news

September 07, 2011

Ever wondered what South West Music School students go on to do?  Below are a few tasters of what some of the 2011 graduates are heading off to do.  Some have spent four years with us, others only one, but all have got something out of their time with South West Music School. 

Ruth Knight:  In September 2011, I am excited to be taking up a scholarship place at the Royal College of Music to study flute with Susan Milan. Being involved with SWMS has been a great experience, in particular the mentoring scheme – I've had a wonderful mentor, who has been very supportive throughout the last four years. SWMS has also funded my flute tuition with a teacher from one of the leading conservatoires.

Ellie Best:  The next year is one for me to concentrate more fully on my singing alone as I have now completed my A Levels and await music college auditions in the winter. I will be continuing singing lessons with Rachel Bevan and am joining a more senior chamber choir in Wells called the 'Beaumont Singers.' Having got a taste of opera this summer, I hope to further explore avenues of dramatic performance within singing during the year as well as take part in the Bath Music Festival for my third year running.

I feel I owe a great debt to the South West Music School as over the past two years they have given me the great gift of confidence in my singing. They have offered me amazing opportunities to work with very talented singers outside of the scholarship as well as incredibly talented musicians within the scholarship and it's been an honour. Working with and around such talent inspires you to become better yourself-so without SWMS, I wouldn't have the dream I have today.

Ben Comeau: I’m off to Cambridge to study music at Girton College, with an organ scholarship.  I’m really looking forward to specialising more on piano and organ and also exploring composition more.  I’m performing as part of the SWMS piano quintet in the Royal Albert Hall on 8th November, and I’m playing my second piano concerto in St Martin’s in the Fields on 21st November. I’ve also got organ recitals booked in Belfast and Dublin over the next year.

I’ve absolutely loved my time at SWMS – it’s been brilliant being around so many amazing musicians and exploring lots of different areas of music; it’s been a completely unique experience and it’s definitely inspired me to take music much more seriously than I would have done.

Henry Tozer:  On October 1st I begin a three year course studying Music at Cambridge University (along with being a Choral Scholar in the Robinson College Chapel Choir). Apart from the very exciting degree itself, I shall no doubt get involved with as many musical groups and projects as possible. I have been focusing on composition (thanks to my SWMS composition tutor Patrick Ozzard-Low) and would love to get some pieces played during my time at University.

South West Music School has truly opened doors - not just in the opportunities I have had but also in my mind. I have met and collaborated with so many great people, tried so many things I could never have done elsewhere and grown so much as a musician in these last two years.

Will Weir: Next year I'm going to study Jazz Drums at Birmingham Conservatoire, whilst continuing my quartet and promoting our album. South West music school has provided many situations that were well outside my comfort zones and as a result has broadened my musical horizons