From NYO Inspire to the BBC Proms: violinist Charlotte Slater

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I’m Charlotte Slater, a Scottish violinist from rural Aberdeenshire. Originally, I started learning traditional fiddle to give me a connection to home when my dad’s job moved us to Norway. My love of classical music started much later, after our last move from Texas back to Scotland. The visiting violin teacher at my local primary school, Jean Fletcher, introduced me to the style.

I first attended NYO through the NYO Inspire programme. It was an incredibly memorable experience. I had never met such a welcoming and vibrant community of young people. I was encouraged to apply for the Orchestra by an Inspire tutor. In preparation for the audition, she advised me to know the excerpts back to front.

If you are a young musician considering applying for NYO, then just go for it. You gain a lot from the audition day itself. You don’t just play your pieces and leave; you also get to take part in workshops and meet new people. I would also encourage anyone who is eligible to apply for NYO Inspire.

I played Bach Andante from Sonata No. 2 and the Heifetz arrangement of ’It Ain’t Necessarily So’. At the time, they were my favourite pieces. I was excited about sharing them with the panel.

During my first NYO rehearsal, I felt like a part of some incredibly powerful wave. The orchestra consisted mainly of new members, as it was the first course after lockdown. We were all a bit out of control, but we picked up the piece and gloriously crashed our way to the end.

After being a part of the NYO community for four years, I have learned that both organisation and discipline are the key. Passion gets you part of the way, but the rest is the dedication and work you put towards your success.

I think the most memorable of NYO rehearsals were the ones we shared with Sandeep Das when we performed Wijeratne’s tabla concerto. Sandeep was so inspirational, and it was amazing to hear such a skilled tabla artist.

The NYO community has given me the chance to play alongside so many amazing young people. This is not something I can access regularly living in a rural area. Given enough time, anyone can become skilled at an instrument. However, without the support and inspiration of like-minded people, it is very hard to grow as a musician.

I like to think that my success so far is down to my dedication to improving my skill. It really is about what you give every single day.

Work passionately and with dedication. Be patient, and you will find success. The journey is never perfect, but that’s what makes it so exciting

I am looking forward to beginning my studies on the BMus violin performance course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in September. I am hoping to combine my interests in traditional and classical music to create pieces with a crossover between the two styles.

This will be my third and final prom with NYO. I am particularly excited about playing Mahler Symphony no.1 and I’m hoping for a great encore! I’m looking forward to ending this NYO year on a high.

The Proms have an atmosphere like nowhere else. It is so dream-like that you walk out wondering if it actually happened. It’s a blur of buzz and adrenaline. It leaves you in a trance for days afterward.

Playing at an event like the Proms for the first time will mean a leap into unknown territory. Luckily, we have plenty of time to rehearse during the NYO residencies. We also get the music a month in advance so we can listen to it and practise.

Work passionately and with dedication. Be patient, and you will find success. The journey is never perfect, but that’s what makes it so exciting.

The National Youth Orchestra and conductor Alexandre Bloch will perform at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 7 August, at Saffron Hall in Essex on 9 August and finally at the BBC Proms in London on 10 August together with musicians from NYO Inspire.Tickets to performances in Manchester and Saffron Walden are Free for Teens.