Personal Statement:Music 9

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Music has always been part of my life and my passion was firmly established by the time I started as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2000. I enjoyed five years of wonderful music making of the highest level which has embedded in me a deep love of choral music. Highlights include performing at Royal events, at the Proms, on television and with Bernard Haitink, as well singing the famous Allegri Miserere solo on several occasions. But alongside the high-profile singing that goes with such a choir, I came to love the daily round of sacred music. I participated at Edington – a Festival of Music within the Liturgy where I sang alongside trebles from other Cathedral Choirs. As well as touring abroad and many recordings, I won the Probationer prize in my first year and the cup for the best solo singer in my last. Whilst at St Paul’s I had piano and trumpet lessons, passed grade 5 theory and grade 8 singing with distinction and performed in many orchestras, bands and chamber music ensembles. St Paul’s and my love of church music is an experience which will stay with me forever.

At thirteen I won a music scholarship to The King’s School, Canterbury where the many opportunities have allowed me to pursue my love for music. I am very active and sing in several choirs, at services in the Cathedral and perform with two orchestras on the trumpet on which I have taken grade 8. In 2008 I performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 with the School Chamber Orchestra. I am currently working hard at piano accompaniment, as I am soon to accompany a friend in his diploma exam.

My musical experiences at King’s, for instance the jazz groups and close harmony ensembles, have broadened my musical interests and helped me to learn to work as part of a team. I believe my individual pursuits have helped me to develop a tenacity and independence in learning. I am a keen and committed student with a genuine love of music who is looking forward to the opportunities and challenges at university where I can immerse myself in the subject in a more academic way and pursue my musical ambitions.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Whilst at St Paul’s I had piano and trumpet lessons, passed grade 5 theory and grade 8 singing with distinction and performed in many orchestras, bands and chamber music ensembles. At thirteen I won a music scholarship to The King’s School, Canterbury where the many opportunities have allowed me to pursue my love for music. I am very active and sing in several choirs, at services in the Cathedral and perform with two orchestras on the trumpet on which I have taken grade 8. In 2008 I performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 with the School Chamber Orchestra. I am currently working hard at piano accompaniment, as I am soon to accompany a friend in his diploma exam.

Outside of school I have taken advantage of other musical opportunities. During the school holidays I have been actively involved in the Dulwich Youth Orchestra with whom I performed the Hummel Trumpet Concerto in 2007. Since then I have helped as an assistant, performing such duties as coaching, pastoral care and administration. This work experience has given me the responsibility of looking after children and observing how they learn, and an insight into how organisation, teamwork and careful planning bring about a successful outcome.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

I have been diabetic since the age of four which has, at times, proved to be an almost insurmountable hurdle. I had many years when, despite the best of care and routines, I spent much time in hospital as my diabetes was out of control and missed much school. However, although my present daily regime is quite high maintenance, the past two years have been relatively stable and I am now able to care for myself without diabetes affecting my daily life too much. After a speech I gave recently, my school chose JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund) as its charity. It aims to find the cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications, and is the world's largest charitable funder of diabetes research. It is a particularly rewarding and apt charity for me to be involved in.

I enjoy sport, particularly cricket and hockey in which I have represented my school. Recently I learnt to scuba dive, a risky business for a diabetic but a challenge I could not turn down! In my spare time I play and listen to music almost all the time. I enjoy improvising at the keyboard and am a fan of Jacques Loussier and his skill at re-inventing classical music. I am fascinated by harmony and how it works and spend much time at the piano experimenting with chord progressions, resolutions, dischords and playing around with tonality. I enjoy attending concerts in the school holidays, most recently Dido & Aeneas with the OAE, various promenade concerts and Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne.

Grades achieved:

• grade 5 theory
• grade 8 singing with distinction
• grade 8 trumpet

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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