Teenage musician sets sights on top Manchester music college

Thursday, 27 November 2025 09:54

By Catherine Smyth

BUDDING performer Isla Connell has been singing and playing instruments since primary school and is now hoping to land a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

As well as GCSE studies, the Year 11 Whitworth Community High School student fills her extra-curricular time with music and song.

Isla, 16, said: “I have been involved with Rochdale Youth Choir since I was in Year 7. I am a Grade 6 at singing and a Grade 5 in my theory.

“Since Year 1 at primary school, I was also involved with Rochdale Musical Theatre at Rochdale Music Service. I am also involved in the Youth Brass Band. I started on cornet in Year 2 and around four years ago moved on to tenor horn.

“I am quite significantly better at horn and am also a member of my school’s band.”

Along with fellow Whitworth student Emmie Lovelady from Year 9 who is also in Rochdale Youth Choir, Isla went on a trip with the choir to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

She said: “There were about 13 of us from Rochdale and there were other choirs also visiting from all over the Manchester area.

“I have been there before for a workshop but that was on my own. When we went in, everyone was walking around with their instruments going to lessons or lectures; it was quite cool.

“I walked in and just felt like I fitted in, I would love to go there. You have to have a dream. Confidence is the key.”

Isla’s grandparents were singers and her mum Adrienne and dad Angus both play with Milnrow Band and Isla sometimes plays with the band.

She said her mum first introduced her to music as a way of boosting her confidence, and it worked.

At the prestigious college, the visiting choirs had to learn a song by ear, without sheet music, just from hearing it sung.

Isla, from Rochdale, said: “Then my choir, along with three others, learnt a song before we all got to perform.

“The trip made me feel closer to my choir and it was good for team building and bonding.”

Her week is packed full of music and singing as she also plays with Fanfare Trumpets at Rochdale Music Service, where her mum is the business support manager.

Wednesdays are packed with a theory lesson, singing oral, sight singing, choir practise and Rochdale Youth Band rehearsals.

Isla joins Whitworth School Band practice before school on a Thursday and on Saturdays she sings and plays percussion in the music service rock band – her favourite song is Rainbow’s ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’.

She is already planning her A levels at Rochdale Sixth Form, including Singing, Psychology and Media Studies.