'Exceptional' bassoonist lands place in National Youth Ochestra

Helen Fraser, aged 13 of Mortimer, was one of only 165 to win a place on the prestigious orchestra, which saw over 720 audition, and is one of only seven bassoonists after being encouraged by her tutor to sign up.
The youngster said she was rendered “speechless” with her success, with musicians often having to audition several times before being accepted.
“I was not expecting it at all,” said Helen. “I had been told I was auditioning because it gives you a better chance for another year.”
Music has always played a big part in Helen’s life, who has also played with the National Children’s Orchestra, the National Youth Wind Orchestra, the National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra and Thames Youth Orchestra and is also a member of Berkshire Youth Orchestra. She is also a music scholar at The Abbey School in Reading, where she is a pupil.
Despite also playing the flute and the recorder, she admits playing the bassoon is where her passion lies.
“No-one else in my family does it, it’s something that’s mine,” she said.
Her tutor, head of woodwind at Berkshire Maestros, Cath Millar said she spotted potential in Helen the moment she saw her pick up a bassoon, more than four years ago.
“She instantly held it in a very relaxed way, it looked right on her,” said Mrs Millar. “I could just tell she was going to make a great bassoonist.”
Mrs Millar has nurtured Helen from a beginner to achieving her grade eight with distinction, the minimum requirement for the National Youth Orchestra, and persuaded her to audition.
“She’s a very natural musician but she works very hard as well,” she said.
“You can have talent but if you don’t back it up with practice you will never achieve that sort of talent.”
Helen’s mum, Sam Fraser said she was “very proud” of her daughter’s achievements, adding there was rarely a quiet moment in the Fraser household, with Helen’s older sister, Isobel aged 15 also playing the oboe and piano.
“It’s a fairly noisy, musical house,” she said. “Someone’s usually tinkling the ivories or doing something.”
Helen’s first performances with the National Youth Orchestra are set to take place after Christmas in Leeds and the Barbican in London.