Prior Park Violinist Earns Place in National Orchestra

30 Nov 2012

15 year old Prior Park College pupil, Lizzie Daniels has earned a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO).

The NYO was founded in 1948 and provides a wonderful opportunity to work with some of the very best conductors and tutors. It meets three times a year and reaches a very large audience through its concerts, educational projects, open days and broadcasts. It has been described as “the most uplifting orchestra in the world” (The Times).

NYO members are between the ages of 13 and 19. The orchestra holds regional auditions at various locations round the country, followed by second round auditions in London. Lizzie says of the audition process: “I was nervous beforehand, but the panel was friendly and once I got playing, I enjoyed it. I was delighted to be offered a place.”

Prior Park Director of Music, Mr Roland Robertson, is also delighted: “It’s great to see Lizzie’s talent recognised at national level. We have an exceptional group of string players at present and Lizzie’s NYO work will lift us all to new levels.”

Headmaster, Mr James Murphy-O’Connor adds: “Prior Park has an impressive tradition of music and we are very proud of Lizzie’s achievement. With her extraordinary talent and generous spirit we know that she will be an inspiration to all of our musicians.”

Lizzie learns the violin with distinguished violist Philip Dukes. She particularly enjoys orchestral playing and has played in the National Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, notably as leader in 2011.
She will join the NYO this winter for a programme conducted by John Wilson including Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Holst’s The Planets suite and John Adams’s Guide to Strange Places.

Concerts are on Saturday 5 January at 7.30pm at Leeds Town Hall (http://bit.ly/PnhNgB) and on Sunday 6 January 2013 at 3.30pm at the Barbican Hall, London (020 7638 8891), www.barbican.org.uk. All seats for the under 25s are £5.