Celebrated Clarinettist, alumna Rosie Taylor (Class of 2004) kindly returned to The Abbey last Thursday to deliver an inspiring masterclass and share her career story.
It was so insightful for our students to hear about her journey and get such a valuable insight into the music industry and creative arts.
Rosie loved music while she was at The Abbey but was unsure what career path she wanted to pursue. So, she decided to follow what she loved and read music at Cambridge University. It was during this time that her passion for music grew even deeper and she decided that she wanted to work in the music industry.
An injury to her hand at the end of university meant that she couldn’t play her clarinet for two years. Unsure what to do, she took an administrative job at the Academy of Ancient Music … and hated it! Rosie realised that she missed creativity. Music was happening around her, but she wanted to be part of it. After a year, she took on the position of Choir Manager for The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, and loved it. She was involved creatively and that made all the difference.
Once her hand had recovered, Rosie completed a Masters at the Royal Academy of Music, receiving many accolades, including the Renfrew Prize for Music and first prize in the Nancy Nutall Early Music Competition.
Rosie spoke honestly about entering the music industry, and how daunting it can feel. She felt that so many people already knew each other and had connections – but then realised that she could draw on the management skills she had developed through her work and started to put on her own events and things grew from there.
Now pursuing a busy freelance career, Rosemary is the Chief Executive and Principal Clarinet of Orpheus Sinfonia and Associate Director of Windsor Festival International String Competition and a consultant fundraiser. As well as teaching, she has performed nationally and internationally with leading ensembles such as Manchester Camerata, English Consort, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She has recorded at the Abbey Road Studios, played for TV and film soundtracks (even sharing a dressing room with Cate Blanchett at a film premier!) and performed at venues from the Royal Albert Hall to Buckingham Palace.
It was very moving to hear how passionately Rosie feels about the difference that music can make to people. Outreach work is very important to her, taking music to places and people who cannot easily access it. She described music as, “A way to meet people, express emotions and tell your story.”
Rosie proudly talked about how the creative industries are growing and how exciting she finds that. “AI is not going away but creative industries will have humans at their core. There is no way that AI can ever take away the creativity at the heart of it.”
That creativity then shone through as Rosie treated some of our talented wind musicians to a truly inspiring masterclass.
We are always so grateful to our talented alumnae who return to share their experience and passion.