1st February 2012

LYME REGIS: Woodroffe student secures place in national orchestra

WOODROFFE School student Andrew Humphreys has secured a place among ten French horn players in the National Youth Orchestra.

Fresh back from an intensive few weeks of rehearsals, the Year 11 student is preparing for a big year with the accomplished orchestra, and all at just 15 years of age.

Andrew’s qualification into the orchestra involved a gruelling set of auditions last year, including a trip to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he faced the head of the orchestra, head tutor of the orchestra’s horn section and Professor of Horns at the Royal Academy.

His demanding schedule has already seen him complete a two-week course, starting just after Christmas, culminating in several performances of William Walton’s “First Symphony” and Elgar’s “First Cello Concerto”.

Andrew (pictured below) said: “The days were pretty intense. Our rehearsals started early each morning with a two hour session of just the horn section. Then we joined the full brass section for a further two hours before a six hour rehearsal with the full orchestra.”

His recent activity saw Andrew recording for Radio 3 and performing at The Barbican in London. The 165 strong orchestra will also be performing a newly commissioned work by Anna Meredith for the Olympics called “Hands Free” and will feature in The Proms 2012 programme.

On joining the orchestra Andrew said: “It’s amazing. I would honestly recommend this to anyone. I love the sense of community and the

fantastically high standard of musicianship. I see this as a stepping stone to a future studying at a Music Conservatoire, with my ultimate aim to play in the London Symphony Orchestra or the London Philharmonic.”

Woodroffee head of music, Jon Cullimore, added: “Andrew has been a very committed young musician since joining Woodroffe in Year 7. He is a talented young man who deserves his place in the National Youth Orchestra. I truly hope that he succeeds in achieving his ambitions, it won’t be for a lack of effort!”

PICTURE: Andrew Humphreys

LYME REGIS: Woodroffe student secures place in national orchestra

LYME REGIS: Woodroffe student secures place in national orchestra

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