HUDSON Park High School’s Tristan Henderson has been selected to play for the South African National Youth Wind Orchestra.
The Grade 11 pupil competed against hundreds of young musicians between the ages of 17 and 25 for a spot in the wind ensemble.
Tristan started playing the trumpet when he was in Grade 4 and has gone from strength to strength.
“I started out because a friend asked me to join. From the beginning I was mainly interested in playing the trumpet. My first teacher was Mr Forbes,” Tristan said.
Today, Tristan has his Grade 7 in music, a pre-requisite to audition for the orchestra, and plans on completing his Associate (ATCL) diploma next year. This diploma is equivalent in standard to the first year of an undergraduate degree and the syllabus and examinations are set by Trinity College London.
“He’s a very confident performer and being chosen for the National Youth Wind Orchestra is a very significant achievement; especially because he was up against older and more experienced musicians,” head of the music department at Hudson Park High Wesley Wong said.
The orchestra comprises the top talent of young South African musicians. There are only between eight and 10 trumpeters selected from the national auditions.
Tristan will attend the National Youth Orchestra winter course starting at the end of this month in Port Elizabeth.
“Tristan’s position in the orchestra will be determined at this winter course where we will also find out if he makes it into the National Youth Symphony Orchestra,” Wong said.
“Only the top-three trumpeters out of the group going to the winter course will be selected.”
The National Youth Wind Orchestra will have concerts in Port Elizabeth and at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown during this time.
“I’m so happy to have been selected and I’m really excited to perform with the orchestra,” Tristan said.
He also recently led the Hudson Park High School brass ensemble that took home the top medal at this year’s Port Rex Lions Eisteddfod. He also received a gold award for his solo performance.
The young musician has a passion for music and information technology.
“I hope to find a career where I can combine the two and pursue something like sound engineering one day.”
Wong said: “We’re really proud of Tristan. It’s not very often that high school pupils are chosen over and above university students for the Youth Orchestra. He’s dedicated and works very hard and its great to see him experience such an achievement.”
