CASE STUDY

Myeongsuk has been playing the flute since she was seven and has always enjoyed performing and making music with other people. She has achieved Grade 8 in Flute Performance, Grade 5 Jazz Flute and Grade 3 Singing with Distinction. She has performed as a soloist and accompanist at local concerts and national events, as well as being a committed member of her Flute Choir and school orchestra.

Myeongsuk lives in a particularly rural part of the South West, where opportunities to take part in orchestras, workshops and other musical activities are more limited. Lessons, exams, competitions and performances away from school can involve hours-long journeys at tremendous cost for her family. Balancing her music studies with her GCSE exams has been demanding, and the cost of continuing regular flute lessons has added to this pressure.

Myeongsuk was particularly keen to experience performances outside her local area and to try different types of ensemble playing. One of the opportunities that Future Talent gave her was the chance to perform at Graffham Festival. It was Myeongsuk’s first concert away from home, making it a particularly significant experience for her. Being able to travel to perform, meet other young musicians like her, and take part in an event outside her usual surroundings allowed Myeongsuk to see a new side of making music and was an incredibly meaningful and memorable experience for her.

Future Talent has helped make these opportunities possible by supporting some of the travel costs for Myeongsuk and her family. It has made it much easier for her to attend performances, workshops and other musical activities that would otherwise be difficult to reach. Through Future Talent, Myeongsuk has attended mentoring sessions with professional musicians, taken part in a masterclass with Huw Wiggin, and performed in a number of prestigious concerts, both locally and in London. The financial support has helped her family afford her regular flute lessons, allowing her to continue working towards her musical goals alongside her GCSE preparation, something that Myeongsuk hopes to continue to do when working towards her A levels and attending university. She now has big plans to set up a wind band at school, bringing together young musicians and giving them some of the opportunities she has enjoyed through Future Talent.

Future Talent has provided access to musical experiences that are typically much harder to find and access in Myeongsuk’s region. The support with travel and lesson costs has helped reduce some of the financial pressure on her family, making it possible for her to continue developing as a musician while keeping up with her studies.