Getting to know… Matilda Lloyd
Ahead of our concerts in Saffron Walden, Norwich, Leeds and Basingstoke with soloists Matilda Lloyd (trumpet) and Mishka Rushdie Momen (piano) later this month, we thought we’d find out a bit more about them.
Matilda Lloyd | Trumpet
In 2014, Matilda was the winner of the BBC Young Musician Brass Final, and in 2016, gave her BBC Proms solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Philharmonic. She has studied at the Royal Academy of Music and with trumpet legend Håkan Hardenberger in Sweden.
What excites you about this project?
The Shostakovich Concerto No.1 is one of my favourite pieces of music as it is so full of different characters and emotions, from humour to sadness to irony. I’m also really looking forward to premiering Alissa Firsova’s new work Stages – I had the great pleasure to work with her in Munich on the piece and I can’t wait to hear how it all comes together with the orchestra!
Have you performed with Britten Sinfonia before?
I had a wonderful time performing last summer at Snape Maltings with the orchestra, premiering John Woolrich’s Hark! the echoing air, based on Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. It was, in fact, my first concert in 2021 after six months of lockdown, so it was a very special day!
What’s your favourite space that you’ve performed in?
My favourite space that I’ve ever performed in has to be the Royal Albert Hall. I performed there 3 times with the National Youth Orchestra when I was a teenager, and then returned as a soloist at the Proms in 2016, and I think it is just one of the most incredible atmospheres in the world. Especially at the Proms: it was the Ten Pieces Prom, so the hall was packed full of children and their parents, plus the people watching on TV and the radio, and it was just an indescribable feeling to walk out onto stage and perform one of my favourite pieces (the Haydn Trumpet Concerto) in front of so many people at such a beautiful venue.
Was the trumpet your first instrument?
My first instrument was actually the piano; my mum is a piano teacher and accompanist so she started teaching me when I was about 5 years old. I discovered my dad’s old trumpet (he had played at school) in a cupboard one day when I was 8 years old and looking for a new toy to play with – it looked fun and shiny and I could make a decent sound, so I started to get some lessons
What your favourite instrument (other than your own)?
Orchestral instrument, I would have to say bassoon as I love the rich, warm sound. But I am also a huge folk music fan, so I play the pennywhistle in my spare time and would one day love to learn the bagpipes (to the horror of my friends and family)
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love to be outdoors! Recently, I’ve become particularly excited about swimming in cold lakes or the sea (especially if preceded by a sauna), and I love hiking in mountains, in forests and around lakes. I also enjoy dancing – especially Zumba – and, when I have the time, reading and baking. I also love to spend time with my friends and family, and go to concerts, shows and musicals.
You can find out more about these concerts and book tickets here.
Read about Mishka Rushdie Momen here.
Visit Matilda’s website to find out more about her other upcoming performances.
Listen to music performed by Matilda on Spotify:
