Brahms and Liszt: the National Youth Orchestra rehearsing at the Barbican, London. Photograph: Garry Weaser
I remember reading before attending my first National Youth Orchestra course that the first rehearsal is the most memorable moment. It definitely was - more than 160 young musicians bashing out Mars: The Bringer of War from Holst's The Planets all around you isn't something you forget - but for me, the NYO experience was so much more than just the opportunity to play music. It was about engaging with new people from all over the UK and from a variety of backgrounds to share a unique experience.
I was fortunate enough to have my membership coincide with the 50th anniversary year of the orchestra (it's nearly a decade ago now), and I was spoilt by the amazing opportunities on offer. Musically the highlights are still at the forefront of my memory. and include performing Shostakovich 10 at the Proms with Rostropovich conducting, touring all over Europe performing Mahler's massive Das Lied von der Erde with John Eliot Gardiner, Anne Sophie von Otter and Keith Lewis, and chamber music courses with members of the London Sinfonietta.
Discipline was something that was drilled into you from day one - and, indeed, still is. After tuning, the whole orchestra would sit in silence for two minutes. The conductor would then arrive and the rehearsal would begin. The experience was a powerful uniting factor and I made some great friends on the residential course, many of whom are still very close to me.
Aside from the music, there are plenty of memories that stick in my mind. I remember getting caught smoking once and getting a stern telling-off - hardly surprising given that I was a woodwind player. Slightly hazier are my memories of one evening in an underground bierkeller in Vienna during the anniversary tour. To the astonishment of locals, the former director of music Jill White - a former opera singer - gave an impromptu performance as we all drank into the early hours.
For me, the NYO marked two moments of growth and development in my life - the first as someone preparing for university and leaving home, the second as a first-jobber embarking on the career ladder. Both moments have taught me that confidence, enthusiasm, the desire to excel and a sense of fun are crucial no matter what you end up doing for a living. Funnily enough, it's difficult to imagine I would ever have had the chance to repeat the experiences I was lucky enough to enjoy if I had actually chosen music as a profession.
