Former borrower Yannick Mayaud this week contacted the Loan Scheme with news of his recent activities and plans. Winner of the Benslow Music ILS/Hertfordshire Youth Orchestra Award in 2012, Yannick was presented with this annual award at the BMILS 80th Anniversary Concert. The concert was performed by the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra at the Royal Academy of Music in April 2012, and included a tremendous performance of Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem. Yannick pictured above, chose a Italian violin lent to the Scheme by Lord Thomas Harmsworth and received the award from Philip Meaden, former Governor to the Scheme.

Having secured a place at Cambridge, Yannick graduated with a starred First. Writing to us with recent news he says

" I hugely appreciated having such a beautiful instrument at university in Cambridge as so much was going on there musically and it allowed me to really get stuck in. As my degree went on .... my focus shifted more towards conducting..... I’ve decided to fully commit all of my energies into studying to be a conductor [and] been accepted on a conducting masters at the Birmingham Conservatoire for September."

We wish you all the very best Yannick and are very glad that Benslow was able to help and that having use of a lovely instrument inspired you. 

The Benslow Music ILS/HCYO Award gives the recipient, who is a member of the orchestra, the use of an instrument with funding by the Loan Scheme and the Friends of the Herts County Youth Orchestra.