For most young musicians reaching Grade 8 is an excellent achievement but for trombonist Rhiannon Symonds from Yorkley, Gloucestershire, it was just the beginning.

ATCL

Rhiannon passed her Grade 8 with Distinction back in 2009 aged 11, and has now become the youngest trombonist in the UK to become an Associate of the Trinity College London (ATCL) following a 38 minute recital – aged just 13.

Sterling performances

The professional level qualification entitles Rhiannon to use the ATCL after her name and was earned by her sterling performance of the Rimsky-Korsakov ‘Trombone Concerto’, Eugene Bozza’s ‘Ballade’ and Ferdinand David’s ‘Trombone Concertino’.

Amazing

"It’s been an amazing few months," Rhiannon told 4BR. "In January I competed in the Chandos Young Musician competition and was awarded the most promising musician title, and won the Newark National Brass Festival against some of the best young players in the country."

In March Rhiannon was invited to play the Ferdinand David ‘Trombone Concertino’ with the Solihull Symphony Orchestra – an occasion she remembers vividly.

Incredible experience

"It was an incredible experience and I would love to play more concertos with orchestras. It was also great preparation for my ATCL, which I took a couple of days later.

The exam was really scary but exciting too. I loved the programme I was playing and had been looking forward to it but two days before the exam I went down with tonsillitis and ended up off school so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be well enough to get through the programme on the day. Thankfully I did – just!"

I loved the programme I was playing and had been looking forward to it but two days before the exam I went down with tonsillitis and ended up off schoolRhiannon Symonds

Wait

The young trombone tyro has a bit of wait to find out how she did, but eventually the news of her latest successes am in the post

"I had the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales course at Easter to take my mind off the wait and this year I was made Principal Trombone of the Orchestra which is a real honour," she said.

"I loved the course – even though it was held at my school (Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls) so I ended up in school during the holidays! ’m chuffed to have passed my ATCL and am proud of it but don’t think I’ll be adding the letters after my name to my school work – That would feel a bit odd!"

German tour

Rhiannon, who is also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and currently Principal Trombone with Lydbrook Band, is now looking forward to a slightly quieter few months before embarking on a summer tour to Leipzig with the Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra.