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TSO has always encouraged young people to make music and
frequently has young players performing in concerts as members of
the orchestra. Recently a bursary scheme has been
introduced. To qualify, you have to be a competent musician,
play with the orchestra during your last years at school, and be
intending to
continue
your music studies at
College or University.
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The third recipient of the TSO bursary is Joe Walters,
who has been a member of the trombone section
for several years. Joe is already well known in the local area,
as one of the principals with Arbroath Instrumental
Band, and Carnoustie and District Brass Band. On
the nation-wide scene, he has played with Edinburgh
Youth Orchestra, been a member of the National Youth Brass Band
of whom he is the principal bass trombonist and this year he won
the Scottish Under 21 Brass Solo. Further afield, Joe has
played with the European Youth Brass Band.
His skills are not confined to playing the trombone - he
has also done some composing, and his first work "Carpe Diem"
was performed in February 2011 in the Younger Hall at St
Andrews.
Joe is now studying at the RSAMD in Glasgow, where he looks
forward to meeting new people with similar interests, as well
as developing more as a player and composer.
Joe was presented with two cheques by Bill McLeod on 6th
September 2011 - one from TSO, the other from the Alex
Urquhart Bursary (of which Ron Walker is a trustee) ; they
come with TSO's best wishes and we look forward to hearing
about his achievements in the future.
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Bill
making the presentation
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The unobtrusive bass
trombone |
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The second recipient of the TSO
bursary is tuba player Ross Knight. Ross is already well known
in the local area, amongst other things as one of
the principals with Arbroath Instrumental Band. With TSO he performed
Edward Gregson's tuba concerto when only 15 and has been our
resident tuba player ever since.
Nationally, Ross has been a member of the National
Youth Brass Band and the National Children's Orchestra, both
in Scotland, and recently played at the Proms as principal
tuba with the National Youth Orchestra of Great
Britain. Further afield, he has played with the European Youth Brass
Band, and been a semi-finalist and best tuba player in the
European Solo Championships.
Ross was presented with his bursary cheque by TSO
chairman Bill McLeod during a rehearsal on 31st August
2010. Following his considerable success to date, he is
continuing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in
London and the best wishes of TSO go with
him.
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Bill and Ross at the presentation
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Ross in action
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The first recipient of the TSO bursary was violinist George
Smith. George played with TSO for more than two years, and has recently completed
his studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in
Glasgow.
George was presented with his bursary cheque at the end of the concert
in the Reid Hall, Forfar, on 11th February 2006, by Mary, Countess of
Strathmore, the orchestra's Honorary President.
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George with the Countess of Strathmore,
conductor Ron Walker, and Bill MacLeod, the TSO Chairman |
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