A talented teenager from Hyde has won a coveted place with The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Kwasi Sefa-Attakora, 16, goes to Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and plays the bassoon.

He successfully auditioned for The National Youth Orchestra for 2023 and will play in concerts across the country. He is one of just 156 teenage musicians from across the country to have been chosen.

The orchestra is celebrated internationally ‘as the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers.’

During 2023, the orchestra will perform high-octane concerts at concert halls across the UK, with free tickets for teenagers, and perform directly to teenage audiences in secondary schools.

The young musicians from different backgrounds have reached an exceptionally advanced level of musicianship and enthusiasm to engage with NYO’s mission.

Kwasi said: “In primary school, I had the opportunity to start a musical instrument.

“I was quick to pick up the saxophone and my passion for music began. I was then financially helped by the furthering talent scheme who helped my family pay for music lessons. They also did some events, for example taking a group of us to the Bridgewater to listen to the BBC Philharmonic.

“I discovered the woodwind section and instantly knew bassoon was for me.”

He added: “I owe a lot of credit to my parents who have supported me through all my musical endeavours.

“They have come from a completely non-musical background, but have done everything they can to help me become the musician I am today.

“Beginning at Tameside Music Centre was a real step up for me and, even though I struggled at first, I began to find my place and grow as an orchestral player.

“My secondary school life then took me to Chetham’s School of Music which has been an amazing experience so far in the two years I have been here.

“I then went on to play for Halle Youth Orchestra. Ever since I discovered the bassoon at the Bridgewater it has always been a dream of mine to play with an orchestra there and I truly felt accomplished when I played first bassoon in Mussorgsky Pictures of an Exhibition there.

“My most recent achievement was getting through to Chetham’s Concerto Finals, where I played Weber’s Bassoon Concerto.”

The talented teenager said he is really pleased to have been chosen to play with the National Youth Orchestra.

He added: “I would really like to join the NYO community as I have seen and heard from players how fun and memorable the NYO experience is and I think such a high level of music is what I need to take my playing to the next level.

“At this moment in time, I am working on my technical precision and improving my technique I think NYO could further this as it would be the highest level of orchestral playing I’ve done and I think it would show me the skills I really need to be a professional orchestral player.

“I would also love to improve my orchestral saxophone playing. Growing up in a community like mine where orchestras were almost seen as out of bounds I think I could contribute a real genuine insight into how to bring orchestral music into more disadvantaged areas of the UK and hopefully the world.”