MATTHEW MASON LTCL

At aged just 14, Redbridge Music School pupil Matthew Mason became the youngest student in the UK to attain a Licentiate music diploma. For those unfamiliar with the level of this diploma, the LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College London) standard of performance is equivalent to the performance component of the final year in a full time undergraduate course at a conservatoire or higher education institution.

Matthew started drumming at the age of 3 and passed his grade 8 aged just 11. During his time at Redbridge Music School he has forged musical links with the likes of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra performing in such venues as The Barbican Hall, and Royal Albert Hall as well as playing in several rock and fusion bands. Matthew sat the exam in the July 2011 session at the Music School.

Malcolm Ball, Matthew’s teacher at Redbridge Music School, said ‘”Matthew is a gifted pupil who has the technical skill of players twice his age, but moreover Matthew is an astute and sensitive musician who is open to many different styles of music and this makes it a joy to work with him. Attaining an LTCL at such a young age is a massive achievement but a great reward for the hard work and dedicated practice put in by Matthew”.

Matthew says: “when I first chose the pieces for my diploma I thought it would be impossible for me to learn and play them all, but I practised them every day and they gradually became easier for me to perform them. I enjoyed studying and playing the pieces, and they helped me acquire lots of new and different styles. In the end I am pleased that my diploma recital went really well and am very proud of my achievement”.

Matthew attends Oaks Park High School in Redbridge and has just moved into year 10. He continues to study at Redbridge Music School and will appear at the Redbridge Choral Festival at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2012.