Tiegan Lowthian
What instrument do you play?
I play violin, trombone and piano.
How old were you when you started?
I started playing violin when I was 6, piano when I was 9 and trombone when I was 11. I asked to start learning the violin and then a few years later the clarinet. I learnt the clarinet for a year but then decided to switch to the piano. I had no intention of learning the trombone but in Year 7, my school music teacher (Mr Bryant, Ullswater Community College) sent me home with a baritone and a trombone and the school paid for me to have lessons on them in school time. The trombone stuck and I went to Germany on tour with school playing it.
What groups and ensembles have you been part of?
I started Westmorland Youth Orchestra Training Strings (the Westmorland Youth Orchestra feeder group) when I was around 7yrs old and I joined the main orchestra at 9 years old (I was their youngest ever member and now I am their longest-serving current member). I am currently the leader of the orchestra. I play trombone in WYO's Jazinfusion group before main orchestra rehearsals. Rehearsals are on a Friday night and we do 3 or 4 concerts a year in Cumbria. We once did a flash mob in the shopping centre in Kendal and we have done some online projects in support of the NHS and Ukraine.
I started Cumbria Youth Orchestra when I was around 10. CYO rehearses around 10 Sundays per year and puts on a concert once a year. Last Christmas, CYO and WYO put on a joint concert at Kendal Leisure Centre in which I played a trombone concerto and a violin solo. The concert was repeated in Carlisle so I got to do it twice.
When I was 13 yrs old I started going to the Junior Department of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, on Saturdays; Violin is my first instrument and trombone my second. I have also had lessons on composing, musicianship, compositional analysis and music theory there. I play with the chamber orchestra, brass band and in a piano quintet. On Sundays I play with the Halle Youth Orchestra, also in Manchester. This is my second year with them playing trombone. Last summer I went on tour to Scotland with HYO and this year we are going to Germany on tour. We play at the Bridgewater Hall quite a bit and get complimentary tickets to watch the Halle concerts. We recently took part in the International Siemens Conducting Competition to help recruit the next conductor of the orchestra. The orchestra commissions new work so we have played several World Premiers.
I regularly attend NYO Inspire residencies, string and orchestra days across the country and hope to get into the National Youth Orchestra. I am currently part of the Future Talent Development Programme and they provide lots of opportunities including virtual residencies, master classes, in person music-making days and performance opportunities.
I have taken part in the Carlisle Music and Drama festival, the Mary Wakefield Festival and South Cumbria Music Festival for many years. They are great opportunities to perform and good motivation to 'perfect' pieces or to find out where your weak areas are before an exam.
I have always played in every school music club/group and have taken part in lots of special events and concerts. I have also played in many local fundraising concerts and in a local care home. I was accepted into The National Children's Orchestra's main orchestra but sadly never got to do any live activities due to COVID. I took part in their online activities. My Grade 8 violin exam was also supposed to be on day 1 of lockdown 1 and was cancelled. This was a really difficult time. Other groups I have played with include: National Youth Jazz Orchestra days in Penrith, Orchestra Live and Cumbria Calling projects, Nicola Benedetti days, Yorchestra Orchestras in York, Blue Jam (including performing on the main stage at Solfest), Chetham's Summer Music School and EYSM (European Youth Summer Music) in Surrey.
Tell us about your teachers, mentors and influencers.
My first violin teacher was Mrs Susan Hutt in Appleby; she taught me all the way to grade 8. Now I am taught by Catherine Yates at JRNCM. My first trombone teacher was Kath Wignall and now I am taught by Phillip Goodwin at JRNCM. My piano teachers have been Jane Bainbridge, Linda Bainbridge and Karen West.
I have been generously supported by Cumbria Community Foundation (purchase of trombone, lessons and some travelling expenses), Future Talent (violin-related costs and opportunites), Awards for Young Musicians (trombone case and equipment), Paul Pfeuti Trust (exam fees, workshop costs and festival entry costs), Tompkin's Tate Trust (loan of violin), Keldwyth Award (lessons), NYO Inspire (bursary), Yorchestra (course fees), Westmorland Music Trust (lessons), Chethams (course fees), Government Music and Dance Scheme (JRNCM fees), Nicola Benedetti Foundation (workshop costs), Codabow (bow). I am sure I have forgotten someone - sorry! Without their support, none of this would have been possible!
I enjoy playing all kinds of music. My favourite composers are Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninoff. Every activity I have done has been valuable and I know when I go to a musical activity I will have a good time and learn something. I have made so many good friends all over the country and visited lots of interesting venues.
What was the most exciting/rewarding event you have been part of?
I recently took part in a side by side concert (HYO and the Halle Orchestra). I sat with Katy Jones (Principle trombone with the Halle) in some rehearsals and then in a concert at the Bridgewater Hall. We played all eight planets by Holst - it was epic.
What are your next steps?
I am currently studying A Level music in Penrith and hope to go to Conservatoire after 6th form. I haven't looked around them all yet so I am not sure which one. I want to study violin and trombone as joint principle instruments. The long-term goal is to be employed by an orchestra and play lots of music.