Many former members of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra have gone on to follow careers in music (we are proud to say that John Wilson the well known Conductor is one of our alumni) and others have gone on to careers in many different areas :

Names of our alumni are  listed in surname alphabetical order for ease of navigation.

A

Amelie Addison
Studying Baroque Cello at Trinity College.  Ludwig Lebell Scholar 2009/10.

B

Jonathan Bloxham
Studying Cello at the Guildhall in London – awarded the Suggia Gift, director of Harmonic Sounds and Northern Chords.  More details can be found at: www.northernchords.co.uk.

It was the North East that introduced me to classical music, in particular the inspiring teaching I had through the Gateshead Music Service, and I’m eternally grateful for that.

Article from The Journal about the 2010 Northern Chords Chamber Music Festival.

Jordan Bowran
Studying Viola at RNCM – awarded a prize as the most promising viola player in his year.  Jordan is a member of  The Leos Quartet, a string quartet formed with other students of the Royal Northern College of Music.

C

Lyndesey Cassidy (formerly Watson)
Lyndesey read music at Newcastle University and is a trained teacher. She has worked for four years as a peripatetic woodwind teacher, and now works at Swalwell Primary School, Gateshead . She has a little boy called Luke; who was born in July 2009.

Emily  Charlton
Emily was a cellist in the GYO, spent a year in Mauretania working with Project Trust as a volunteer. She then completed a four year degree at Bristol University in Geography with a Foreign Language option. She is now in Gijon, Asturia, teaching English. She still loves to play the cello, but it is a little large to accompany her on her travels.

John Connelly
John is tudying at RSAMD – John was a winner of the Sir  John Barbirolli Award.

Andrew  Cowgill
Andrew is currently a fourth year medical student at Hull- York Medical School and hopes to be a surgeon.

Jack Cunningham
Jack studied Music and English Literature at Sunderland University and graduated in 2010.  Jack has been teaching Double Bass and Bass Guitar both privately and at a school in Morpeth; he wishes to continue his career in music by becomming a peripatetic music teacher in the North East of England.

D

E

F

Anna Finnon
Anna led the Youth Orchestra up to 2006, studied violin at Birmingham Conservatoire before taking a degree in English. Since graduating she has gained experience in catering, managing a tea shop in Corbridge. She is now setting off on a lengthy journey and plans to visit India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Australia and New Zealand for a couple of years, after which she intends to write a novel.

I really loved being in the GYO, it gave me so much confidence in myself- both musically and socially (I am still friends with people I met there to this day). My lasting memories are: long bus journeys and listening to music, being silly and talking about sauerkraut! All of the concertos we played, and the opportunity that gave me to perform solos.

Kathryn Forster
Graduated from Leeds University with a BSc Hons degree in Maths with Finance and is now training as a Chartered Accountant in Newcastle.

Richard Forster
Studying Double Bass at RCM London and performing with major London orchestras.

G

Ruth Gordon
Gained grade 8 Distinction – now reading music at Huddersfield.

H

Chris Hack
Former Leader of the Youth Orchestra.  Studied maths at Cambidge. He is now teaching at St Pauls Girls School in London (where Gstav Holst formerly work).

Clare Hack
Former violinist in the Gateshead Youth Orchestra.  Now working in Banking in London.

David Hedley
In training at the Royal Marines School of Music.  David was a Cassel Prize Finalist 2010.

Kristina Hedley
Kristina is in training at the Royal Marines School of Music.

Charlotte Holmes
Charlotte studied for an MSci in Physics at Imperial College London and is now doing a PhD in Space Physics still at Imperial College.  Musically Charlotte played in  her university windband during her  undergraduate years and now plays with the Fulham Brass Band, changing from trumpet to cornet.

I

J

K

L

M

Marie Melville
Marie was a celllistin GYO, who gained a place at St. Mary’s Music School Edinburgh.

Andrena Millington
Former member of GYO; Awarded the Northern Electric Award as a singer and now training as a teacher.

N

Gillian Neuhauser
Viola player who worked for the National Children’s Orchestra.  Gillian is now living in Tacuma, south of Seattle, USA.  She is working in sales and marketing, setting up an events and marketing company after two years working as a peripatetic teacher in London.

Marie Neuhauser
Violin and Trombone player now working in a senior capacity at the Sage Gateshead.

O

P

John Prudhoe
John is a former member now working as an English teacher in Kazakhstan.

Q

R

Adam Richardson
Studied Geography at Northumbria University and then gained a Post Certificate in Education at Newcastle University.  Now working as a Primary School Teacher in Consett.  Adam also is the music coordinator for the school, a position he very much cherishes.

I will be forever in debt to the Gateshead Youth Orchestra and often recommend it to younger people that learn musical instruments in the area.

Catherine Rimer
Attended RNCM, Royal Academy of Music, Eastman School of Music and N.Y. graduate student, plays cello with many leading ensembles including the Avison Ensemble.

S

Lucy Sergison
Flautist.  After university Lucy began work as a teaching assistant in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The skills I have learned whilst playing in the Orchestra have proved to be invaluable. It boosted my confidence with regards to my musical skills but that also transpired into school and work life too… Gateshead Youth Orchestra introduced me to people whom I would never otherwise have met and now I have a lot of really close lifelong friends thanks to these educational visits and rehearsals.

 

Josh Skelton
Cellist, now studying Physics at Cardiff University.

Catherine Small
Newcastle University, MA, BA, and now teaching for the Gateshead Schools’ Music Service.

T

U

V

W

Julie Weaver
Former student – now teaching for the Gateshead Schools’ Music Service.

Ashley Wilson
Ashley studied for a Maths degree at Newcastle University then extended to a masters in Maths.  After completing these studies in 2010 Ashley hopes to take a PGCE in Maths.

John Wilson
Internationally known conductor; who was featured in the 2009 Proms from The Royal Albert Hall.  John studied at The Royal College of Music and was awarded the Tagore Gold Medal in 1995 as one of the outstanding graduates of his year.  John was shortlisted for the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2008  Conductor Award, and has conducted many of the best orchestras in the UK.

X

Y

Z

… and so the list goes on.

If you’re a former member of GYO, and would like to add your details to our growing alumni page, please contact us at:  info@g-y-o.org.uk

We are always delighted to hear from former members and enjoy hearing your news and your memories of the orchestra.  Or you are welcome to call at the Dryden Centre and join us, rehearsals for the current orchestra are as usual: on Tuesday evenings during term time between 4.15 – 6.30 p.m.