Fanfare as Romana joins the musical elite

Romana Hallstead: Royal Academy place

TALENTED trumpet player Romana Hallstead is celebrating wining a place at London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

The 18 year old, from Shaw, passed her music and music technology A-levels and was accepted on a music degree course after a gruelling, full-day audition which included playing trumpet and piano, doing a theory exam and analysing a piece of music.

Romana started playing at Buckstones Primary School, Shaw when she was eight and went on to take up flugel horn and piano. She has played with Oldham Music Centre, Dobcross Silver Band and Leyland Band, performing as a soloist at venues such as the Bridgewater Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and Oslo Concert Hall.

In 2011 the talented teenager was identified by the charity Future Talent, which supports gifted young musicians from low income backgrounds. She is now an ambassador for the scheme, which was co-founded by Halle conductor Sir Mark Elder.

The former North Chadderton School pupil did her A-levels in the sixth form at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. She isn’t the only musically gofted member of her family: her sister Dominica (19) studies viola at the Royal College of Music in London.

“The audition was very nerve-wracking but I just tried my best,” said Romana, whose ambition is to play with a professional orchestra. “I’m really looking forward to all the opportunities of living in London.”