News

Darcy Beck crowned Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year 2020

Darcy Beck was always fascinated by the sounds of instruments coming from the back of the orchestra and so began her career as a percussionist.
Last night, the 18-year-old gap year student from Prestbury, became the county's Young Musician of the Year - and the first percussionist to do so.
Her spell-binding performance on a marimba, loaned by the Nicholas Branston Foundation, opened the finals at Pittville Pump Room. She wowed the judges - complete with one piece involving light sticks in a darkened auditorium on timbales.
The former Cheltenham Ladies' College student will be setting off to read Music at Cardiff University in September. But, just as with last year's contest, the audience had a different idea about who should have won.
Their choice was 16-year-old pianist Edwin Ward, from Cirencester, whose superb 'smoking-jacket' inspired
performance of Erroll Garner's 'Misty' persuaded the audience he should receive the Carducci Music Trust Audience Prize.
The county's musical youth shone with superb performances from 15-year-old cellist Souny Park from Cheltenham Ladies' College, 17-year-old Aaron Le Maistre from Sir Thomas Rich's School and flautist Bethany Loader, from Denmark Road High School.
And to top off the evening, while the judges Professors Derek Aviss and Christine Hankin, and Meurig Bowen considered their verdict, the audience was treated to a performance by 2016 winner Adam Heron who played Chopin.
Glyn Oxley, musical director of organisers Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra, compered the evening with great humour.

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Important Dates

Spring term 2020

Saturday 14th March Performance Platform

Tuesday 31st March GAM exams

Friday 3rd-Sunday 5th April Adult Easter Courses

Monday 6th-Wednesday 8th April Bow It and Blow It Easter Courses

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Book now for Easter

Bursaries available

We are now taking bookings for our popular Easter courses - Bow It (for strings grades 1-5) and Blow It (for wind and brass grades 1-5).

Please visit our Holiday Courses page for more information

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