Originally from West Bromwich, the first year biochemistry student at Warwick University has been playing the flute with National Orchestra for All (NOFA) for eight years and is now an ambassador for the group. Here’s their inspiring story…
How’s life as a university student?
Right now, we have a lot of organic chemistry to do. First year biochemists only really have organic chemistry to look at, so it’s a lot of mechanisms, how reactions work, that type of stuff.
It’s practically all been online because of Covid-19 – I’ve had two labs and two tutor sessions in class, but everything else has been online. It’s a bit tough but you know, you manage.
What music do you enjoy listening to in your spare time?
I’ve been listening to a weird amalgamation of steampunk and a lot of Hozier’s music as well. I’ve also been delving into soundtracks – as a kid I played a lot of the Professor Layton games, the music from there is just beautiful! There’s string pieces in there and accordion as well, it was really pretty.
‘National Orchestra for All breaks down the elitist barriers most professional orchestras have’, says Megan
What inspired you to play the flute?
When I first started playing [musical instruments], I started in Year 3 on the tenor horn. I was lucky enough to be one of the kids chosen to play and so from Year 3 up until Year 8, I played the horn.
I had to switch in Year 7 because of the music teachers, so I picked up the flute. I've always loved it – it was such a nice instrument to play. It was soft, you can play some really nice melodies on there and I just fell in love with it when I first started playing.
Find out more about National Orchestra for All’s musicians >
Which pieces of music do you enjoy playing on the flute?
Some of my favourite pieces are soundtracks. I remember in school we played the Pirates of the Caribbean theme; there was a really nice melody on that for the flute! I also like playing the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, there are some really pretty pieces in there.
Megan (pictured bottom right) presents their flute on Zoom during a National Orchestra for All course
Tell us about your musical journey with Orchestras for All.
Personally I joined NOFA when I was still playing the tenor horn. It was the first year and from there, I switched to the flute and it has allowed me to grow in confidence from literally a beginner to now at Grade 5. It’s been the most phenomenal [experience], the NOFA team are so caring and helped me develop massively.
Donate an instrument to a young musician like Megan >
When I left high school I didn’t actually have an instrument, so NOFA was kind enough to give me a flute (at first they gave me a piccolo but I couldn't really use that, I wasn't very good!). So they gave me a flute and that allowed me to carry on with the organisation and it was just really nice.
What’s the best part about being a NOFA musician?
Honestly, NOFA goes beyond the music for me. I’ve got so many amazing friends from doing it over the years, I’m still in contact with a lot of them now. It’s the grand sense of community that NOFA gives that can’t really be beaten by anything else.
There’s no other orchestra like NOFA. It breaks down the elitist barriers that most professional orchestras have and NOFA accepts all players of any ability, any background. It just all moulds together into one great big orchestra. I come from a fairly poor background, so if it wasn't for NOFA I wouldn’t be the person I am today and wouldn't have my friends. I’m so grateful for that and really wish that NOFA can continue on in the future and do this for so many other kids.
It’s just always made me happy and something I’ve always, always looked forward to doing, again and again every year. Something consistent that I know is there and I’ll always enjoy it.
Hat-tastic: Megan (pictured top right) teams up with other National Orchestra for All ambassadors to sport their favourite hats and help new orchestra members feel more relaxed on Zoom.
What advice would you give to other young musicians who are considering joining an orchestra?
Honestly, just go for it! When I first joined NOFA, I was so nervous before I started. I thought it would be really serious and that you had to perform perfectly but it's really not!
And there’s also so many other activities that go on. My favourite is the recital evening. It’s such a laugh and you can perform whatever you want and it [creates] a massive sense of community. NOFA also plays lots of different types of music: we’ve done pieces from musicals where we’ve been backed by a whole choir, led dancers, rappers and poets, and we also have a lot of cultural music, so we’ve had Romani, Jewish and African music as well.
It’s been just great – it’s a lot of fun and I would tell anyone to do it.
And finally, complete the following sentence: Orchestras for All is...
Orchestras for All is a big family of musicians from all different places across the UK. It brings together so many people in such a delightful manner where we can perform music and have a great lot of fun.
