Ex-student Mark Leighton receives unconditional offer at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Mark is overjoyed to have an unconditional offer to study classical guitar at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as well as offers from The Royal Northern College of Music, The Royal Welsh Conservatoire of Music and Drama and a reserve offer from Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London.

Aged just 13, Mark took up classical guitar having been inspired by a concert at the York Guitar Festival. Prior to that concert he had tinkered on the keyboard and strummed on his brother’s guitar at home. Four years on he is now studying A Levels in Music, Music Technology, Maths and Computing at York College and is an elite member of the College’s Music Development Centre. Currently he plays alongside 23 of the finest young guitarists in the National Youth Guitar Ensemble and he has a guaranteed place at a top conservatoire! In his words: “Suddenly I’m living my dreams!”

Mark, formerly of Selby High School, says: “It’s about performance and the audition gives me just a few minutes to prove my musicality. I am self-critical when I rehearse, I constantly look for ways to better my performance. It’s about being harsh on myself and being totally absorbed in my guitar playing.”

Looking to the future Mark wonders if he will ever become a classical guitar teacher at one of the top conservatoires – he has everything to play for!