Over the past Term, I have been preparing for the Performance Competition at the Royal College of Music Junior Department where, COVID-19-permitting, I study on Saturdays. As well as being the most highly contested award of the RCMJD calendar amongst my peers, the prize marked a return to ‘in-person’ competitions after a year-long drought.
Despite the COVID-19-induced lack of audience, I presented my repertoire (Hubay- Carmen Fantasie Brillante, from Bizet’s opera) to the three jurors as well as my teacher in the West Parry Room, nestled at the very top of RCM. Rehearsal time with my accompanist had been incredibly tight, so on a wing and a prayer, we set off on what seemed like an epic musical journey spanning ten minutes of operatic acrobatics. Miraculously I won! I was exhausted, and despite having snapped four hairs off my bow, I was so happy!
Further competition success of late has come in the form of the Haslemere International Online String Competition, for which I submitted a recording of the same repertoire, unfortunately without accompaniment. I placed second in my age category and have been invited to present a 20-minute recital as a prize-winner later in the year.
Flora, Year 11
