SWMS Alumni
We are very proud of the journeys and achievements of our past alumni, and are excited to begin featuring some of their stories below. We hope to continue adding more to our Hall of Fame in the future.
Amy Irvine
Bangor Music post-Graduate
“Through SWMS I have made lifelong friends and being part of such a vibrant community of young musicians has helped me become a more creative and well-rounded musician.
I really enjoyed the residential courses that SWMS provided during my time on the core programme. They were so much fun and helped me gain confidence in myself.”
During her time with SWMS, Amy also took part in the partnership with the West of England Youth Orchestra for two years, including the 2018 South France tour.
After finishing SWMS, Amy went on to gain a First Class undergraduate degree in Music from the University of Bangor and has gained a scholarship to study a Masters in Performance.
At uni, Amy has been a part of the concert band, jazz band, new music ensemble, brass band, choir and a three-year member of the Bangor University Symphony Orchestra. She has also played in pit orchestras for 8 different musicals, performed with her flute trio at Penrhyn Castle, and had the opportunity to volunteer with a music group in North Wales for adults with disabilities. She has now started teaching woodwind as well.
Amy’s third year recital were based on the theme ’20th and 21st century women composers’, and her Masters recitals have explored folk traditions around the world as well as the influence of jazz on classical flute repertoire.
András Droppa
Cambridge ASNC Student
“I’m so glad I was able to be part of SWMS. It provided me with so many great opportunities to both expand my musical horizons and develop my ability to play with other musicians. The fantastic experience that SWMS offers certainly helped shape me into the musician I am today.”
András first joined SWMS as a guitarist in 2014, and partook in a broad range of workshops, masterclasses, and performances before being accepted onto the Core Programme in 2017. Over the next three years, András helped lead a year’s worth of Foundation Workshops, supported the Wurzels, played in a professional production of ‘Rock of Ages’, and became a staple of the Core Residential Jam Night with bands such as ‘Sergeant and the Lonely Peppers’ and ‘The Funky Ducks’, playing funkified rock-classics.
Since graduating in 2020, András has gone on to study Mathematics at Cambridge University for a year, before changing degrees to Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Studies. Whilst there, he has formed two bands, joined the College Jazz Band, played in a show orchestra, and started writing and recording his first album. He has also stayed involved with SWMS, helping with the Marketing and Social Media alongside being a house parent for the residentials.
Kerenza Hurr
Oxford Music Graduate
Kerenza Hurr is a former South West Music School student from Cornwall who read Music at Oxford University, graduating in 2019.
Kerenza joined SWMS in 2010 as a singer, pianist and violinist, attending regular masterclasses and residential courses which introduced her to new genres and likeminded young musicians. This greatly improved her confidence and sparked a real love for collaborative music-making, to the extent that she has since gone on to help facilitate community music workshops herself. Through SWMS, Kerenza also took part in exciting projects such as performing at the Weymouth opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, and studied A Level Music which helped her gain a choral scholarship at St Peter’s College, Oxford.
During her degree, Kerenza continued to sing with the National Youth Choir. She also performed in musical theatre productions at the Oxford Playhouse and Queen’s College, and played violin with the Oxford University Philharmonia. After graduation, she took up the alto lay clerkship at All Saint’s Highfield before joining the Civil Service. She became a SWMS Trustee in late 2020 and is looking forward to getting back to performing once lockdown is lifted.
Sally Bennett
Wind Player with the Mounted Forces Band
Sally Bennett is a professional clarinet and saxophone player from Gloucestershire working in the Royal Corps of Army Music.
In 2015, while studying for her GCSEs at a local Grammar school in Stroud, Sally successfully applied to South West Music School. For the next few years, Sally participated in a wide range of workshops, masterclasses, and residential courses as part of the Core Programme with SWMS. She remembers the wide range of opportunities and experiences with enthusiasm, particularly valuing the opportunity to meet and work alongside other young musicians, making many friends along the way.
On leaving school and graduating from South West Music School in 2018, Sally went on to successfully complete a Basic Training course with the armed forces before going on to join her first Military band. As part of her training, she has recently completed horse training which has allowed her to take part in mounted events including performing on horseback for televised formal performances at Windsor Castle.
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“I loved the challenge of having to think about music in a completely new way. I feel so much more confident in improvising now and found it helpful to see how dancers improvise and develop their own choreography, layering up and developing ideas as a group just like we were doing with our music.” SWMS student, following the 2019 Core Residential in collaboration with Swindon Dance
“I just wanted to say a really big thank you for everything you’ve done for me at SWMS. I loved the residentials, they were so much fun and I feel that I got a lot from them and met so many nice, talented people. I’ve loved it all and especially my lessons with Patrick have been fantastic – I’ve learned so much from him in the past two years. Just thanks so much, SWMS is amazing!” Louise, composer
“The residential was one of the best things I have ever done. The place was amazing, I loved it. I really didn’t want to go home! I learned how to take more of a lead role, and how to help others. I learned the basics of harmony work and also I learned perseverance. It was inspiring, fun, and educational.” Sophie, singer songwriter
“I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you and all the tutors at the workshops. I know that Meg is really benefiting from their expertise and we really appreciate that.” Louise, parent
“Emma wanted to thank everyone for a great day at the Woodwind and Brass Day yesterday. She said it was a great experience. As a Mum I could only say “WOW” to her playing. More please!” Jan, parent