Biography
Nicholas Freestone began his musical education at the age of 5 when he chose to learn the piano. He took up the French horn three years later, and in the year 2007-8 gained Grade 8 with Distinction on both of these instruments. He is in a large variety of musical ensembles, including Ipswich School’s Symphony Orchestra, Big Band, Piano Trio, Horn Trio, School Choir and Chapel Choir. He is Principal Horn in the South Suffolk Youth Orchestra and has previously been a member of the Suffolk Youth Orchestra. Nicholas also enjoys composing – he was a winner in the Philharmonia’s Groove Search competition, having his piece recorded at Abbey Road Studios. He conducted the première performance of his piece Le Pont at the Ipswich School Spring Concert at Snape Maltings in April 2008. He is a recent winner of the HMC Schools’ Young Composer Competition and his anthem, This Lowly Ground, was premièred at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in October 2009. It has since been performed at Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals by Ipswich School Chapel Choir
Nicholas began to learn the organ in 2004, before joining the Choir of St Mary le Tower, Ipswich in September 2006. He is now Organ Scholar of both St Mary le Tower Civic Church and Ipswich School, gaining Grade 8 distinction in December 2009. He has been very fortunate to play many fine organs, including several cathedrals. He took part in a BBC Songs of Praise programme about the organ, broadcast in January 2008. In July 2009 Nicholas was a member of the Oundle for Organists Prospective Organ Scholars course, working with James Parsons, David Sanger and Erwan le Prado, also taking part in many services at Oxford colleges. He greatly enjoyed playing for evensong at Salisbury Cathedral in October 2009, accompanying the Ipswich School Chapel Choir. For the academic year 2010-11, Nicholas will be Organ Scholar of Dean Close School and Tewkesbury Abbey.
