Anna, who completed Junior Academy (JA) in 2013, returned to share her knowledge and expertise with current students as part of the schedule of classes, rehearsals and presentations at JA on Saturday 25 January. Anna led a masterclass for our organ students, before performing in the Duke's Hall to all JA students and subsequently speaking about her time at the Academy and her career, as well as answering questions from students.
'It was really interesting to learn about Anna's life and how she has become such an influential and incredible musician since leaving Junior Academy. Listening to her play the organ live was really special.'
Fiona Rodgers, current JA student
'She answered so many questions really thoughtfully, including mine about how she decides when to stick to traditional organ music and when and how to share something new with her audience. It was so inspiring to hear her perspective on making organ music more creative and exciting.'
Kian Conti, current JA student
Anna Lapwood is currently an associate artist of the Royal Albert Hall and holds the position of Director of Music at Pembroke College. She received the prestigious Gamechanger Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society and signed to SONY Classical as an exclusive recording artist in 2023. In the same year, she was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
'Studying at Junior Academy was one of the highlights of my teenage years. I was a first-study harpist and loved the intensive instrumental learning, but also adored the opportunity to play in a high standard Symphony Orchestra which gave me the skills I needed to then join the National Youth Orchestra. I also loved the fact that I could study multiple disciplines. Over the course of my time at Juniors I studied violin, viola, piano, composition and conducting, and loved them all equally.'
Anna Lapwood
This year we are celebrating 110 years of Junior Academy, after it was recently discovered that the Junior Department (as it was then known) was actually founded in 1915, two decades earlier than previously thought. To mark the anniversary, we are holding a gala concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 9 February, featuring a performance of the complete score of Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé by the Junior Academy Symphony Orchestra, and other works with a particular connection to the year 1915 by Wagner, Rachmaninov and Holst. Book tickets here.