RCM musicians selected for London Philharmonic Orchestra opportunity
Wednesday 3 October 2018
Six RCM musicians have been announced as London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) Foyle Future Firsts Development Programme participants for 2018/19. Violinists Eleonora Consta and Mathilde Gheorghiu, clarinettist Elliot Gresty, bassoonist Emma Westley, trumpeter Adam Stockbridge and pianist Imma Setiadi were chosen alongside 10 other outstanding young musicians.
The LPO’s Foyle Future Firsts Development Programme aims to bridge the transition between college and professional life. The annual programme is designed to nurture and develop talented orchestral players, forming the base for future orchestral appointments to the LPO and other world-class orchestras and ensembles.
Of the six RCM musicians chosen, three are now alumni of the College. Eleonora Consta, who studied with Jan Repko and Gaby Lester, joined the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2018. Adam Stockbridge was a founding member of Kensington Brass during his time at the RCM; the group went on to reach the final of the Royal Overseas League Chamber Music Competition in 2012. Since graduating, Adam has been principal trumpet of Orpheus Sinfonia. Emma Westley is a graduate of both the RCM Junior Department and senior College, studying with Andrea de Flammineis, Sarah Burnett and Julie Price and winning the RCM Bassoon Prize in her final term.
Mathilde Gheorghiu, Elliot Gresty and Imma Setiadi are still at the Royal College of Music, Mathilde on the Artist Diploma programme, Elliot as a Masters student and Imma as an accompanist and aural skills teacher. Elliot studied with Timothy Lines and Richard Hosford and won Woodwind Player of Promise in the 2018 Royal Overseas League competition. He was also principal clarinettist of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain between 2012 and 2014. Imma was an RCM Junior Fellow who studied with Nigel Clayton and Amanda Glauert, whilst Mathilde is currently studying with Sasha Rozhdestvensky as the beneficiary of an RCM award.
LPO Foyles Future Firsts participants 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 the Programme here.
