Teenage violinist, Jordan Earnshaw is the new leader of Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Jordan, 16, from Edgerton has been playing the violin since she was six years old.

Last week, she led the orchestra at Huddersfield Town Hall in the Mayor’s Charity Concert in support of One Community Foundation.

Jordan is working towards her grade 8 exam in performance with her teacher Ralph Barker and has recently joined a string quartet with fellow Kirklees Music School (KMS) students, Thomas Broadbent, Jenny Harris and Rachel Wybrew.

She hopes to follow in the footsteps of previous leaders of the orchestra by becoming a professional musician. Her dream is to play in a professional ballet or opera orchestra.

Jordan has plenty of role models to follow. Abigail Askew, leader of the orchestra from 2010 to 2013, recently took up a place at the Royal Welsh College of Music.

The two previous leaders, Katrina Lee and Rachel Spencer have gone on to have careers in music after studying at the Royal Scottish Conservertoire.

Both have performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Rachel was a featured soloist in the Orchestra of the Square Chapel and performed Vaughan Williams’s ‘The Lark Ascending’ last year.

She played in last weekend’s Celebrating Success concert at Huddersfield Town Hall which marked the 125th anniversary of the Mrs Sunderland competition.

Katrina won last year’s Kirklees Young Musician of the Year competition.

“Taking on the role of leader of the orchestra is a daunting prospectfor any young player, but Jordan is settling into the role brilliantly,” said Thom Meredith, principal of Kirklees Music School.

“She is an inspiration to other young musicians and I am sure she will continue to grow as a violinist as she puts her own stamp on the role with KYSO.”

“Jordan is a great ambassador for the orchestra and clearly demonstrates what can be achieved through dedication and a love of music,” he added.

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