The cream of Bradford’s talented young musicians are being given a helping hand to further improve their skills.
Three students from the district have been selected to join the prestigious Yorkshire Young Musicians - a unique partnership comprising Opera North, Leeds College of Music and all sixteen local authority music services in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
All three were pupils of the Delius School, which provides support to the most musically gifted and talented pupils in the Bradford district and is run by Bradford Council’s Music and Arts Service. The Delius School gives children the opportunity to pursue music in their education, career and life. They are supported and taught by specialists in musicianship and teaching.
Isabel Wood and Ben Zajac, both 11, are joining Jake Jones who joined Yorkshire Young Musicians last year.
Isabel, who has just started at Bingley Grammar School, plays the violin and attended the Delius School for four years while a pupil at Eldwick Primary School. Compositions created while in the Delius School helped her gain the place at Yorkshire Young Musicians.
Ben, who left Low Ash Primary for Dixons City Academy in September, plays piano and was at Delius School for a year.
Jake, now 12, attends Beckfoot School and has been with Yorkshire Young Musicians for a year. He is such a talented trombonist and composer that he composed and played a musical piece at the Music and Arts Service Schools Prom last year at St George’s Hall, Bradford.
Felicity French, Head of Ensemble Provision, Bradford Music and Arts Service, said: “We are really proud of these students who have worked really hard to reach the standard required of Yorkshire Young Musicians. In addition to the valuable general musicianship skills that they gained at the Delius School, all three made really good progress on their main instrument. We want to wish them all the best for the future – at YYM and whatever follows.”
Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “There is a lot of musical talent in Bradford District schools and these three students are shining examples of that. Music plays an important part in our lives and in the development of confidence and teamwork with children and young people. I want to wish these three young people, and all the others who play instruments and sing, all the best in their musical endeavours.”
