Stories of our work
Joanna Stark

The Postgraduate Performance awards are offered to outstandingly talented instrumentalists and singers to help with full-time study costs or towards the costs of buying a musical instrument. Bassoonist Joanna Stark is one such musician who received an award which has enabled her to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

Joanna Stark is an active soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Since picking up the bassoon ten years ago she has played in ensembles ranging from wind trios to full symphony orchestras, and baroque opera orchestras to contemporary groups. Highlights include principal bassoon with The National Youth Orchestra, The Orion Symphony Orchestra, The Britten Pears Orchestra and The London Contemporary Orchestra.

“ I am very grateful for the financial support offered to me. It has been invaluable. Without it, I would not have been able to dedicate all of my time to my bassoon playing or to branch out beyond the Academy and realise my full potential.”

Since her time at the Academy she has performed extensively. It has also sparked a real interest in contemporary music, demonstrated in her selection for the inaugural London Sinfonietta Academy. Recently she has been chosen as the bassoonist for the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Future Firsts Programme. Outside of her course she is a member of the wind trio The Kandinsky Winds, who are going from strength to strength.

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