Congratulations to 2017 Master’s graduate, associate Academy member and flautist Amy Yule, who was recently appointed Principal Flute at London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).
Amy was offered the position of Principal Flute with the Royal Northern Sinfonia during her studies at the Academy, which she held for two years before taking up the position of Flute Section Leader with The Hallé. Amy has appeared as Guest Principal Flute with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Sinfonia of London.
James Gilbert (2022 clarinet graduate) also joins Amy in celebration, after being appointed as Principal Clarinet at the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Prior to joining BBC Concert Orchestra, James has performed as Guest Principal with notable orchestras such as LSO, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Orquesta de la Comunitat Valenciana. James has performed on both Bass and Eb Clarinets with Philharmonia Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2024, James joined wind quintet Ensemble Renard.
2020 alum Patrick Bolton was recently appointed as Principal Bassoon No. 2 with BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Patrick is a versatile bassoonist whose busy diary combines work alongside the UK’s top orchestras with solo and chamber appearances. Patrick is a founding member of wind quintet Ensemble Renard; the ensemble are former Academy fellows, winners of the RPS Henderson Chamber Ensemble Award and current City Music Foundation Artists. His notable solo engagements include Elgar with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Berio’s Sequenza XII at the Aldeburgh Festival and Folkestone New Music.
Oliver Roberts joins the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) as Associate Principal Flute.
Following his graduation from the Academy, Oliver has played with many of the UK’s major orchestras. Oliver joined the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 2024 as Principal Flute No 2 and Piccolo, before his selection to join the RSNO.
The Woodwind Department are proud that many of our former students are happy working in various aspects of the music industry, and I'm thrilled for Amy, Patrick, Oliver and James. They will make wonderful colleagues and I'm confident that they will thrive in their new environments.
Fraser Gordon, Head of Woodwind
The Academy offers congratulations to Amy, James, Patrick and Oliver for their achievements, and wishes them luck in the next step of their careers.
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