By the summer of 2015, young violinist Augusta McKay Lodge had spent five years studying her craft on Baroque violin. But it wasn’t until she participated in the inaugural class of Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance (BA) that she experienced true clarity – finally feeling confident in her approach to historical music.
During a coaching session, BA faculty member Marc Destrubé worked through a passage of a symphony, demonstrating a precise, exact movement that McKay Lodge stuck in her memory. She remembered thinking she would imitate this for the rest of her life. Simple, yet profound; it marked a shift in her relationship with Baroque violin.
As Berwick Academy celebrates its 10th anniversary, it welcomes another class of talented musicians, offering them the same transformative experiences McKay Lodge had a decade ago.
An Immersive, Collaborative Experience
Since 2015, Berwick Academy has been one of the few educational programs in the US that exclusively features period performance, recreating styles and sounds that were originally heard in music of the Baroque and Classical eras.
In addition to performing during Oregon Bach Festival, BA students attend master classes, sectionals, musicology seminars, and chamber music coachings with faculty, who are top performers and educators in the field.
One such faculty member, Marc Destrubé, remarks, “It’s a privilege to share my experience with the ‘Berwiskers,’ and to in turn be inspired by their enthusiasm, exceptional skill and optimism.”
The two-week-long program goes beyond technical training – the collaborative atmosphere is also a highlight for students.
Augusta McKay McKay Lodge recalls one of her favorite memories at BA in 2015
The Academy wouldn’t exist without the vision of Phyllis Berwick and her late husband Andrew, whose generosity ensures the program remains tuition-free. Phyllis says, “We have so enjoyed the ripple effect of Berwick Academy musicians with their dreams unfolding before them.”
The Lasting Impact of Berwick Academy
After a summer with BA, many students launch flourishing international careers, often collaborating with fellow alums.
Whether she’s touring the U.S. or freelancing with a chamber orchestra in Europe, McKay Lodge applies lessons she learned back in Eugene. “I had a whole new way of thinking about the music when I left Berwick,” she reflects. “Even now, things I learned during my lessons with Marc Destrubé or Monica Huggett still influence my playing.”
Looking Ahead: Berwick’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
As Berwick Academy celebrates its 10th anniversary, McKay Lodge reflects on how much the program has evolved. “The Academy has changed, but what remains constant is its ability to change lives and inspire musicians to reach new heights,” she says.
This summer, McKay Lodge will perform at Oregon Bach Festival as a soloist with the professional Baroque Orchestra, and as the group’s co-concertmaster alongside Marc Destrubé; a full circle moment. “It’s like coming home,” she smiled. “It’s where things started for me in many ways. I can’t wait to be a part of the Academy again.”
Come see the 10th anniversary Berwick Academy class:
Beethoven’s Akademie
June 27, 7:30 PM, Beall Concert Hall
On April 2, 1800, Beethoven self-produced a benefit “Akademie” concert in Vienna showcasing his talent as both composer and pianist. The program featured his Symphony No. 1 and marked his entry into Vienna’s elite music scene. The evening included works from Beethoven’s predecessors, Mozart, Haydn, and Bach. OBF artistic partner, Jos van Veldhoven, conducts the OBF classical Orchestra and Bewick Academy, side-by-side, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the OBF Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance.
Berwick Academy Orchestra
OBF Classical Orchestra
Rowan Pierce, soprano
Peter Harvey, bass
Augusta McKay Lodge, violin
Jonathan Oddie, fortepiano
Jos van Veldhoven, conductor
Discovery: The Leipzig Popular Music Scene
July 5, 7:30 PM, Soreng Theater
Bach virtuoso and “musical force” (South Florida Classical Review), Shunske Sato, leads the Berwick Academy Orchestra through the iconic OBF Discovery Series. The program includes secular works performed during the social gatherings of church and academic musicians in the early 1700s. Sato explores concertos by Bach and Fasch, as well as pieces from Telemann and Heinichen.
Berwick Academy Orchestra
Shunske Sato, conductor
Other BA alums joining the professional Baroque Orchestra this year:
- Elise Bonehivert, clarinet (BA 2015, 2018)
- Toma Iliev, violin (BA 2015)
- Christine Wilkinson-Beckman, violin (BA 2016)
- Aaron Goler, bassoon (BA 2019, 2022)
- Alaina Diehl, flute (BA 2022)