Spaldwick’s young musician Zoë Perkins continues to excel at the trumpet, obtaining a prized place at the televised Brass Final of the BBC Young Musician 2016 competition! Zoë, 17, has enjoyed an incredible past few months, following our previous coverage. She has become Principal Trumpet in the 2016 National Youth Orchestra, and has received offers with scholarships from the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Zoë recently secured a place as one of the final five brass players in BBC Young Musician 2016, which means that she will be featured on national television. Zoë competed in the first round of the competition in October 2015, before progressing to the second round in early December.
BBC Young Musician attracts some of the very best young musicians in the country, with over 450 musicians applying from across the UK. Zoë will now perform at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff on the 9th March 2016, which will be televised on the BBC.
In the new year, BBC crews will be coming to film a biography of Zoë, filming segments in Spaldwick and at her school. Speaking about the competition, Zoë said, “I am a little bit nervous, but more excited than nervous”.
In early December, Zoë also found out that she had been awarded the role of Principal Trumpet in the National Youth Orchestra for 2016. With the orchestra, she will complete three residences over Christmas, Easter and the Summer. She will get the opportunity to perform in a range of spectacular venues across the UK, including the Barbican in January and the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms. At the Proms, the orchestra will be performing Holst’s ‘The Planets’ and ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ by Richard Strauss.
The good news does not stop there. Zoë has also recently been offered scholarships at the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. At the Royal College of Music, Zoë has been privileged to receive one of only three ABRSM scholarships.
Zoë continues to perform with Junior Prime Brass – a brass dectet in Cambridge – and Junior Academy, where Zoë is preparing to enter a music competition.
Asked about which of her music events she enjoys the most, Zoë answered, “I love them all, but for different reasons.” “In the National Youth Orchestra I’ve really enjoyed the overall experience and I feel that I have gained a lot of confidence.” “In Junior Prime Brass I’ve enjoyed performing as a brass dectet and in Junior Academy I’ve enjoyed learning new things.”
We will continue to follow Zoë in what promises to be a very promising career. We will bring further information on the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition in due course!
Photos provided by Zoë.