NYO Success for RCMJD Musicians
Tuesday 22 November 2016
A total of 22 RCM Junior Department musicians have successfully auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, including the orchestra’s new leader.
The talented young musicians are: violinists Elodie Chousmer-Howelles (leader), Louisa Ayerst, Leora Cohen, Isabella Fulford, Katalin Oldland, William Rose, Alexander Semple, Jeremy Weinstein, violists Uma Baron, Nadia Soole Sanchez, and Luca Wadham cellist Daniel Brandon, harp player Eleanor Medcalf, flautist Marie Sato, clarinettists James Garagnon and Owen Saldanha, bassoonists Lucy Dundas and Julia Flint, horn player Lucy Howard, trombonist Sam Gale, and composers Lauren Marshall and Alexia Sloane.
Miranda Francis, Head of Junior Programmes at the Royal College of Music, said 'I am absolutely thrilled that so many RCMJD students have won places in the NYO for the new season, and that Elodie Chousmer-Howelles has been appointed leader of the orchestra. The RCMJD now has the largest number of students in the orchestra from any junior conservatoire. This is testament to the extraordinarily high level of commitment shown by all of our students to their musical studies and the excellence of teaching on offer here at the RCMJD.'
| Elodie Chousmer-Howelles: this year's leader of the NYO |
Founded in 1948, the NYO is comprised entirely of teenagers and renowned for its brilliant, high-adrenaline and fresh orchestral performances. It is also known for its profound influence on classical music, with high-profile alumni such as Sir Simon Rattle, Alison Balsom and Judith Weir, as well as ex-NYO members in many leading orchestras and ensembles around the world.
This success continues the legacy of RCMJD students taking up prestigious positions in the NYO, with RCMJD alumnae Stephanie Childress and Athena Hawksley-Walker appointed leader and co-leader respectively in recent years.
