Tristan

My first encounter with MiSST was in Year 7 at Frederick Bremer School. At first I was in the viola class, but before too long I opted to learn flute too as a second instrument. Learning the mechanics of playing a wind instrument instead of a string instrument fascinated me, as it introduced me to a whole new area of music making and broadened my horizons. Before too long I was playing at the Saturday Music School (now MMA).

I lacked self-confidence at the start of Year 7, particularly in music as I felt intimidated by peers who were coming to secondary school having already had music lessons. However, my competitive nature helped me to rise to the challenge. The Radley Residential in 2018 proved to be a bit of a turning point for me, as the intense (but enjoyable!) course showed me my potential and motivated me to see where it could take me. As the years have gone on, my resilience has definitely grown to the point where I am now able to take on more responsibilities within MiSST. As well as joining the MiSST Leaders’ Orchestra (MiLO), I have been a student leader on MiSST Together days and the summer residentials where I have designed and delivered a quiz night, been a role model for younger students, and acted as a referee during the football tournament.

As I prepare for my A levels, which include music, I am looking forward to music continuing to be an integral part of my life – in fact, one of the main things I looked at when applying for university was the provision for music through orchestras and music societies.

MiSST has played an invaluable role in both my musical and personal development. Before starting secondary school, I lacked previous musical experiences and had limited access to instrumental lessons. MiSST has given me the tools to discover my passion for music. It has also provided me with a consistent routine, helping me to balance multiple extracurricular activities and effectively manage my time.