Corruption blow hits international music initiative

Jennifer Stumm, an American viola player baed in London, founded the Ilumina Festival in São Paulo last year to connect international artists with Brazilian musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The scheme yielded immediate results: half of Ilumina’s first-year fellows won places at international programs, including the top-ranked cello applicant at the Mozarteum Salzburg.

However, Jennifer tells Slipped Disc: ‘We were just hit with a sudden devastating blow of losing our main sponsor to a corruption scandal in Brazil, and so we are in a race to ensure the festival continues in January.

‘We’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign so that people can help, and November 30 in London, at Queen’s Gate Terrace, a starry cast of characters is banding together in support, alongside the best of of our young Brazilians. Hoping very much to show that bad guys don’t always win.’

Here’s the cast at Monday’s concert:
Steven Isserlis, cello

Cristina Ortiz, piano

Tamara Wilson, soprano

Matthew Rose, bass

Ksenija Sidorova, accordion

Jennifer Stumm, viola

Alasdair Beatson, piano

Brazilian canapes to follow. Tickets here.