The Academy at the BBC Proms: where are they now?
Clockwise from top left: Thomas Gould, Peter Holder, Rachel Wick, Margarita Balanas and Timothy Orpen
© Olivia Da Costa (Thomas Gould), Besheer Abbaro (Rachel Wick), Sandra Vijandi (Margarita Balanas)
News Story
Ahead of the Academy’s appearance at this year’s BBC Proms, we celebrate alumni who previously performed at the festival with the Academy Symphony Orchestra while studying here.
International exchanges, major performance opportunities and collaboration with leading artists are central to world-class music training. Opportunities to perform on global stages such as the BBC Proms underpin the student experience at both the Academy and The Juilliard School, with whom we are excited to be sharing the stage once more.
This year’s BBC Proms marks the fourth Academy appearance at this landmark annual event, with our first performance in 2005. This saw violinist Thomas Gould and clarinettist Timothy Orpen take part alongside 116 other musicians from the Academy and The Juilliard School.
Both have enjoyed many successes following their studies; Thomas currently leads Britten Sinfonia, after Founding and leading Aurora Orchestra. Timothy is also a founding member of Aurora Orchestra and has worked as Principal of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House before becoming Principal Clarinettist of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Playing with Sir Colin Davis and the combined Academy and Juilliard Symphony Orchestra at the Proms in 2005 was an unforgettable experience. Not to mention the concerts with Elton John and the Academy orchestra in New York in the weeks leading up to the Prom! I’ve returned to the BBC Proms most years since leaving the Royal Academy of Music but will always remember the incredible energy and freshness of that performance of Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique.
What an opportunity to have had at 20 or 21 years of age. It was unlike most of my student experiences in that we weren’t cut any slack for being students; we were required to reach professional standards within just a few days of work, just like any professional orchestra. It was a milestone in my career for that reason.
126 musicians performed a programme of Respighi and Ravel as part of the Academy’s 2012 BBC Prom conducted by John Adams. Among them was organist Peter Holder, who went on to hold the position of Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey and is now Organist at Christ Church, University of Oxford.
Rachel Wick also performed at the 2012 BBC Proms; she is now a harp teacher for Junior Academy and alongside recording and orchestral work, is the Artistic Co-Director of the Dunster Festival, an annual classical chamber music festival that takes place in Somerset.
I recall - vividly - three performances at the BBC Proms: first, with the combined orchestras of the Academy and The Juilliard School under the direction of John Adams, then the thrill of performing Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass at the opening concert of the 2019 season and the joy of returning subsequently to present the Royal Albert Hall’s inspiring organ in a solo recital, all memories that I will long cherish, relishing the uniquely infectious and radiant energy for which the festival’s audiences are renowned!
In 2019, musicians Thomas Fountain (now Principal Trumpet, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra), Naori Takahashi (now Second Violin Principal, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House) and Iona McDonald (now Principal Violin, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra) performed under the baton of Academy alum Edward Gardner. Alongside them was cellist and conductor Margarita Balanas, now a Decca Classics recording artist who has undertaken multiple international tours.
Two Academy violinists performing in the Academy’s upcoming Prom have trained at both conservatoires: Sara Maxman studied for her undergraduate degree at the Academy and is now training at The Juilliard School, while Sophia Molina now studies at the Academy after completing her undergraduate degree at The Juilliard School.
This year’s performance at the BBC Proms takes place on Monday 10 August 2026, with general booking open now. An orchestra comprising 46 students will come together to perform under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen and with solo violinist Vilde Frang, in a programme that will feature Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra and Berg’s Violin Concerto.
We look forward to following the future paths of this year’s musicians.
The Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School's performance at the BBC Proms
© 2019 Chris Christodoulou