Wells Cathedral School Musicians Celebrate National Recognition
A large number of musicians will be representing Wells Cathedral School in national-level ensembles and choirs this year, both in the UK and beyond.
Five pupils from Wells (Morgan Bland, Year 10, Lily Owens and Teagan Craggs, Year 11, and Wilamena Dyer and Defne Anar, Lower Sixth) have obtained places in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO), the country’s flagship orchestra for amazingly talented young musicians. Among the five Wells pupils, particular congratulations must go to Defne, who has been appointed Principal Harp, and will be a member of the orchestra for a second year. Defne’s “golden shoes” are famous within the School, and audiences across the country will enjoy both hearing and seeing her!
Across the channel, violinist Hannah Krekel (Year 10) has been given a place as the youngest member of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands. Earlier this year she played in front of the Dutch Royal Family in the Amare, the new concert hall in the Hague.
Closer to home, no fewer than seven pupils (Beatrice Pooley, Bird Collyer, Belinda Gifford-Guy and Michael Dey, Year 7, and Cole Craggs, Katie Messenger and Harrison Ashurst, Year 8), have been offered places in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain (NCO), while a further four younger pupils from the Junior School (Henry, Year 5, and Shanna, Emily and Tessa, Year 6), have all been invited to join “NCO Projects”, a fabulous initiative that provides an excellent training ground for the older age banded orchestras.
Wells singers are also finding their voice in some of the UK’s top choirs. Belinda Gifford-Guy, Michael Dey and Zino Zigan (Year 7) have been invited to join the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, while Emily Oxtoby and Lydia Grace South (Lower Sixth) have been offered places within the prestigious Rodolfus Choir, which helps talented singers aged 16-23 bridge the gap between school and university.
Director of Music, Alex Laing said: “We are so proud of all our musicians here at Wells. It is lovely to know that the School is helping to produce young musicians recognised as amongst the finest in the land.”
Five pupils from Wells (Morgan Bland, Year 10, Lily Owens and Teagan Craggs, Year 11, and Wilamena Dyer and Defne Anar, Lower Sixth) have obtained places in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO), the country’s flagship orchestra for amazingly talented young musicians. Among the five Wells pupils, particular congratulations must go to Defne, who has been appointed Principal Harp, and will be a member of the orchestra for a second year. Defne’s “golden shoes” are famous within the School, and audiences across the country will enjoy both hearing and seeing her!
Across the channel, violinist Hannah Krekel (Year 10) has been given a place as the youngest member of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands. Earlier this year she played in front of the Dutch Royal Family in the Amare, the new concert hall in the Hague.
Closer to home, no fewer than seven pupils (Beatrice Pooley, Bird Collyer, Belinda Gifford-Guy and Michael Dey, Year 7, and Cole Craggs, Katie Messenger and Harrison Ashurst, Year 8), have been offered places in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain (NCO), while a further four younger pupils from the Junior School (Henry, Year 5, and Shanna, Emily and Tessa, Year 6), have all been invited to join “NCO Projects”, a fabulous initiative that provides an excellent training ground for the older age banded orchestras.
Wells singers are also finding their voice in some of the UK’s top choirs. Belinda Gifford-Guy, Michael Dey and Zino Zigan (Year 7) have been invited to join the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, while Emily Oxtoby and Lydia Grace South (Lower Sixth) have been offered places within the prestigious Rodolfus Choir, which helps talented singers aged 16-23 bridge the gap between school and university.
Director of Music, Alex Laing said: “We are so proud of all our musicians here at Wells. It is lovely to know that the School is helping to produce young musicians recognised as amongst the finest in the land.”
