Amy Preece (née Whitwam) started violin lessons in 1985 following the Suzuki method with Huddersfield Suzuki Teacher Caroline Goddard. Piano and recorder lessons soon followed and she gained grade 8 in all three instruments before leaving high school. She also won the Bessie Brearley Prize for the highest grade 8 piano mark in Huddersfield.
She was awarded a Bachelor's degree with First-Class honours from the University of Huddersfield, majoring in Performance (violin) and Composition. Prizes include the J. Woods & Sons Prize for Composition, the Philip Bates Prize for Young Composers (both 2005) and the Jane Boxall Composition Competition First Prize (2007).
In 2007 she was awarded the LRSM in Violin Performance and in 2009, the DipABRSM in Piano Performance. In 2015 she performed the Mozart G major Concerto with Paddock Orchestra and was invited back to perform the Bach Double Concerto with Emily Sharratt in 2017.
She has had compositions performed by Michael Finnissy, Chris Brannick, Gregory Rose, PlusMinus Ensemble, Daryl Runswick, FourSight, Mieko Kanno and the Fidelio Trio
Amy has received commissions from four ensembles – Marsh Ladies' Choir (Huddersfield), FourSight (London), The Brakedrum Assembly (London) and Hepton Singers (Hebden Bridge).
Qualifications
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MRes Creative Writing Distinction
(University of Huddersfield 2019) -
BMus (Hons) First Class
(University of Huddersfield 2005) -
LRSM Violin Performance (ABRSM 2007)
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DipABRSM Piano Performance (ABRSM 2009)
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Grade 8 Recorders, Viola, Music Theory (ABRSM)
Amy, aged seven.
Paddock Orchestra, a community orchestra in Huddersfield, invited Amy to perform the Mozart G Major K.216 concerto in March 2015. Under the baton of Barbara Bancroft, the performance took place in St. Cuthbert's Church, Birkby on Saturday 7th March and was recorded by Chrissie Caulfield of Woodside Recording. Click the photo for a link to the video.