In December, a number of our string members attended and represented the School at the Christmas Kent County Youth Orchestra course. Read Lizzy Drummond’s (Upper Sixth) account of the event below:

“Jack Price and I were in the first violins with Alexander Tolhurst and Joseph Gillett the seconds. It was lovely to see Old Suttonian Lara Bowles (who is in her second year of study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama) leading the viola section. Lara is heading for what must be a record 10 years of being a county player!

During this course, we focused on a hugely demanding all-Russian programme including Prokofiev Symphony No.7 and Stravinsky Firebird Suite (1919 edition). These major works presented contrasting challenges, but after five days of around six to eight hours of rehearsals, we got there. It is safe to say that all of us have come on leaps and bounds from attending these wonderful courses.”