When Malvern College approached me to take over from the wonderful John Madden as artistic director for NSSO, I was thrilled to bits! Music courses were the highlight of my childhood. I lived from course to course with an actual count down on my wall to see how many sleeps until the next time I could go to one of these magical places. In a world of seemingly endless school exams, it’s never been more important to remember what experiences shape a child’s life. The friends made, the skills learnt, and the social experiences enjoyed alongside developing a real passion for music of all genres made me into the person I am today, and I can’t wait to meet this year’s NSSO students and share with them a truly life changing experience.
We couldn’t offer them a more spectacular venue for the course. When I first visited NSSO at Malvern College I felt I’d stepped into a musical Hogwarts… as I walked around the grounds with the imposing Malvern Hills rising behind the campus, I stared agog at the historical majesty of the chapel and the main school with its Victorian architecture. Then as I crossed the immaculately kept cricket pitches, we then entered the plush accommodation of the boarding houses, with cosy clean dormitories, reminding me of midnight feasts, and a real sense of a home from home.
This summer we will be inviting children to come and experience an unforgettable week with us as we nurture their talent and help them develop their musical skills. Our hand-picked faculty are experts in their fields and will support and inspire them to reach new musical heights.
I look forward to meeting you all at Malvern this summer – get practising everyone!