At the beginning of December Daniel (Form 5, Macquarie), a Music Scholar at Pangbourne College, received the results of his Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Associate Diploma exam on the Tuba. He performed a 30-minute non-stop recital of challenging repertoire for which he was awarded a mark of 43/50, a Merit. This now entitles Daniel to add the letters ARSM after his surname and at the young age of just 16!

With the current lockdown still in force, all practical exams are video recorded so Daniel also had to contend with a camera watching his every move and recording every note!

Mr Andrew Thornhill, Head of Instrumental Music at Pangbourne College and Daniel’s teacher, said: “Daniel performed incredibly well in his exam and at a level of musicianship significantly beyond his age.  He is the first Pangbourne student to achieve this Diploma and it is great news.”

Mr Chris McDade, Director of Music at Pangbourne College, also added his congratulations to Daniel saying: “For a student of this age to achieve such a high mark in the ARSM exam is testament both to Daniel’s hard work and dedication, and to the excellent teaching that he has received from Mr Thornhill.”

Daniel has been playing the Tuba for seven years and was attracted to the instrument because of its mellow sound and appearance. A member of the Marching Band and Senior Brass Ensemble, he is now looking forward to taking his Tuba playing to even greater heights by working towards the Dip ABRSM recital exam.