Natalia Senior-Brown, BMus Viola

What have been your highlights?

I loved Symphony Orchestra, when we did Mahler 2 with the chorus – that was amazing. I love anything we do with orchestra and with guest conductors. There’s so many different orchestras, one every week or couple of weeks, so you get a lot of opportunity to different things, whether it’s Symphony Orchestra, where it’s huge, or smaller ones, or Session Orchestra where you collaborate with the Popular Music students. I was in Session Orchestra last year and at the first rehearsal I was thinking ‘this is the best thing ever!’ Every instrument together with the strings sounded different and really, really great.

What are you looking forward to?

Session Orchestra, and the Opera – they are both on my list of things I’d love to do. I’d love to go to see more jazz, do more jazz projects and get out of my comfort zone. I’ve done a couple of gigs. I remember the first time I did it I was absolutely terrified because people are generally like ‘classical musicians can’t improvise’, so I thought ‘I want to do it and see how good I can get at this!’ You can put out feelers to people and then you’re the first on their list. I like listening to the current jazz students and you can get tips and advice from them. There are a lot of cross departmental projects too.

I also love how RNCM has the option to study abroad for a term or a year – I’ve just started the process. I’m looking forward to seeing how much more I can do at the RNCM and seeing myself grow through individual study with my teacher, and orchestrally as well.

What are your career goals?

I’d love to be in a professional orchestra – that’s my number one goal. I’d like to do teaching and chamber music as well, but orchestra is my main thing.

Do you have a favourite genre of music?

I love Romantic music. Mainly in orchestra, because when you hear the all the strings together, it’s like ‘wow’, and it makes you want to cry. I love that. But I also love listening to the RNCM Big Band and Percussion Ensemble.

 What are your favourite things about studying at the RNCM?

Ensembles and performance, but also the amount of support you get from people. The RNCM is easy-going and friendly. You know people are getting down to work, but they’re not stressed. It’s so homely, and the staff and students help you so much. It’s been really great so far.