Churcher’s College Junior School pupil chosen for National Children’s Orchestra

Churcher’s College Junior School pupil Shoshana Yugin-Power has been selected for the National Children’s Orchestra (NCO) 2018 to play the flute.

Ten-year-old Shoshana auditioned alongside 1200 children for a place and was thrilled to be successful, with flute places being one of the most competitive instruments.

Shoshana has played the flute for just over four years since she was six years old and is currently preparing for Grade 8. She has been taught by peripatetic teachers at Churcher’s College Junior School, Sally Shillabeer and Simon Diggens. Musically gifted, Shoshana also plays the recorder and is taking Grade 7 soon, as well as working to Grade 7 on the piano. She recently got a distinction for Grade 5 singing and has just started teaching herself the bassoon.

Shoshana said: ‘I am so excited to be part of a national symphonic orchestra! I love playing the flute, as well as my other instruments, and I worked really hard for this audition. There were a lot of brilliant musicians participating, which made it even more special that I was selected – it’s a great honour! I would like to be a professional musician when I grow up.’

Ffion Robinson, Head of Churcher’s College Junior School, said: ‘We are very proud of Shoshana’s musical achievement. Almost half our Junior School children play an instrument in peripatetic lessons at school, which offer many learning and development benefits as well as progression with their instrument of choice. It’s wonderful to see such talent being recognised and I’m looking forward to seeing Shoshana play in concert soon!’

Shoshana will join the South Easterly Orchestra once a month for rehearsals. All young musicians who play in one of the national age-banded orchestras are also offered membership of a regional orchestra that will perform an annual concert in November. This allows NCO members to meet every month between courses and rehearse repertoire with other NCO members in the region. The U11 Orchestra attends a summer school at Port Regis School in Dorset, which culminates in a concert at the end.