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Junior Conservatoire Student Wins Rotary Young Musician of the Year

23 May 2017

RWCMD Junior Conservatoire harpist Huw Boucher has added yet another prize to his CV, winning 1st prize in the Rotary International Great Britain & Ireland Young Musician of the Year competition, held at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.

Huw is a student at the College’s Junior Conservatoire Advanced Course which meets every Saturday during term time to deliver intensive training for talented 4-18 year olds, giving them a head start towards a musical career.

Patricia Keir, Head of Junior Conservatoire, commented “This has been incredibly exciting year for Huw and reflects his sheer hard work, dedication and talent.

Huw is also a very able pianist, flautist and dancer and it’s an absolute delight to work with him and the many talented musicians who have lessons and classes here at the Royal Welsh College each Saturday.”

Last year, Huw won the harp prize at the National Urdd Eisteddfod for his age group. So far this year he has also been awarded the ISM South Wales Centre Prize for the highest ABRSM Grade 8 ‘distinction’ mark of any practical subject, and won the Music in the Vale intermediate category first prize (shared with Tomos Boyles, another Junior Conservatoire pianist).

The featured image shows Huw playing for Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams when she visited the College last November.


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Editors notes

  • Established in 1996, The Junior Conservatoire celebrates its 20th birthday this academic year
  • Through the generosity of a number of Trusts and Foundations, approximately two thirds of Junior students receive bursary assistance with fees, ensuring that family circumstances are not a barrier to opportunity
  • With students travelling from around Wales and the south west of England, the Junior Conservatoire provides the same high-quality immersive training hitherto available only at conservatoires in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow
  • Founded on the same core elements as conservatoire music degree, the course provides a very effective preparation for undergraduate studies; 100% of student progress to higher education, mainly at conservatoires or university music departments, many the first in their family to do so
  • The standard of performance achieved by students and their talent and commitment is truly exceptional and inspiring, for example, many gain high distinctions in the higher ABRSM practical examinations at an early age and several have achieved notable success in recent national competitions
  • The department has a well-established scheme to support visually impaired musicians; 20-year-old Rachel Starritt, who is totally blind, began her studies through the Junior conservatoire at the age of 12 and is now a top pianist within the College’s undergraduate course