Rachel Weston

Rachel is an exceptionally talented musician who began playing violin during her pre-school year and has made fantastic progress over the years. Rachel won a whole school talent show in November of foundation her foundation year at the very young age of 5, playing in front of the whole school just two months after starting school! From year 1 until year 3 Rachel attended Ferrers Music Centre (Northants Music service) every Saturday morning, playing in string ensembles and orchestra. By year 3 she was playing in all of the senior groups with secondary age students. Whilst in year 2 Rachel took part in the Lincolnshire Massed String Celebration project, which brought together over 300 string players for a large concert in Grantham and at the end of year 3 won the Gordon Robinson Award for services to a Music Centre. This was presented at Derngate Theatre in Northampton. Ever since year 4 Rachel has played in the Spalding Senior String Ensemble and now she’s in year 6 she performs in the Lincolnshire Youth Concert Orchestra, playing alongside mainly older students. Rachel has passed all five of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music “Music Medals” (Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). Silver, Gold and Platinum were all passed with excellence. Most recently Rachel has passed her Grade 5 Theory (Distinction – 93/100) in March 2019, Grade 4 Violin exam with merit in December 2017 and her Grade 1 piano with 146/15. She will be taking grade 6 violin at the end of year 6.  Rachel receives piano lessons in school and has passed grade 1 and grade 2 theory with 97% and 99%. As a talented musician, Rachel supports teachers in planning and organising Thursday assemblies.  She ensures that all children in the school who play an instrument have a slot in which to perform in front of the school; coordinating their time slots and music.  She provides support and encouragement to those children who are nervous when playing in front of others. Rachel has been awarded a music place at The King's School in Peterborough from Sept 2019.

George Hall

George Hall is a budding multi-instrumentalist who, since finding his father's old cornet in a cupboard at the age of six, has had a desire to make music. He has worked hard to learn to play the trumpet, French horn and jazz piano, and has a growing interest in music composition and arrangement. George is currently an active member of: Lincolnshire Youth Wind Orchestra (Trumpet), Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra (Horn), Lincoln Music Service Orchestra (Horn), Jazz Vehicle (Trumpet), LSST School Orchestra (Horn, Trumpet, and Arrangement), Saxilby Village Band, and a student led Jazz group. George is currently looking at the Conservatoires to see where he can further his career and musical journey and applying to join the National Youth Orchestra. George has participated in concert performances at the Lincoln Epic Centre with the County Orchestras; with Jazz Vehicle concerts at Lincoln Drill Hall, Colby Church, Terry O'Toole Theatre; Lincoln Music Service Orchestra two concerts at St Giles parish church. Numerous school ensemble concerts. He performed with Lincoln Symphony Orchestra at the Music for Youth concert in Birmingham in July, and amazing achievement. At School, George performed on Trumpet during their staging of the musical “Into The Woods” playing for two sold-out nights. As a Solo instrumentalist, George has played the Last Post for Remembrance Day at school and Lincoln St John Baptist Church for a number of years. George performed with school and as a soloist at the Lincoln Music Festival this year, and attained First Place in a brass solo on his horn, and brass repertoire on his trumpet. He was awarded a trophy and asked to return and perform at the Festival concert, during which he was awarded a £500 Bursary to spend at a The Guildhall School of Music summer school Jazz course, in London. George is currently in year 12 and is teaching year 7 pupils at LSST on a teaching bursary, and hoping to encourage more children to take up instruments. His enthusiasm and love of music have led to many of his friends joining him in county groups.

Freya Whitfield

Freya is an all-round advanced musician. She is a grade 8 violinist, grade 6 pianist, grade 7 Bb and bass clarinettist and has a distinction for Grade 8 viola. She is an active member of her school orchestra and the Clarinet club. She is on the gifted and talented children’s list for Lincolnshire. She is a member of Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra played at the Engine shed in April following a music residential. She is the leader for Grantham Senior Strings and has performed locally under the baton of Richard Green, the last one being the spring concert. As a member of National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain for 3 years she has played at various venues including  Birmingham Town hall and Cambridge Concert Hall. She is heavily involved in music with the Oasby Music Group, in which she is a founder member. She plays viola for the Arioso quartet and Giocoso quintet and violin for the award winning Cantabile violin quartet and their most advanced large ensemble. Her first international musical tour to Belgium in February resulted in playing in two concerts for the international audience.  She has performed solos and ensembles in the local festivals winning many times and has been invited to perform at the Grantham and North London trophy concerts. She played her clarinet at the Grantham Trophy Winners’ Concert 2019. She has had master classes from Nicola Benedetti, Tasmin Little and Stringcredibles and played under the baton of famous conductors Alex Laing and Jonathan Bloxham. She played the violin at the  “War requiem Lincolnshire Remembers” concert at Lincoln Cathedral in Nov 2018. She won KS3 strings class and received trophies for G5/6 Woodwind Solo and Instrumental duet and was part of the winning ensembles at GMF 2019. She was involved in Improvisation workshops with Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchestra and conferences and play days with Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain and European teachers’ Association(ESTA) in Nottingham University and Safron Hall. She performs regularly at Welby Carol Service. Her violin quartet won Ann Abbot trophy for the best performance of the Grantham Festival twice, best overall ensemble performance of 2018 and winner of under 15 ensembles 2019 of North London Festival and became Procorda under 12 national champions in 2018. They were invited to Leeds Town Hall by Nicola Benedetti to showcase them as an example of excellence. They played at various venues including Grantham St Wulfrem’s Church, Army officers’ mess and Choral Society Christmas Concert and performed their own Procorda concert at Leiston Abbey, Suffolk in 2018. She has been featured in ESTA magazine and Grantham Journal for the achievement for her quartet and NCOGB success and recently again on BBC radio Lincolnshire and BBC Look North as part of LMS LYSO orchestra. She is mentioned in the school newsletter and her photo is displayed on the school wall. She is currently involved in the six month project called “The big youth music experience” with Music for Everyone played at the Albert Hall, Nottingham.

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