Firstly, I'm sorry for breaking a promise....despite my best efforts to try and update the blog on Sunday morning, I actually ended up spending most of the time travelling back to Manchester from Newcastle, and catching up on some much needed rest!
Well, as many of you may know, the BBC YMOY was clarinetist Mark Simpson, from Liverpool. Although I played very well, and enjoyed myself immensely, it just wasn't to be, and Mark (who I know through the NYO) deserves many congratulations for a terrific performance.
My time at the Sage, Gateshead, was equally fantastic and the rehearsals with the Northern Sinfonia and Yan Pascal Tortelier were a great experience. The whole few days made me realise that this is most certainly what I want to do in life, and my brief time on the platform was a truly uplifting and exhilarating time. Interestingly, speaking with the trumpet judge Sergei Nakariakov, he told me that he has never played the Tomasi in public, for obvious reasons, even though he recorded it aged fifteen! So having broken that barrier before leaving school, I can certainly be pleased with myself.
My most heartfelt thanks go to my parents, my accompanist, all my teachers for their help in the BBC preparation, my girlfriend Lydia (who is also a trumpeter in the NYO) and all those who have listened to me performing the Tomasi over the last couple of weeks.
Well, with BBC out of the way, I'm now looking forward to the end of year activities at Chets, and my A-levels which are just around the corner(!) I also have a Wigmore Hall recital to look forward to, two years representation by the Young Concert Artists' Trust, a £2000 award which will go towards the purchase of a new Schilke Eb trumpet and a prospective tour of the Middle East in December. Not bad, and I didn't even win!
