Matilda Lloyd, 17, started playing the trumpet at the age of 8. In 2010 she won the Normans Trumpet Scholarship to Junior Guildhall where she is studying with Andy Mitchell, and this year she won the Junior Guildhall Trumpet Scholarship. Matilda is the principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and also principal cornet of the Junior Guildhall Brass Band and principal trumpet at the Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra. Matilda played solo flugelhorn on one of the 8 music barges in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Matilda has also just won the Guildford Symphony Orchestra Young Artists’ prize and has been invited to play concertos in Guildford, Tonbridge, Canterbury and at St. Martin in the Fields in London. She will also be joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra in one of their lunchtime concerts in February.

Two years ago she joined the National Youth Wind Ensemble on their two-week tour to the Far East as one of the youngest members of the band. Next summer, Matilda will be touring to Budapest as guest principal trumpet with the Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra. She was also a member of the National Children’s Orchestra and plays in the Kent County Youth Orchestra as well as many other county ensembles. She enjoys taking part in competitions and festivals and has recently won cups and awards at the Sutton, Reigate and Redhill, and Woking Music Festivals. Matilda is also working for her piano diploma and her Grade 8 cello.

November 2012

Photographer: Richard Olivier