Two of our talented Lower Sixth musicians are flying high following their success at the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Young Musician competition this week. Only eight other students were selected for the Final of the Senior Category later this term and Leighton Park is the only school to have secured two spots in the 2026 final line up.
The preliminary round allowed Trinity Music Diploma holder and saxophonist, Taylor, and ABRSM Diploma holder and bassoonist, Alice, to showcase their skills to the judges via a video recording. Entries were instrumental only and original compositions were excluded from the solo or duet performances which could last up to five minutes.
Alice played Vivaldi’s bassoon concerto in E Minor and is considering a piece by Bozza for the final whereas Taylor is still considering his options for March.
Alice and Taylor are returning finalists as both of them were also successful in the 2025 competition. Taylor remarked, “I was excited that I will get to go to that place again. Going to Oxford for Music is one of my plans for university so I think it will be quite good to put that in my personal statement; that I will be going to a music competition in Oxford on my application for Oxford. I study the IB so I’m doing Music, English, Politics, Mandarin, Maths and Physics.”
Alice, who is taking Chemistry, Biology, History and Music A Levels, also has her eye on the future saying, “I am considering applying for conservatoires so Royal Academy, Royal College and Guildhall but I’m also considering applying for Veterinary Medicine at universities!”
Alice advised future ISA Young Musician competitors, “Musicality and expression is the most important thing because everyone doing it is going be technically pretty good.” “Be confident and be yourself, express your music; combine with your instrument. Even if you play something wrong don’t let it show, just keep going!” added Taylor.
Director of Music, Rosemary Scales, commented: “It will definitely be a tough competition for Alice and Taylor – the standard was very high last year and there seems to be an even wider range of schools involved this year. It is so good for them to perform on a strange stage and out of their comfort zone of the Main Hall. I know they will both perform brilliantly and it will be interesting to hear the other performers.”
Taylor and Alice’s success continues the celebrations for the Music Department with the announcement of the latest ABRSM results in which 70% of examinees achieved Distinction and the success of one of our Upper Sixth students who has secured an offer for Music at the University of Oxford this week.
The 2026 ISA Young Musician competition final takes place on 11th March at St Hilda’s College, Oxford; good luck to Alice and Taylor!
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