Music alumnus conducts at the Royal Albert Hall

Sam Dunkley, who graduated in 2004, led the Hull Music Hub and the Kingston upon Hull Music Service Massed Ensemble at the Music for Youth Proms

A UNIVERSITY of Huddersfield music alumnus recently took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall to conduct 750 young instrumentalists.

Sam Dunkley, who completed both his BMus and MA between 2000-04 conducted the Hull Music Hub and Kingston upon Hull Music Service Massed Ensemble at the Music for Youth Proms last month.  The events celebrate some of the finest young music makers in the country.

Sam, who runs Performing Arts etc Ltd, a company offering music and arts workshops and experiences in schools, venues and corporate settings across the country, said it was a pleasure to be involved.

“As Hull comes to the end of its year as City of Culture, it was great to be involved in taking so much talent from the city to perform on one of the most prestigious stages in the world.

“Tom Lawrence, who is a Music Service percussion teacher as well as being a composer, wrote an incredibly sophisticated piece which meant we were able to take every senior ensemble in the city and any secondary school student who has instrumental lessons, as well as hundreds of singers.  It was a fantastic performance.’

For Sam, it wasn’t the first time that he had conducted at the event.  In 2008, he led the 550-strong East Riding of Yorkshire Massed Ensemble in a piece that he composed specially for them.

Almost a decade on, East Riding Choir performers who were involved contact Sam about it.  “It’s fantastic to be involved in such memorable performances.”