Mount Kelly Year 5 trumpeter Alex Smith, has won a place in the highly prestigious National Children’s Orchestra for 2015. Inclusion in the Orchestra is extremely selective with many children competing for limited performance places. The group consists of a String Training Orchestra, as well as four separate Symphony Orchestras for U11s through U14s, providing young musicians with a world-class foundation for orchestral performance and musicianship. Alex has been selected for the U11’s Orchestra and will also attend the “Southwesterlies” Orchestra who meet on occasional dates during the term. The “Southwesterlies” brings together NCO musicians across the age groups in the region.
Alex has also been offered a place in the National Children’s Wind Sinfonia along with his sister, Mount Kelly Year 7 Charlotte Smith, who is a flautist. This is another elite performance group with places highly contested and selection by performance, sight reading tests and interview. These orchestras offer young musicians the opportunity to be guided by top musicians and to play in some of the finest concert venues in the country as well as residential courses during school holidays.
Commented Matthew Foale, Head of the Prep at Mount Kelly: “We are immensely proud of Charlotte and Alex who have worked incredibly hard to develop their talent. We wish them every luck as they take up this opportunity to perform on a national stage.”
