RCM musicians selected for London Philharmonic Orchestra schemes to prepare for profession
Friday 16 October 2020
Five RCM musicians have been announced as London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) Foyle Future First members for 2020/21 and one RCMJD musician joins the LPO Junior Artist scheme this year.
Recent RCM alumni violinist Ines Delgado, Flora Bain, who plays French Horn, pianist Fionnuala Ward and trombonist Merin Rhyd were chosen alongside current student, trumpeter Nick Walker to join LPO Foyle Future Firsts. The annual programme aims to bridge the transition between college and professional life for outstanding musicians. Designed to nurture and develop talented orchestral players, the scheme forms the base for future appointments to the LPO and other world-class orchestras and ensembles.
RCM Junior Department cellist, Riya Hamie, joins the LPO Junior Artist scheme this year. Junior Artists is a free orchestral experience programme for talented young musicians from backgrounds currently under-represented in professional UK orchestras. The programme offers support, advice and professional insight to exceptional players of orchestral instruments, aged 15 – 19.
Violinist Ines Delgado recently graduated with a Masters from the RCM, where she studied with Yuri Zhislin, supported by a Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Award. She is a member of the Salomé Quartet and the Aida Duo and is currently on trial with the Ulster Orchestra for the position of Second Violin Section Leader. Horn player Flora Bain also recently graduated from the RCM, where she was taught by Simon Rayner, Jeffrey Bryant, Timothy Jones, John Ryan and Kira Doherty. She has played with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, The London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Welsh National Opera. She is currently on trial for fourth horn at the Orchestra of Opera North and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Pianist Fionnuala Ward graduated from the RCM with a Masters in 2018, having studied with Ashley Wass. Fionnuala is currently the orchestral pianist for the European Union Youth Orchestra, joining them for their 2018 Summer Tour with performances across Europe, including the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Recent solo performances include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Laganside Sinfonia and her debut at St John’s Smith Square performing Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. Fellow graduate Merin Rhyd completed his degree as a tenor trombonist this year, having studied with Lindsay Shilling as the Lord and Lady Davies of Abersoch Soirée d'Or Award Holder and a recipient of the Arthur Wilson Trombone Award.
Trumpeter Nick Walker is currently studying for his Masters at the RCM, supported by Help Musicians UK. He studies trumpet with David Elton, Alistair Mackie and Jason Evans, and natural trumpet with Neil Brough and Paul Sharp. Alongside his studies, Nick has worked with the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Dunedin Consort.
Riya Hamie studies cello at the RCM Junior Department with Michal Kasnowski. In 2018, Riya received the Cecil Aronowitz cup for the most promising string player at the Brighton & Hove Performing Arts Festival and in 2019, she won the RCMJD Barbara Boissard Concerto Competition.
LPO Foyles Future Firsts are given the opportunity to play alongside LPO professionals in rehearsals throughout the year, take lessons with LPO Principals, give mock auditions in front of a panel of LPO Principals, develop creative leadership skills through the Education and Community Programme and perform alongside LPO members at a top London venue at the end of the year.
Find out more about LPO Foyle Future Firsts and LPO Junior Artists.
