Rochdale Observer

Life’s a blast for Alice, who plays horn in eight bands

- Stefan.jajecznyk@reachplc.com @sjajecznyk­MEN

ATALENTED musician spends every weekday night playing tenor horn with EIGHT different bands.

Alice Clarke, aged 12, from Whitworth, also spends most of her weekends doing what she loves - playing in concerts or competitio­ns and during the summer holidays she joins the National Children’s Brass Band for an intense residentia­l music.

The Whitworth Community High School student’s love of music has been with her since an early age, something she has in common with many others in her family.

She said: “I started playing at six on the tenor horn.

“My mum plays clarinet and teaches and her boyfriend plays euphonium.

“My grandmothe­r sings and plays piano.

“I play with Rochdale Intermedia­te and Rochdale Youth, Whitworth Senior and Whitworth Youth, Manchester Hub, Rochdale Wind and Rochdale Junior and Whitworth Community High School Band.

“On one night I play for three different bands and I am always practising.

“I play because I find it fun and it gives me something to do.”

Alice recently returned from a week at Repton School in Derbyshire week of where she joined 58 other young musicians, aged from nine to 14 spending eight hours a day rehearsing in readiness for an end of course concert.

Alice was delighted when she was introduced to her mentor former Whitworth student Zoe Wright who is studying at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Alice said: “It was brilliant to work with famous brass musicians like Owen Farr and Katrina Marzalla as well as being conducted by Professor Nick Childs who usually conducts Black Dyke Band.

“Friendship in bands is different because we all understand each other.”

Alice was delighted after being selected as principal first horn by the course’s musical director.

At the finale concert in Derbyshire, the musicians played a range of music from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘Matilda’, a nod to the school’s old boy, Roald Dahl.

They also gave a world premiere to a specially written piece entitled ‘Repton Fantasy’.

Given her passion for music, Alice’s ideal future career comes as a bit of a surprise.

She added: “I would like to be an air traffic controller.

“Music has always been a part of my life, but I want to keep it just as a hobby.”

 ??  ?? ●●Alice Clarke has had a love of music from an early age
●●Alice Clarke has had a love of music from an early age
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 ??  ?? ●●Alice Clarke, left, with mentor, Zoe Wright
●●Alice Clarke, left, with mentor, Zoe Wright
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