Young Lincolnshire musicians join national orchestra

Eight young musicians from Lincolnshire, including two from Grantham, have been selected to play with one of the world’s finest children’s orchestras, the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCO).

The youngsters were chosen from more than 1,130 children aged seven to 13 from across Great Britain. Violinist Agatha Parkin, 11, has gained a place in the Under-12 Orchestra. This will be Agatha’s third year with the NCO.

Cellist Aakash Jansari, 10, has gained a place in the Under 11 Orchestra for his second year with the NCO.

Violinists Freya Whitfield, 9, and Hester Parkin, 9, successfully gained places in the Under-10 Orchestra, Hester joining the NCO for the second year. Daisy Griffiths, 9, gained an associate membership of the Under-10 Orchestra and violinists Shivani Jansari, 8, Amelia Whitfield, 8, and Isaac Kendon, 7, have all gained places in the Training Orchestra. Shivani joins the NCO for the second year in 2016.

The children are all thrilled about winning a place with the orchestras this year. Their violin teacher, Laura Gardiner, said: “Performing with the NCO is a unique experience. The children will work with top professional musicians on their residential courses and throughout the year at regional rehearsals. This is a fantastic opportunity for all the children and it is an honour for them to have been selected. The NCO offers the chance to combine passion for music with fun and friendship and as an alumnus of NCO myself, I know the children will have a fantastic year.”

NCO alumni include winners of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition, Guy Johnston (2000), Nicola Benedetti (2004) and Martin James Bartlett (2014), as well as the Principal Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Robin Ticciati, and the internationally-acclaimed young conductor, Daniel Harding.

The NCO experience is frequently praised by players and their parents for fostering an ethos among the members of aspiring to the highest standards in everything that they do. The children began regional rehearsals in January and will attend residential courses in the school holidays.

For more information about the NCO visit www.nco.org.uk