropovich conducted the opening concert. He became the school's honorary president. After Rostropovich passed away, Daniel Barenboim took over. Today, the president of the school is Tasmin Little, who was appointed in December 2019.

Friends of the School

The "Friends of the Yehudi Menuhin School" group was started in 1971. It has grown to over 750 supporters from around the world. These friends help the school financially. They also attend concerts to support the students.

The school has continued to grow and improve its facilities. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013-2014. In 2016, it marked 100 years since Menuhin's birth. In 2022, the school shared its plan for the future, called "21st Century Musicians." This plan focuses on five values: aiming for excellence, being curious, acting with honesty, building community, and being kind.

Music Directors

• Marcel Gazelle (1963-1969)
• Robert Masters (1969-1981)
• Peter Norris (1981-1987)
• Stephen Potts (1988-1998)
• Malcolm Singer (1998-2017)
• Oscar Columina i Bosch (2017-2020)
• Ashley Wass (2020-2025)
• Rosalind Ventris (2025-)

Famous Former Students

Many talented musicians have studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School. Here are some of them: