2024-25 Music Centre Award Holders and Scholars

I’m Jasmine and I am currently a second year Pharmacy student at the UEA. My musical journey began since starting the piano at the age of 5 and going on to achieve my grade 8 in this. I then started the alto saxophone when I was 7 and I have achieved two diplomas in this. More recently I started teaching myself the acoustic guitar and I have been enjoying this so far.

Music has always been a significant and enjoyable part of my life. I have had the privilege of being exposed to a wide range of musical opportunities throughout my life: from performing in various musical festivals around Norfolk, playing in a wide variety of jazz bands, concert bands and musical pit bands, as well as solo experiences. Music has played a large role in my life and this was something I was keen to continue into my university life.

Upon joining university, I became a member of the UEA Grooves and I have really enjoyed playing as part of this for the last two years, and I hope to continue to be part of this for the rest of my time at university. Additionally, I have played as part of the UEA Concert Band for some of the music society concerts.

Since being awarded the Music Centre Award this year I have been involved in trying to expand the musical community we have here at UEA, encouraging as many individuals to get involved as possible.

I am very grateful to be a Music Award holder and have really enjoyed being a part of music at UEA. I look forward to further contributing and sharing my passion.

Hi, I’m Grace and I’m in my second year studying Computer Science. I began learning clarinet aged 10 and have gone onto achieve the ARSM diploma with distinction. I also enjoy playing the piano and tenor saxophone and am proud to have achieved ABRSM grade 8 in both.

At uni, I enjoy partaking in the variety of musical activities on offer. I enjoy being in UEASO and plan to continue this throughout my degree. In addition to the orchestra, I’m the social secretary for the music society, I run the clarinet choir and have set up the wind quartet this year, these have all been incredibly rewarding experiences and have allowed me to gain further confidence in leadership.

Outside of UEA, I enjoy being a member of the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra which is very enjoyable and has allowed to me to further expand my orchestral playing opportunities.

Being a music award holder is an achievement I’m very proud of; I’m using the funding this year to help me afford to do Camp America, I’m going this summer to be a specialist music instructor for children. I’m very excited for this opportunity and it will help further develop my leadership skills.

You’ll find me usually somewhere in the music building either in UEASO, clarinet choir or concert band. All of which I find thoroughly rewarding and something I plan to continue throughout my time here at UEA.

My name is Nasser, and I’m a first-year medical student as well as a music centre award holder. I grew up in Oxford, where I began studying the flute at the age of 9. Over the years, my passion for music has grown, and I have had the privilege of playing as principal flute and with piccolo in a number of orchestras, touring across Europe on several occasions.

Ensemble playing is extremely important to me, and I thoroughly enjoy performing with the UEA Symphony Orchestra and flute choir.

I am incredibly excited to further my musical development thanks to the support of the music award, which allows me to continue taking lessons and to participate in masterclasses and events.

My name is Armin, and I am a third-year engineering PhD student at UEA. My musical journey began at the age of seven when my mother gifted me a piano for my birthday. Her unwavering support nurtured my passion for the instrument over the years. Initially trained in the classical method, I later delved into Persian piano, inspired by my Iranian heritage.

At 18, I began learning Persian piano under the guidance of Saman Ehteshami, a renowned Persian pianist and composer. It has been an honour to perform duets with him in concerts. Alongside my piano studies, I pursued musical education in solfege and music theory and later joined a choir as a bass singer. Over the years, I have performed as both a pianist and a bass singer in numerous concerts, showcasing a repertoire that spans Persian and classical music.

Since moving to the UK in 2023 to begin my studies at UEA, I have been a proud member of the UEA Choir. Singing as a bass in the choir has been an incredible experience, particularly performing in UEA’s Christmas carol concerts and the joint concerts with the Cambridge Choir and Cambridge Philharmonic over the past two years.

In 2024, I had the exciting opportunity to participate in the filming of a music video for a new album by an amazing singer, which unexpectedly featured a Persian song—a truly memorable experience.

I am deeply grateful to my mother and to Saman for their unwavering support and guidance throughout my musical journey. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Stuart Dunlop, the director of music at UEA, for his invaluable support. Without them, none of these achievements would have been possible.

Hi, I'm Jaz and I am in my third year studying Environmental Science. Music has always been important to my life and my first experience was when I started singing at a drama club aged 5. I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the Music Award as it will enable me to enter for my grade 8 exam and restart formal singing lessons.

I have been part of UEA Chamber Choir since my first year and, alongside UEA Symphony Orchestra where I play the viola, it has enabled me to explore my musical interests further and learn to sing in new styles.

My name is Trinity and I am a second year medical student at UEA.

I started playing the organ after receiving an Organ Scholarship from my high school in Hong Kong. After graduating, I went on to join the Organ Department at the Royal Academy of Music for a year under the tutelage of Dr. David Ponsford. I was lucky to experience the life of a professional organist beyond performing, such as conducting, keyboard skills, harpsichord and harmonium, continuo playing, and improvisation. The year culminated in a department-wide performance at the 60th St. Albans Organ Festival, where we improvised for a silent horror film Der Golem under the teaching of Franz Danksagmuller,

As a UEA Music Award holder last year, I was involved with the UEA vocal ensemble group as an accompanist, and I played excerpts of a French organ mass for the Spring Concert. This year, I accompanied the UEA chamber choir in the Winter and Spring concerts. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with other musicians at UEA on chamber Baroque repertoire.

Outside of UEA, I am a regular organist at St. George Tombland, and I am continuing my studies in repertoire, continuo, and improvisation with Dr. Francis Knights in Cambridge.

I am a grade 8 standard pianist and French Horn player. I have been playing for 15 years and 8 years respectively. Whilst being at UEA, I have been extremely active in the UEA Music Society. I have played keys for UEA Grooves which has given me invaluable experience as a gigging musician and allowed me to build on my knowledge of live music and mixing. I have also been the musical director for the last two DMTS shows and this has led me to having the opportunity to be concert band leader for this academic year, where I have been able to develop my skills as a conductor. Next year I am excited to be President of the music and I hope to pursue my passion for music within and beyond UEA.

I'm Ed, and I'm currently studying towards a Master's in Chemistry with a Year In Industry. My main instrument is the drums, but I also have some background in guitar, bass guitar, and have taught myself music production to a decent standard. I've been playing drums since I was 11 with a preference for rock/pop, initially playing in my High School's orchestra before forming my own rock-based function band there towards the end of Year 9. Throughout my time at High School I was given many performance opportunities, playing for public events, school musicals and concerts. Alongside this I achieved my Grade 8 qualification with Trinity College with a focus on more traditional classical pieces, and studied Level 2 BTEC music, giving me a solid grasp of the music industry. This set me up well for my further studies in my RSL Level Music Performance course at College. This gave me the opportunity to form and perform alongside a range of groups from metal bands to jazz ensembles, pushing me as a musician, as well as giving me the industry skills needed to find opportunities in the real world. I was also fortunate enough to secure a job at a Drum School, teaching students of a range of ages/abilities, a role I found extremely rewarding, giving me an outlet to share my love of the instrument with others.

Since starting at UEA I've had the opportunity to play in local venues (such as the Waterfront with local rap artist Taf Royale) as well as for University-led concerts alongside the percussion ensemble. I've also networked and begun rehearsals with Intruder, a local newly formed metal band. Alongside these projects I've began working on some solo material, taking advantage of my production skills with the hope to release some tracks in the not-so-distant future. I hope to continue bringing the noise to UEA, giving more contemporary musicians the confidence to get out there and make the most of the opportunities available!

My name is Natalie and I am a 4th year medical student at UEA. Before moving to Norwich, I completed my musical education in Poland, achieving a diploma in piano and percussion. I have been playing the piano, marimba, vibraphone and timpani ever since, and recently started learning the guitar.

Alongside performing solo, I have always been passionate about playing in ensembles. I find it very inspiring how live music can unite us musicians, and bring emotion and impact to the audience.

During my time at UEA, I have been deeply involved in the music community and am grateful for the many opportunities I have been given in the UEA Music Centre and Music Society.

I have been a percussionist in the UEA Symphony Orchestra since I joined UEA in September 2021. It has been a wonderful experience to rehearse and perform alongside so many talented musicians under the baton of Stuart Dunlop. I have also played and performed at concerts and national festivals with the UEA Music Society Concert Band and Brass Band, and led my own percussion ensemble.

I am very proud and thankful to have been awarded the Music Centre Award this year.

My name is Elizabeth and I am studying Medicine. I started my music experience on piano and then I learnt the flute which I have now been playing for 12 years. My most recent achievements are DipABRSM Flute, Grade 8 Piano and Grade 8 Music Theory. My favourite part of music though is playing in ensembles. At UEA, I have loved being a part of the UEA Symphony Orchestra, Concert band and I have co-run flute group this year. I am also a part of the newly set up Wind Quartet which I am looking forward to doing more of next year as I will be co-leading it to give us more opportunities to perform. I have also played a Flute Sonata with the organist Trinity Yiu, in the Chamber Choir concert this year. Outside of UEA music, I am a member of the Essex Youth Orchestra and I am very excited to go to Austria on tour with them in Summer 2025. I am also a member of an Army Reserve Band which has helped me improve my performance skills and given me new experiences. I am incredibly grateful to be a Music Award holder and I will continue to contribute to music going on at UEA.

I'm Rona and I am a second-year engineering student. Music has always been a big part of my life, having played my main instrument, the French horn for 11 years and achieving grade 8 performance, as well as achieving grade 8 performance in piano and singing as well. All of this music has led to wonderful opportunities, such as singing in multiple church and school choirs, playing as part of the Aldeburgh Young Musicians and school orchestras and groups.

At UEA, I was excited to join the symphony orchestra, and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself there this year. Additionally, I am part of the student-led groups such as concert band, brass ensemble and the wind quartet. It has been really fun being surrounded by wonderfully talented musicians and I can't wait for next year!

I'm Elizabeth and I'm in my first year reading Medicine. Music has been in my life for longer than I remember, to the point where I learned to read books and musical notation at the same time. At the age of five, I started with the cello, having pitched a fit when my older brother started the violin, wanting to learn an instrument too. I took up the piano at the age of seven. However, my main passion is singing. I joined my first proper choir at the age of 11 and never looked back. In the eight years since, I have toured twice, to Germany and Italy, and performed in prestigious venues such as Cologne Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, St George's chapel, and King's College, Cambridge. I mainly enjoy opera, which I was introduced to at the age of twelve with an ROH production of La Traviata, although most of my background has been choral.

At UEA, I have enjoyed being a part of Chamber Choir, UEA Choir and UEA Symphony Orchestra. My favourite performance of the year was in UEASO's Tragedy to Triumph concert, where I performed as Klärchen in Beethoven's Egmont. It was an incredible opportunity that I thought I never would have had just a few years before. The other highlight of my first year was UEA choir's performance of Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" in collaboration with Cambridge Philharmonic. Working in collaboration with another organisation to pull off such a large scale even was really fun, particularly as I am a Cantabrigian. I have also been able to integrate music into my studies at Norwich Medical School, where I did my first year research project and presentation on the larynx and its relevance to singing.

Hello! I’m Louis, and I’m in my first year studying English Literature and Creative Writing, but music remains a vital part of my life. Growing up, I spent ten years attending the Royal College of Music JD on Saturdays, starting out on the double bass before transferring to the bassoon, for which I achieved a grade 8 distinction. During my time at RCM I’ve been part of a quintet, octet, symphony orchestra and even choir, as part of which I sang in the BBC Prom for Holst’s Planets. I also spent two years performing as principal bassoonist with the LSSO. Following on from my time at RCM, I was invited to sing in the alumni choir ‘Vigala Singers’, as part of which I have gone on to sing in venues such as St James’s Church Piccadilly, and the Great Hall at King’s College Cambridge.

I knew that I didn’t want my musical journey to stop when I began university, so I was honoured to be awarded a music scholarship so that I can further my passion and continue to have music as a fundamental part of my university life. Currently I’m part of UEA’s symphony orchestra and quartet, though I also like to experiment with how music can be incorporated with creative writing as part of my degree.

My name is Sam and I am a first year law student at the UEA School of Law. Music has always been an important part of my life, and I was so thankful that UEA had a music program.

I come from Littleton, Colorado in the United States. where I have played saxophone for 10 years. I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Colorado Conservancy of the Jazz Arts which gave me a great outlet to develop as a jazz musician and with a great deal of opportunity for performance. I was able to play in some great clubs in Denver. I studied with a private tutor and was in jazz band, wind ensemble and marching band in high school. I even got to do a few private gigs including Pink Floyd with a rock group and airtime on the radio

I am thankful for the music program at UEA so that music can remain an important part of my life. I have been enjoying Big Band and go to jam sessions locally in Norwich. Having been accepted to Leeds Conservatoire to study jazz, it was a difficult decision to choose where to go. Ultimately, the culture and friendliness at UEA won me over, and knowing I could still play my jazz cemented it for me.

Music will always be an important part of my life and I live by the motto “if you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.” (Charlie Parker)