Composing Himself

Oliver Allen (16) is one of the band’s horn players. He’s one of many young people that have moved through the band’s Training Band system and having become a member of the band in 2014, performed at his first Area Contest this year on 2^nd horn – the first year the band has appeared in the Championship Section.

2016 has been a busy year, mainly preparing for GCSEs and has achieved a great set of results including a grade A in Music. Oliver has now moved on to take Music and Music Technology as 2 of his three A levels at King Edward VI College in Nuneaton.

As an addition to this, Oli’s also been preparing for an audition to focus on his composition skills – something the band has had the pleasure of sharing as one of his pieces of coursework for GCSE was written for brass band.

He is overjoyed to have recently been awarded a place at Birmingham Conservatoire’s Junior Department as a first study composer and second study singer. The Conservatoire delivers “specialist training to young musicians between the ages of eight and 18 with exceptional potential, and the ability to achieve that potential”. He’ll be attending all day on Saturdays for the next year and we wish him a fantastic year pursuing his huge passion for creating and taking part in music at this esteemed establishment.

Well done Oli!