A TALENTED musician at Solihull School is celebrating her full selection into the prestigious National Children’s Orchestra.
Katharine Baker has been part of the orchestra for five years and has recently been selected for the under-12s group.
Having suffered illness at a young age, 12-year-old Katharine developed a passion for music to help with her recovery. She learnt the cello at five years old and the clarinet at eight years old. She achieved grade eight on the cello and is currently working towards grade eight on the clarinet.
Katharine joined Solihull School in September as a music scholar. She is part of the school’s multiple strings and wind groups, the symphony orchestra and the chapel choir.
And every Saturday she practises with the Birmingham Conservatoire in their wind band and wind quartet.
Solihull School head of music Tim Kermode said: “Katharine has achieved so much at such a young age, her enthusiasm and commitment is inspiring.
“We are immensely proud of Katharine for being selected to the National Children’s Orchestra. It’s always a pleasure watching her perform and we wish her all the best with her new endeavour.”
Katharine’s first performance at Solihull School was also the school’s first formal concert of the year, St Cecilia, in November.
Katharine spends more than 20 hours a week on each instrument, and hopes to study music at GCSE and A-Level, and earn her diploma in cello and clarinet by the age of 15.
She aspires to perform concerto one day, meaning she would perform with one solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra or concert band.
Next term Katharine will be mentored by a CBSO cellist in preparation for a concert at Symphony Hall in March with CBSO Project Remix.
