Eight-year-old wins place in national orchestra

EMILY Ambrose from Newbury is to play bassoon with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.
Eight-year-old Emily, who has played the instrument for less than a year, auditioned for the NCO in October and has been selected to play with the under-11 Orchestra 2013.

A pupil of Marlston House school, Emily was surprised to get into the orchestra. “I enjoyed my audition, but didn’t expect to get in as I haven’t been playing bassoon for long. I am very pleased and really excited about playing in the orchestra,” she said.

Emily is taught by Berkshire Maestros’ head of woodwind Catherine Millar, who said: “Emily has made quite exceptional progress for someone so young. She has been playing less than a year and only playing a full-size bassoon since August and is currently playing grade 7 and 8 repertoire.

“This is an amazing achievement on an instrument which many people don’t even start until secondary school.”

In addition to Emily, there have been other West Berkshire bassoon successes, including James Dundas, Alice Gore, Isabella Worthington, Molly Dewar (NCO); Helen Fraser and Lucy Dundas (National Youth Orchestra); and Toby Davies (National Youth Wind Ensemble of Great Britain).

An enthusiastic member of the school orchestra and choir, Emily also plays piano and recorder and has recently passed grade 6 recorder, and grade 3 piano with distinction.