First-year flautist in Southbank concert

30 October 2020

When the National Youth of Orchestra of Great Britain played their first live concert since lockdown earlier this week, Hertford fresher Isabella Thorneycroft was centre stage with a solo performance.

Isabella is the principal flautist in the National Youth Orchestra, whose performance at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall was broadcast last night on BBC Radio 3. The concert featured a repertoire explored during the NYO’s recent digital residency, which explored the work of Black composers and saw the orchestra learning more about the stories of Black musicians and racial justice initiatives. At the heart of the performance was Mighty River by Belize-born British composer Errollyn Wallen, a piece exploring the history of the slave trade in Britain and including gospel music and spirituals. The concert also featured chamber music chosen by NYO musicians, including Isabella’s expressive solo piece, Flute Set by Adolphus Hailstork.

Isabella has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra since 2018 and came to Hertford earlier this month from Tynemouth to read Music. The NYO concert is available via BBC Sounds for 30 days (Isabella’s solo at 1:44:30).