Viola player Helen Bevin (23) has won a place in a prestigious London Philharmonic Orchestra programme to develop professional musicians.
The LPO Foyle Future Firsts programme selects "16 outstanding young musicians" every year to nurture and develop for a career in music.
"This programme is exactly what I need to transition into professional life and gain contacts and experience in London," Ms Bevin said yesterday.
"They only accept one viola for the year, so it's very competitive and I was thrilled to win the place."
Last year, Ms Bevin was accepted to study at three top London music colleges, turning down the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama because it had "the top viola department in London".
The programme would include a year of mentoring, lessons, playing in LPO rehearsals and free tickets to all LPO concerts, she said.
"The programme provides a structured year of mentorship and diverse opportunities - this is incredibly useful in the transitory period in a musician's life directly after leaving full-time study.
"The programme is a great opportunity to gain experience and should, hopefully, lead on to extras work with the LPO and other orchestras here in London," Ms Bevin said.
"The musical community in London is a lot bigger than in New Zealand. There are so many opportunities in London, but you have to be very proactive in looking for them and making things happen for yourself," she said.
"I will spend the next year both studying viola privately and transitioning into professional life, after which I plan to audition for orchestras in the United Kingdom and Europe.
"I would love to get a few years' professional experience over this side of the world and make the most of the opportunities here before returning to New Zealand to work."
Ms Bevin will return to Dunedin for Christmas and compete in the Gisborne International Music Competition.
She recently toured Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Austria with the Maribor International Orchestra and has performed in concerts at St James Piccadilly and the Royal Overseas League in London.
Ms Bevin also recently played five concerts in a week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with New Zealand pianist John-Paul Muir, as part of the Royal Overseas League Concert Series.
She will debut with Foyle Future Firsts on September 21 at an LPO pre-concert event in the Royal Festival Hall, conducted by Nicholas Collon.
