Teen clarinettist in BBC Young Musician woodwind finals (From Swindon Advertiser)

Teen clarinettist in BBC Young Musician woodwind finals

3:03pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Katie Bond

TALENTED teenager Jordan Black has made it through to the category finals of the BBC Young Musician 2012.

The 18-year-old clarinet player, of Freshbrook, is one of five woodwind musicians who have made it through to the finals in Cardiff next month.

The performers will battle it out against each other with only two opportunities remaining to impress the panel of adjudicators and audience in an attempt to reach the final in May.

Swindon-born Jordan, who began playing the clarinet at the age of seven while living in East Africa, first started clarinet lessons at Kenton College Preparatory School, in Nairobi.

When he was just 10, he won the Junior Category of the Young Musician of Kenya Competition.

In 2007, he was offered a place at the Junior Department of The Royal College of Music and during this time at the RCM he won the Marjorie Humby Memorial Competition and the Peter Morrison Concerto Competition.

In July 2011, Jordan was awarded the Esther Coleman prize by the college (presented to the most outstanding student).

Mum Julia said she was immensely proud of her middle son.

“I don’t know where he gets his talent from – it’s not us, that’s for sure, but I wish it was!

“He is one of three boys and all of them have shown musical aptitude, but he is probably the most driven and he is the one that wants a career in it.

“It was clear from the beginning that he had a real appetite for it and he has gone from strength to strength.

“He is really excited about the next stage. It is quite daunting because suddenly you are being filmed by the BBC but he is looking forward to it.”

Jordan has made it through to the final 25 in all categories from a total of 453 applications.

Over the past few years, he has participated in clarinet masterclasses with Jean-Marc Fessard, Julian Farrell, Barnaby Robson, Howard Klug and Andrew Marriner.

Since September 2011, he has been at the Royal Academy of Music, under a full scholarship covered by the South Square Trust.