King’s Ely student offered rare ‘joint first study’ at Royal College of Music

A King's Ely pupil has accepted her offer from the Royal College of Music (RCM) to study both the French Horn and the Recorder.

The Royal College of Music Junior Department (RCMJD) rarely offers students ‘joint first study’, so Polly Casey, who is in Year 9 at King’s Ely Senior, has quite a busy schedule ahead of her when she starts to visit the RCM every Saturday, starting in September.

Neil Porter-Thaw, Director of Music at King’s Ely, said: “We are all delighted for Polly. She is an exceptional musician who excels in both French Horn and Recorder, and she is a great credit to her teachers and school. There is no doubt she will thrive at the RCM, and we look forward to watching her musical journey over the coming years.”

As a student at the RCMJD on Saturdays, Polly will enjoy fantastic chamber and orchestral opportunities, with at least two hours of chamber music coaching each week.

The RCM is one of the world’s greatest conservatoires, training gifted musicians from all over the world for international careers as performers, conductors and composers. Opened in 1883 by the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), the RCM has trained some of the most important figures in British and International music life, including composers such as Holst, Vaughan Williams, Turnage and Britten; conductors such as Leopold Stokowski, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Roger Norrington; singers such as Dame Joan Sutherland, Sir Thomas Allen and Alfie Boe; instrumentalists such as Sir James Galway, John Lill, Gervase de Peyer, and Natalie Clein.

Music is the beating heart of King’s Ely and is one of the reasons why the school came into existence in the first place. Over a third of students learn a musical instrument or receive vocal tuition and the quality, range and variety of ensembles all attest to the school’s musical pedigree. The school calendar is jam-packed with student-led and professional concerts, workshops and masterclasses, all of which, together with the excellence of the school’s Cathedral Choirs, highlight how music is the soul of the King’s Ely community and testify to its inclusivity.

To discover more about opportunities at King’s Ely, please visit: www.kingsely.org