August Graduate of the Month
This month’s Graduate is Meghan, who was part of the London Music Fund’s first cohort of Scholars from 2011-15. She was nominated by her primary school, having reached Grade 3-4 on the flute after less than three years of 10-minute weekly lessons, showing great potential and dedication.
By the end of her Scholarship she had reached Grade 6 level on the flute and had taken up the piccolo and the saxophone too! She was a member of flute ensemble, wind band, orchestra and choir at her school, and played in several Redbridge Music School ensembles over the years. Meghan continued her learning supported by RMS after her Scholarship came to an end, achieving distinctions for her Grade 7 and Grade 8 flute exams. She took both Music and Music Technology A level, achieving B grades for both.
Ten years after beginning her LMF Scholarship, Meghan is now studying at the London College of Music for a degree in Music Performance. She has aspirations to progress even further to a Masters at conservatoire after completing her degree.
We asked Meghan some questions about her experience of the Scholarship programme and her musical journey since:
Tell us about being a London Music Fund (formerly the Mayor's Fund for Young Musicians!) Scholar. What did you get from the experience?
I gained valuable experiences throughout the four years, I discovered that music is my passion and who I want to become in the future. I gained confidence in both my playing and myself in general and learned how to play well and communicate well as both a group band/orchestra as well as a solo performer.
Tell us about your best moment(s) of being a Scholar – did you get to perform in some cool places/meet some interesting and exciting people?
I got to play at City Hall and meet the Mayor which was truly amazing. I played alongside Julian Bliss as a graduate mentor to current Scholars and that taught me a lot about how important the early stages of a person’s experience are as an up-and-coming musician.
What impact, if any, has music had on your life?
Music has had a massive impact on me, it has made me the person I am today, it has brought out the best in me and has taught me so much. I’ve made the most amazing friends through my music service which will forever be by my side to guide me. I have a stammer and music is a way of expressing myself without the worry of people judging me and it gives me a great escape from that.
Did being a London Music Fund Scholar affect your attitude to learning music? Can you tell us how?
Before getting the Scholarship, honestly, I thought that learning the flute wouldn’t last long, but becoming a Scholar made me realise how much of a passion I have for music and how much I want to succeed to the best I can and eventually become a professional musician.
How have you kept your music going during the pandemic?
During the pandemic I have kept up with personal practice as well as taking part in multiple online courses with Music Theatre Essex, we released a single of You Will be Found from the musical Dear Even Hansen, and even put on an entire lockdown musical written by the MD at Music Theatre Essex. Once I was allowed back on campus I took park in as many ensembles as I could. I had the opportunity to play in the productions of Little Women and The Drowsey Chaperone. These were amazing experiences even with covid restrictions. I used lockdown as a time to work on my personal playing and to take time to reflect on how I could bring myself forward.
What are you looking forward to in the next year?
Over the next year I am looking forward to more opportunities that London College of Music will bring me. I will be taking my ALCM diploma next summer and hopefully lots more concert opportunities due to the further relaxing of restrictions. This August I have been hired to play at the Beck Theatre in another production of The Drowsey Chaperone, so I am hoping for many more opportunities like that. I am also looking forward to another amazing year learning from the brilliant teachers and lectures at LCM.