What a fantastic achievement for Upper Sixth Music student, Lydia Hutton, who has been offered a place at the world-renowned Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

“I began learning the cello when I was 7 years old and I am still passionate about it. I achieved Grade 8 in my exam in July 2017 and gained a Distinction. My ambition is to be a professional musician and a music therapist and I believe that studying at a Conservatoire would be the best way to achieve these aspirations.”

Alongside studying for her A Levels in Music, Psychology and Photography, outside of college Lydia is also studying for her ATCL Performance Diploma. This qualification requires a high degree of attainment, combined with a professional attitude to preparation, communication, musicality, presentation and stagecraft. It is a professional qualification recognised by other musicians and music professionals around the world.

In recent months Lydia has auditioned at Leeds College of Music, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. So far she has been offered a place at Leeds College of Music as well as the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. “I decided to apply to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as it is a world-renowned college for music. With its brand new building that has just opened, it also has the best music facilities in the UK with unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary work within music.” The Conservatoire has offered Lydia a place so long as she receives two grade E’s in her A Levels, so they must have been extremely impressed with her audition!

We wish Lydia the very best of luck and look forward to hearing about her time at the Conservatoire in the near future.