Nineteen-year-old clarinettist Sophie is currently a BSc Geography student at the University of Portsmouth. Sophie has been playing the clarinet since the age of 7 and has progressed through the Portsmouth Junior and Senior Wind Band and the Highbury Area Band. From 2014-2018, she played with the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, where she held the position of principal clarinet for her final 2 years. In December 2015, aged 16, Sophie gained her music performance diploma (DipABRSM) on clarinet. Sophie has played twice at the Royal Albert Hall with HCYO and has toured with the orchestra to Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Sophie also played with the Hampshire County Youth Chamber Orchestra for 2 years. In July 2018, Sophie was a finalist in the Winchester Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloist Competition, where she played Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No1 with the orchestra. As well as playing various clarinets, Sophie also plays flute, piccolo, tenor and baritone saxophone which she has played in the pit for a variety of musicals around the county including: “South Pacific” [South Downe Musical Society], “Kiss me, Kate” [Oaklands Catholic School], “Guys and Dolls”, “West Side Story” and most recently “Gypsy” [all RicNic]. Sophie will be taking on the role of Assistant Musical Director for RicNic Hampshire in 2019. Sophie is a regular soloist for the Portsmouth Chorus and has played with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. In November 2018, Sophie was invited back to play with the Hampshire County Youth Chamber Orchestra, on their trip to Germany playing Mozart’s Requiem, commemorating 100 years since the end of WWI. After university, Sophie hopes to join the Royal Marines Band Service where she will continue her music studies.