On the morning of the 13th of October, the Elgar Room of the Royal Albert Hall opened its doors for a sold-out concert performed by a gifted musician Matty Oxtoby, a Reigate Grammar school student.
I had the privilege of sitting down with this talented fellow student and had an exchange of a few questions with him about his musical achievements and the balance between the pursuit of music and his academic study.
Having been a student at the Royal College of Music Junior Department (RCMJD) for over 6 years, Matty was given the opportunity to perform solo in the coffee concert at the Royal Albert Hall which the RCMJD hosts in the winter and spring terms.
Arriving an hour and a half before the audience were allowed in, Matty was given an hour to warm up on the bright-red Yamaha grand piano originally owned by Elton John - "it [the warm up] was really important since I had not played the piano there before and had to get used to it [the piano and environment]."
"I was delighted that it was sold out with over 200 people there, who all enjoyed coffee and a cake before the concert started", as the concert was quite informal with the audience sitting at round tables.
When asked about how the concert went, Matty looked quite relieved, "it was my first concert performing solo for a large paying audience and at a rather prestigious venue, but surprisingly I was not at all nervous .......the audience seemed happy to be there and quite a few people even asked to have their photographs taken with me afterwards".
As an upper sixth former, academic study takes up obviously a large part of Matty's daily routine and when being asked about how he finds the balance between studies and music, he took it quite easily: "it just involves lots of planning, timetabling and prioritisation as well as not much time free for anything else .... Keeping on top of my school work is really key and I always aim to do homework as soon after it is set as I can. I also try to make use of all time in the day, often practising piano or cello for an hour before going to school as well as in the evenings".
When being asked about post A-level plans, Matty explained that he was hoping to study music and had applied for both universities and conservatoires and is currently waiting to hear about auditions and interviews - "Studying music as part of a university degree would be rather different from studying at a conservatoire and I have not yet decided which I would prefer".
In the long term, he is certain that he would like to have a career in music (in some sort), be that performing, composing, analysing, conducting or in some other way.
"The rest of this academic year is already starting to look rather busy for me musically. I am lucky enough to be conducting the school symphony orchestra for a concerto movement this term with my friend playing the French Horn; I have a commission to write a piece for an orchestra in Hampshire and also will be writing pieces for violin and electronics and a horn quintet..... on top of taking my A levels this year along with Conservatoire auditions, concerts and some planned competition entries means, I think the schedule is going to be as busy as usual", Matty added.
With his incredibly busy schedule, it only seemed right to wrap up our interview and we wish Matty the best of luck!
