On our careers day I told my careers advisor in beb high I thought about doing music. She didn’t really know much but said it was too competitive and someone like me with decent academics should think about fast track management courses at Tesco for example. She said.

When I thought about pursuing music I had no idea I could do it as a job. Literally didn’t know it existed as a profession. But Lydia being an oboist identified I needed a specialist teacher early on as there were none in my local music service. She suggested I try junior RNCM

I could never afford the fee and having only picked up bassoon at 16 I was miles behind my peers. Victoria convinced me to attend sixth form college to do my levels, filled in all missing parts with extra academic lessons and she also found funding for me to attend junior RNCM

Enter Karen. She insisted I come to junior rncm so I did. I massively lacked self belief so when it came time I wasn’t going to audition for the undergrad course. And every week she’d say ‘you have nothing to lose. Get your application in.’ And every week I avoided it.

Until one week she marched me to her office. Sat with me whilst I filled in the application then made me take it to the head of WBP and apologise that it was late. She got them to waiver the audition and late fee (couldn’t have afforded it - partly why I kept avoiding)

I was awarded a place and a first year scholarship.

I remained at JRNCM till I commenced my undergrad and it was hands down the best thing for a little working class kid to prepare for a world that I was passionate but really had no idea about.

I’m still in touch with so many people from JRNCM. Some now professionals and others that choose a different path but I think they’d all say the same thing. That place was where we found our tribe and, put us on a path to mastering our craft.

Junior departments are grass roots pipeline. Not the only one. But a big one. If they begin to disappear we risk losing one of the most important pathways into creative jobs and regressing to it being something only accessed by the privileged.

And here we are class of 2004. Featuring amongst all the brilliant people - the principal tuba of the LSO, principal second violin of CBSO, violinist in the Halle and an internationally acclaimed mezzo soprano

Because I’m always banging on about not just celebrating people in performance jobs - I’m not sure what everyone in the pic does now, but I know there are also some terrific teachers in that bunch, and others who have used the creative foundation of JRNCM in many impactful ways.

@LintonStephens Linton, thank you so much for sharing this. I am privileged to be a Trustee of the JRNCM Endowment Fund and know how important it is.

@LintonStephens My daughter was believed in by RCMJD. In her conservatoire auditions to her amazement she ended up with 4 places and 3 scholarships. The ability of the Junior Departments to spot and nurture cannot be underestimated. The new from the Royal Welsh Junior Department is heartbreaking

@LintonStephens Thank you for this Linton, reading as I travel to teach at the incredible Junior RCS. The news from Cardiff is heartbreaking.