Violinist Fred is accepted into the National Youth Orchestra of Wales

Hereford Cathedral School Year 10 violinist, Fred M, is continuing his journey of musical excellence after being accepted into the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOOW).

The music scholar said he was delighted to have been accepted into the oldest national youth orchestra in the world.

Fred, who plays the violin at Grade 8, will now be attending residential courses with the renowned Cardiff-based orchestra in the school holidays, when he will enjoy a first-class training experience with professional musicians. He will also be performing with the NYOOW in Hereford Cathedral for the Three Choirs Festival this summer.

Fred has been playing the violin since the age of 6, and achieved Grade 8 at the age of 13 with an impressively high distinction: 143 out of 150. 

The 15-year-old plays with the HCS Symphony Orchestra, and, outside school, with Herefordshire Youth Orchestra and a string trio with his sister and cousin. 

HCS Director of Music, Mr David Evans, commented: “I'm delighted to know that Fred has been offered a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. An outstanding orchestra and the first British Youth Orchestra! Fred will gain enormously from the experience, travel widely in the summer and play alongside Wales's foremost young musicians.”

Click below to watch Fred perform Number 6, Mărunțel, from Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances. The final three movements comprised one of his Grade 8 pieces in 2020.