Alice (Year 11) and Laura (Upper Sixth) were privileged to participate in the 2025 Proms at the Albert Hall in London; a very British tradition and an exceptional experience both for musicians and their appreciative audience.
Alice, who plays the bassoon in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), was delighted to be delivering Holst’s ‘The Planets’ and music from John Williams’s mighty Star Wars soundtracks in two concert of intergalactic musical giants on 9th and 10th August. Alice commented: “I have already played in the proms but beforehand I was just really excited to be playing such amazing repertoire with some of my best friends in the best venue possible. I was also extremely nervous to be playing in front of so many people! Thanks to Leighton Park I have been playing in orchestras for years so I had experience going into NYO. I also got amazing music lessons through school, without which I would not be at the standard that has allowed me to gain such amazing experiences such as playing in the proms.”
Soprano, Laura, is a member of the National Youth Choir (NYC) and was selected to sing a solo on their Christmas release ‘How do you fly?’ last December. Laura will be on stage on Thursday 11th September performing two works by Gabrieli, Stravinsky’s last major work, the Requiem Canticles and Brahms’s Second Symphony, alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Laura shared: “I am most looking forward to getting a proper Albert Hall experience. I have performed there before but this is a lot more official and also feels a lot more professional. I am excited to see what it is like to be a professional, classical performer.”
Inspired by her musical success and supported by Leighton Park’s thriving Music Department, Laura is going to the University of Gloucestershire to study Popular Music with Songwriting in September. Alice is still considering what to do beyond school but is enthusiastic about her musical options: “I haven’t fully decided what I want to do in the future but I know I always want music to be a part of my life. I think it is very possible I will decide to try and go to a conservatoire such as the Royal Academy.”
Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.
Δ