MEET THE TRUSTEES

Lars Tharp:

• Born in Denmark, I was lucky to come to England at a time when music in our state schools was flourishing.  Encouraged by the primary school music master I took up my grandmother’s full-size ‘cello when I was eight.  Within a year I was playing in the trail-blazing Leicestershire schools’ orchestras.  Ten years later, and now at Cambridge, I applied for an audition for the University Orchestra (CUMS).  When taking my details I was asked whether and which orchestras I had played in.  “The LSO” I replied.  An Impressed pause. I clarified: “That’s the Leicestershire Schools’ Orchestra”. I passed the audition and was put onto the second desk of the ‘cello section.

• Once the lists of successful applicants were posted on the Music School notice board, eager college scouts filled their notebooks with the names and colleges of the freshers.  Within two days my pigeon-hole was bulging with invitations to play in colleges throughout the university over the coming term. In eight weeks I rehearsed and performed in eighteen concerts.  Meanwhile, my chosen degree subject, Archaeology, played second fiddle to my hobby. – And tutors noticed:  you can’t hide a ‘cello when you turn up for a tutorial en route for a rehearsal.

• Since university in the 1970s, I have been involved in many areas within The Arts, from pots to paintings and as an institutional  speaker on the visual and performance Arts. I’ve served on Leicester’s International Music Festival (our Artistic Director is the oboist Nicholas Daniel).  But over the years, financial and political pressures on budgets have seen a decline in musical opportunities for young people. By joining the board of First Note Music Trust I hope to bring some of my own experiences acquired over a lifetime of listening, playing and singing to bear in assisting you people to discover and enjoy music and performance. Nothing compares with the shared common purpose of being in a choir, orchestra or a band. Music is the beating heart of Humanity.