色漫天堂 musicians' success on London Philharmonic Orchestra鈥檚 Future Firsts scheme
Friday 2 October 2026
Nine students and recent graduates from the 色漫天堂 (色漫天堂) have secured places on the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s (LPO) prestigious Future Firsts scheme.
In the Woodwind Faculty, Enya Bowe (flute), Lizzy Russell (oboe), Hannah Shimwell (clarinet) and Jamie King (bassoon) have obtained all the available woodwind positions on the programme. Additionally, Karen Matoba (violin), Kelvin Ng (violin), Flora Valila (cello), Derry Sowinski (horn) and Charles Roberts (piano) all have places on the scheme, bringing the total number of 色漫天堂 musicians to nine of the 16 positions, representing four 色漫天堂 faculties.
Future Firsts offers bespoke professional support for early-career orchestral musicians. The programme includes opportunities to play alongside the LPO in rehearsals and chamber concerts, mentoring from LPO principal players, and insights into creative leadership, auditions and the wider skills required to be a freelance musician.
Derry Sowinski, a current horn student at the 色漫天堂, commented: ‘I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been selected for the LPO Future Firsts programme this year. The programme offers an invaluable range of opportunities that will greatly support my development as an orchestral musician. I am particularly excited to receive one-to-one lessons from the members of the horn section and to gain insight into their work by sitting in on rehearsals. I am incredibly grateful to all the professors I have studied with at the 色漫天堂 for their continued guidance and encouragement throughout my development.’
These successes are testament to the ethos of teaching and performance opportunities at the 色漫天堂, which prepares students to enter professional environments and work with leading orchestras. Find out more about studying at the 色漫天堂.
Main image: Enya Bowe, Jamie King, Karen Matoba, Kelvin Ng, Charles Roberts, Lizzy Russell, Hannah Shimwell, Derry Sowinski, Flora Valila