UCS musician scores success with NYO

This month UCS pupil Finn Kjaergaard has celebrated the outstanding achievement of being accepted into the National Youth Orchestra.

After auditioning in Manchester during the summer, violinist Finn was delighted to learn that he had won his place in the orchestra. The talented Year 10 musician cannot wait to attend a residential with the NYO at Christmas, when he will meet up with friends and perform in a concert. 

On what he is most looking forward to, Finn commented: “The music we’re playing, seeing people I haven’t seen since the pandemic began, meeting new people, playing in concerts with incredible people in incredible places; the list goes on. It’s just such an exciting time and I cannot wait to enjoy every bit.”

Many of Finn’s out-of-school musical endeavours were curtailed during the pandemic. However, he spoke excitedly about the opportunity to start playing with orchestras in person again: “The music just fills you and the room. It’s amazing.”

Though Finn has been busy outside of school preparing for his work with the NYO, he remains an important part of the UCS Music scene. This academic year he is on the first desk of the first violins in Symphony Orchestra, leads a String Quartet of older pupils and has joined the elite Chamber Orchestra.

Finn balances his violin playing with studying for his GCSEs which, of course, include Music but also Greek, Latin, Mandarin and History among others.