Exceptional musician Michelle receives musical invitation

Michelle Z has become the first ever pupil from King’s Hawford Prep School to successfully audition for the prestigious Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. This is a very impressive achievement by Year 6 pupil Michelle. Michelle has been offered joint principal study for piano and violin which she has accepted. Michelle auditioned on the final day before half term and we are very proud of her achievement.

“Joining the Royal Birmingham Junior Conservatoire is a really exciting opportunity to play with brilliant musicians and have lessons that will help me to enhance my performance. I will be able to play in lot of different ensembles and orchestras which I am really looking forward to“.

Over Half Term Michelle also found the time to reach the finals in another prestigious music competition: The Bromsgrove Young Musicians’ Platform 2023. Michelle is an exceptional musician. The standard at the competition was phenomenally high, drawing musicians from across the country, as it is the Junior leg of the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition.

Of the experience Michelle said: “Getting in the Bromsgrove Finals was great this year and next year I’m aspiring to win. I’ve gained experience and now I think I can do it.  How you perform your pieces is key“.

Michelle’s relentless effort and unwavering dedication to her musical studies and her desire to always learn and improve means she is an inspiration for all of our young musicians at King’s Hawford.

Michelle started her King’s journey in Kindergarten 1 and has taken advantage of all of the brilliant opportunities on offer at King’s Hawford. She started playing the piano at 5 years old and started learning the violin at 8 years old:

“My mum and dad offered me the chance to try piano and I really enjoyed it. I wanted to play a second instrument as they can compliment each other and enhance my playing. I tried cello but loved the violin so I chose that”.

We asked Michelle if she had any advice for budding musicians at the start of their music journey:

“The secret to any success is practice. It’s not just playing the whole piece over again it’s picking out the parts that are difficult and practising them until they are perfect. It’s like cleaning out a house, you have to clean out the dusty parts the most not just clean the whole house over and over again. If  you put your effort into the dusty parts, then they will shine as much as the rest of the house”.

Michelle’s ultimate goal is to get as far as she can with an instrument. She reflects: “You never really get to the end of an instrument’s capabilities. I want to get as far as I can and teach other people to go even further“.

To date Michelle’s proudest moments are achieving Grade 7 piano where she scored an impressive 144 out 150 giving her her highest score to date and winning Gold in the London Young Musician Competition in Year 5.

At present Michelle is focusing on her Grade 8 violin exams which take place this month and will then be moving onto complete a diploma in both violin and piano. The future certainly looks bright and Michelle still has plenty of dreams left to achieve:

“One day I really want to play the Max Bruch’s violin concerto No. 1 in G minor with an orchestra. It’s an incredibly famous piece and I heard it on the radio and was completely enchanted by it”.

We wish Michelle lots of luck as she continues her musical journey.