Music at Ampleforth

By Lucy Barrett (B) Year 12

In the College I am involved in many of the fabulous groups on offer by the music department and I play the flute, violin, and piano. I play violin in the String Ensemble (Pro Musica), and in the school orchestra and am just about to start playing flute in a baroque ensemble with the Chamber Choir. Also, weekly, I have a rehearsal with “Not only is my life filled with Mr Dore to improve music whilst at the College, but my skills playing with an accompanist. I’m I also do much outside school.” also involved in the academic side of the music department as I am in my first term of doing music A-level and am thoroughly enjoying looking more deeply into a diverse range of music and building on my composition skills. The most enjoyable part of Ampleforth Music is Pro Musica as I really enjoy the pieces we play and playing in a small ensemble is always exciting. For me, the most exciting music event I’ve taken part in at the College is when I played in the band for the school musical that went on last year. It was a really fulfilling experience and I learnt so much. Not only is my life filled with music whilst at the College, but I also do much outside school. During the holidays, I will be on week-long residentials as part of the National Youth Orchestra playing flute and I’m constantly putting myself forward for competitions where I live. Even though I do these things outside of school, the music department is always so supportive and helpful in this part of my musical life as well. In the future, I am aspiring to go to either the Royal Academy or Royal College of Music to study the flute, but before then I want to see how far I can get in BBC Young Musician of the year next time around.