Two prestigious offers for talented Darwen musician (From Blackburn Citizen)

Two prestigious offers for talented Darwen musician

5:12pm Monday 30th November 2009

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A TEENAGE classical musician has been offered places at two of the most prestigious colleges in the country.

Elizabeth Ann Robinson, 17, currently studying at St Mary's College in Blackburn, has the choice of The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff for next year.

The two famous institutions have both offered her unconditional places to study music despite her only playing the French horn for two years when she started at the college in Shear Brow.

Elizabeth, who lives in Darwen, is the principal French horn of the Halle Youth Orchestra but also plays the trumpet and piano.

She said: “It is very hard work and quite tiring since I have to practise a minimum of three to four hours per day on French horn. Then there’s piano practice, the rest of my academic studies and an Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music diploma.

“I just love to play. I owe a lot to St Mary’s College, but most especially the head of music, Adrian Melia, who first let me borrow his French horn to ‘have a go’ two years ago and to Carl Raven who has also encouraged me with my performances both solo and in the college band. The music staff at college are the absolute best. They make us work hard but encourage us all to reach our potential. It is fantastic to be part of the department.”

She said that last week, just after her audition at The Royal Northern College of Music, she was given an offer of a guaranteed place. And on Wednesday, after an audition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, she was also offered another unconditional place, with the possibility of a scholarship.

Mr Melia said: “Elizabeth is an extremely talented and hard working musician and has fantastic future ahead of her. We are very proud of her achievements and are grateful for her unstinting support at the college.”

Elizabeth has been awarded the ‘Philip Cottam Memorial Prize’ for contribution to the musical life of the College and will be awarded at the annual prize night next month at King George’s Hall.

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