Two Moors Festival honour for Exeter School musician

A 13-year-old pupil from Exeter School is celebrating being named Young Musician of the Year at the prestigious Two Moors Festival.

Double bass player Adam Cole shares the title with three other young musicians.

Year 9 pupil Adam likes playing classical and jazz music on double bass and piano.

Adam competed against over 50 performers across the South West (all Grade 7 or equivalent and aged 18 or under) and will now perform at the featured Festival Autumn Award Winners Concert in October.

At Exeter School, Adam enjoys all the jazz ensembles and appreciates the opportunities suggested by teachers, including specialised double bass jazz lessons, and links to local musical networks such as the South West Camerata and Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra. 

"Director of Music, Peter Tamblyn, encouraged me to apply for the competition, and gave me an opportunity to practise my pieces with the school accompanist Andrew Daldorph in advance of the competition which really helped," he said.

I am also grateful to the support and encouragement of my double bass teacher, Michael Allnatt, who has helped me work towards achieving this level of playing.

"The atmosphere of the main competition was relaxed, and the accompanist was very friendly and encouraging", said Adam. "I was nervous before the competition but the performance went well."

The Two Moors Festival is now in its 18th year and runs from 12 to 21 October.

Over the past 4 years, Adam has played in all the National Children Orchestra's age-banded orchestras, under the supportive guidance of Roger Clarkson, Artistic and Education Director.

He now looks forward to playing in their main orchestra at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester in August and at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London in December to commemorate the Orchestra's 40th anniversary.

"At the next concert I will be playing on a 1950s double bass from the Benslow music charity made in Poland that has rich deep sound," said Adam.