From Grade 1 to the Royal Festival Hall

Lynne Plummer made a welcome return to the Club on 24th October with a talk entitled 'From Grade 1 to the Royal Festival Hall'. She took us on the journey that a child makes from starting to learn music up to the final of the Young Musician of the Year competition. Illustrated with recorded interviews and music Lynne showed just how much work is required to reach the upper levels of the profession and also how much care must be taken by teachers to ensure that their pupils don't develop too rapidly. Along the way Lynne pointed out the contributions of the Associated Board of Examiners who set the grading system along with organisations such as the National Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and in Venezuela the Simon Bolivar Orchestra. She also pointed out some of the former child stars who have gone on to professional careers (such as clarinettist Michael Collins, winner of the first BBC Young Musician of the Year) and those who have made successful careers in other areas such as the former boy choristers Simon Russell Beale (now a successful actor) and Howard Goodall (composer).

Lynne left us all with renewed admiration for the talent and dedication of those children and young people who take the path that she had mapped out.