Meet the Gold Medal Competitors – Group 3

For the third in this week’s series of blog posts on the 2014 RNCM Gold Medal Competition, we get to know Michael Jackson and Leanne Cody – the competitors in Group 3, who will be performing from 2.15m on the day of the competition.

Keep checking back all this week to meet the rest of the competitors, ahead of the big day on Saturday!

Name: Michael Jackson
Age: 22
Nationality: British
Study Option: Saxophone

Michael Jackson 

Year of Study and Tutor: Fourth year BMus with Rob Buckland

When did you start to play the saxophone? Aged 10

Where’s the most unusual/exciting place you’ve ever performed? The most exciting place I’ve performed is the Liverpool Echo Arena. Great venue and in my home city!

Who in the music industry do you most admire? My sax teacher Rob Buckland – he’s been the biggest influence on my music.

If you weren’t studying music what would you be doing? I don’t know what else I’d be doing if I wasn’t playing music.

How do you feel about being chosen to compete for the RNCM Gold Medal?

It’s amazing to be chosen for the RNCM Gold Medal!

 

Name: Leanne Cody
Age: 24
Nationality: Welsh
Study Option: Piano

Leanne Cody

Year of Study and Tutor: Second year MMus with Peter Lawson

When did you start to play the piano? My sister tried to teach me when I was five but it wasn’t very successful! I started with my own teacher at seven.

Where’s the most unusual/exciting place you’ve ever performed? In a flash mob in Prague’s Old Town Square with Manchester University Symphony Orchestra. I think that’s the biggest audience I’ve ever played to!

Who in the music industry do you most admire? It might be cheesy but I have to say my teacher, Peter Lawson. He has done everything in his career that I want to achieve myself. A mix of solo concerts, concertos, chamber and orchestral playing and he still manages to give all his students so much time and energy in lessons.

If you weren’t studying music what would you be doing? I always wanted to be either a dolphin trainer or a brain surgeon, but there aren’t many dolphins in South Wales and I hate blood!

How do you feel about being chosen to compete for the RNCM Gold Medal? It’s really exciting. I’ve been at the RNCM for six years now so it’s the perfect way to end my long student career.

 

The Gold Medal competition will see ten of our most outstanding performers compete for our most coveted annual award. While our Concert Hall is under construction, we’re taking the competition to the Martin Harris Centre, this Saturday 14th June, for an exciting day of five concerts with our finest performers.

 

11 June 2014