My ambition to become a professional horn player took root when I started attending the Junior Royal Academy of Music at the age of 15. I was surrounded by amazing and enthusiastic musicians and realised that I loved being a part of this world.
I decided to study academic music before going to music college, and gained a place as a music scholar at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford, before completing my master’s degree at the Royal College of Music (RCM). Whilst studying at the RCM with Jeff Bryant, Tim Jones, Simon Rayner, and John Ryan, I was supported by a Michael Quinn award, and I graduated in 2017 with a distinction.
I currently enjoy a diverse playing career. As well as freelance orchestral work, I perform regularly as a chamber musician with the Temple Ensemble around the UK and in France, where we tour the Lot region. I also hold the horn chair in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, with whom I performed at Ronnie Scott’s in January 2018. As an orchestral musician, I have trained with the Britten-Pears Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra Brass Academy, the RCM Symphony Orchestra and Oxford University Orchestra.
A finalist of the Oxford Philomusica’s Youth Concerto Competition in 2013, and winner of Maidstone and Mid-Kent Young Musician of the Year in 2011, I enjoy playing as a soloist and have recently performed Mozart’s Horn Concerto No.3 and Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings.
In my spare time I enjoy rock climbing and hill walking around the UK, as well as going to the theatre and to pop gigs.
Royal College of Music
London, UK
University of Oxford
Oxford, UK
Temple Ensemble
National Youth Jazz Orchestra
What is your favourite piece of music, and why do you love it?
One of them is definitely Poulenc Concerto for 2 Pianos. I love Poulenc’s harmonies and his cheek, and this piece is both fun and tragic. The tragedy is most raw in the profoundly sad melody at the end of the first movement, which I find mesmerising.
What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
I rock climb, swim, and go hiking. I also enjoy seeing plays and pop gigs, and discovering London’s best vegetarian restaurants.