Fayruz Megdiche, BMus Oboe and Voice

Were you always interested in music?

Yes, always! I started singing in choirs when I was seven, at my school. But I started taking singing seriously when I was about 13.

I started oboe at eight or nine; I began because my school needed oboes for the school orchestra. I thought it was a bit strange when I started but now I absolutely love it.

I did go through a phase of wanting to study psychology and philosophy. And then I decided that I could do music and still learn about that by learning about psychology within music. I’m now looking at going into music therapy.

What are some of your musical highlights?

I perform as part of the RNCM Ark Ensemble, which I love. I really enjoy it because it pushes you right to the end of your limits. In first year I also played in Theodora by Handel. For that they raised the opera pit so that the orchestra was completely in view. I really liked the fact they didn’t try and hide the orchestra because actually we’re just as important as the singers! So that was a really good experience.

I’ve also been fortunate enough to work with Mark Elder a couple times and I’m working with him again in a couple weeks – he’s doing a conducting masterclass and I’m one of the participating players. It’s always interesting to see how he approaches things, it gives me an insight as to how I should start to tackle my parts.

Outside of college, a year ago I joined the Kantos Chamber Choir, led by Ellie Slorach. I’ve done a version of Handel’s Messiah with them, which was quite contemporary and was done with electronics interspersed between some of the movements. We also made a recording in January with the Liverpool Philharmonic, which was great! We don’t have loads of rehearsals so it’s great for my sight-reading and pushing me out of my comfort zone. It’s fantastic.

Are you enjoying your studies?

I’m really enjoying my studies. At school I was usually the only oboe player so it’s really nice coming here and having 15 of us at the College. It’s nice feeling supported.

Having voice as my second study makes things quite busy but it’s really rewarding – I just have to juggle my time. My singing has improved a lot since I’ve been here. I went from being quite a wheezy, small singer to being here and learning opera and learning how to use my voice in a bigger way.

My singing teacher is Peter Wilson. It’s amazing because he’s completely blind but can tell if I’m slouching or leaning on one side just by listening to me. He’s incredible at knowing exactly what I’m doing and fixing the problem.

What I really like about being at the RNCM are the amazing opportunities here. It’s the only major conservatoire in the North, so there aren’t so many people vying for professional work as there are in London. I’ve gotten some amazing opportunities here, just because I’ve been in the right place at the right time.

How are you enjoying Manchester?

I applied here and in London but chose to come to Manchester. I was incredibly nervous when I first came up here. I grew up in a village with probably 150 people, so I’ve grown up completely isolated from big cities. I did go to London each week for Juniors at the Royal College of Music but I would just travel there and go back home again afterwards. Being in Manchester has been great; it’s amazing, its vibrant, it’s buzzing. It’s very cheap which is a fantastic thing which means I can do things without breaking the bank, which as a student is important. Being here has definitely broadened my horizons.

Do you have plans after graduation?

Ideally I want to go to the United States to study music therapy. There are some very good courses and research being done over there. I’d like to work with children who have autism, ADHD and anger problems – I think that would be a rewarding career. I’d also like to work with adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia. There’s such a strong link between music and memory and I’d love to be able use that to help others.Were you always interested in music?

Yes, always! I started singing in choirs when I was seven, at my school. But I started taking singing seriously when I was about 13.

I started oboe at eight or nine; I began because my school needed oboes for the school orchestra. I thought it was a bit strange when I started but now I absolutely love it.

I did go through a phase of wanting to study psychology and philosophy. And then I decided that I could do music and still learn about that by learning about psychology within music. I’m now looking at going into music therapy.