Bristol Cathedral School

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Teenager Jonathan Rees has been awarded one of Britain ’s most coveted titles in the world of classical music. Bristol Cathedral School pupil Jonathan, aged 17, has been appointed Co-Principal Cellist at the National Youth Orchestra – one of the world’s leading orchestras for young people. “It’s a great honour, because it means that, after the Principal Cellist, I am responsible for leading the cello section,” says Jonathan, of Clifton . Now people in Bristol have a chance to hear him when he is the soloist for Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No 1 in E Flat at the school’s First Orchestra’s spring concert at St George’s , Brandon Hill, on Saturday 6 March.

“Being in the NYO is very rewarding, but also quite demanding – you have to go on three two-week residential courses every year and play in a number of concerts around the country,” says Jonathan, who makes the time to practise the cello for around two hours a day, as well as studying for his A levels.

In addition to providing the boy choristers for Bristol Cathedral Choir, the school has a long tradition of finding and developing instrumental talent in the city.

The school's Director of Music, Mr John Seymour, says: "Jonathan is an extremely talented musician, who not only plays the cello in the school orchestra but also enjoys playing piano in the jazz group, keyboards in the school reggae band and is a very competent organist. He richly deserves this appointment from the NYO."

"At Bristol Cathedral School , we pride ourselves on nurturing rounded individuals, not just narrow specialists. Jonathan is a great example of this: he plays a full part in school life and, for example, as well as the time he devotes to music, he enjoys playing hockey."

Around half of all NYO members go on to become professional musicians, but Jonathan does not intend to follow this route. He is studying A levels in French, German and Music at the independent school and has been offered a place at Gaius College, Cambridge, to read modern languages.

Bristol youngsters aged 10 to 17 can find out more about the National Youth Orchestra at an Open Day on March 14 at Cotham School. For further details, visit www.nyo.org.uk/pr.htm The next NYO concerts are at Easter, on Wednesday April 14 at the Barbican in London and on Friday April 16 at St David's Hall, Cardiff . The programme will include Wagner, Mahler and Strauss.

Issued on behalf of Bristol Cathedral School by Edge Media
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