Sidney Music student conducts herself into top job

At the end of her first term in Cambridge, Jane entered the University Conducting Competition ‘for fun’ and in the hope of winning lessons.

Jane Hammond

Having impressed the English National Opera’s Sian Edwards and her fellow judges, Jane has been offered the role of Assistant Conductor with the University Wind Orchestra.

Jane said she found the competition ‘nerve-wracking, but I was also excited.'

'I was just there to have fun. I didn't think I'd win anything. I just wanted to enjoy the experience.’

‘For the first round, we filmed ourselves conducting, to show our technique. The top five entrants then went through to the second round, which was in person. It was one day. We had an aural test in the morning, and then in the evening we had 15 minutes to conduct the Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra. We had to conduct a performance and then show how we’d rehearse the piece, how we’d deal with mistakes and how we’d bring our own interpretations to the music’.

‘And then we had an interview afterwards.’

Before moving to Cambridge, Jane, from Clacton-on-Sea, played clarinet in various ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra, Essex Youth Orchestra, and ensembles at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. She has an Associate Conductor role with Essex Youth Orchestra, having conducted the orchestra in the Netherlands on their Summer Tour, but has ’never had a lesson, and that's why I went for the competition - one of the prizes was that you’d get to have lessons.’

Jane does not fully know the details of her new role, but she knows she will be rehearsing and performing with the Wind Orchestra next year, as well as helping to select the repertoire.

‘It's not just keeping the orchestra in time, you are showing phrasing and showing the orchestra the musical journey through that piece.’

‘Everyone has their own interpretation of a piece and it's up to you, as a conductor, to find the balance between what is on the page and providing your own input. An orchestra will have its own interpretation of a piece, and so it’s up to you as the conductor to negotiate. There’s the potential for conflict there, so you can’t be too drastic!’

‘I will be sharing the Wind Orchestra, and that is a new role for this year. I will be conducting a few concerts next year and organising the repertoire and other things for the winter. So, yes, I'm looking forward to it!’