Yale College Music Student Reaches High Notes

A music student from Yale College will lead the National Youth Orchestra of Wales for their upcoming summer tour.

Bethan Allmand, 18 from Wrexham was appointed Leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales after auditioning for the position against seven others around the country having been a member of the orchestra since she was 14 years old.

Bethan, who began performing as a soloist this year will lead three concerts in Wales in St David’s Cathedral, Pembrokeshire on the 1st of August, in Venue Cymru, Llandudno on the 3rd of August and in St David’s Hall, Cardiff on the 4th. The highly regarded orchestra will then travel to Germany to perform in venues such as the Brandenburg Cathedral in Berlin and as part of international music festivals such as the Young Euro Classics Festival and the Altenburg Festival.

The young musician is currently working towards her A Levels in French, Welsh and Music and will begin studying at the Royal College of Music in London in September.

Bethan said: “I am very proud to have progressed from leading Wrexham Schools String Ensemble to the National Youth Orchestra of Wales.

“After the exciting summer tour I am really looking forward to starting my studies at The Royal College of Music.”

She will be performing Bruch’s Romance with the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra on 6th July in William Aston Hall. In September she will attend the Royal College of Music in London to study with Yossi Zivoni having aspirations to become a professional orchestral musician in one of Britain’s finest orchestras.