Sofia’s story
Nucleo has been such a big part of Sofia’s entire life that she doesn’t remember when she started: “I think [my parents] just enrolled me or something. I just remember being there, I don’t remember entering.” She does, however, remember switching to French Horn from violin “very clearly:”
“It was a day where…all the kids would get a taste of all the instruments. When we were playing the French Horn, not many of [the other students] could actually make the sound, but I could make the sound and I was like, “Oh, this is very cool. My sister couldn’t do this” So instead of doing bassoon, I was like, “So I'm gonna do French horn.’ … No-one knew I was gonna do it, because my parents and my sister thought I was gonna do bassoon, like my sister, but I wasn't.”
Sofia’s family’s journey with Nucleo began when Sofia’s older sister Maria started going to classes at the age of 5 after having heard other parents talk about it at school. Sofia then joined at the age of three and a half, after watching her older sister Maria in classes and wanting to join in. She enjoyed playing the violin like her sister, until the two of them switched to other instruments later on. Sofia saw this as an opportunity to assert her individuality, both from her older sister and the other students at Nucleo, as she was the only student to take up the French horn after the taster session. Her mum, Ana also mentioned that she “probably was the only one in her school that could do it,” (play French Horn).
Sofia’s independence and individuality play out in her learning style. Sofia’s teacher, Francis, commented on the ‘amazing’ development that she has undergone in the last 10 months. After working hard on her technique “her sound was amazing. It was huge. And she noticed that. I think that was like the difference that I wasn't the one telling her that she was progressing or that her sound was amazing. She noticed by herself… and because of that she started studying more and more.”Through this increased study time, Sofia begun to take her own initiative whilst practising:“She was really committed. She would tell me like, ‘You know, you told me to practice this this and this and this. And I realised that I also needed to practice this, this this and this’. So she was very focused.” (Francis)
Sofia and her family recognise Francis’s support as key to Sofia’s development in the last year, describing her as ‘wonderful.’ Commenting on Sofia’s audition to join the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department (RCMJD), Ana said, “she wrote Sofia an encouragement letter that she sent before the audition. That was really nice.” Sofia successfully passed the audition and will join the RCMJD in September. She said, “When we when we found out I got in… when I entered the Music room where we do our one-to-one lessons, Francis put on some music and we just started dancing in the room.” “I'm so happy that she got into RCM,” said Francis. “I was very proud of her. And all the commitment and all the effort and the discipline that she showed - it was her thing. Her doing.”
Sofia’s earlier musical experiences have paid off, as well: her skills as a French Horn player meant that she received a prestigious music scholarship to her preferred secondary school, where she now receives singing lessons and has already jumped ahead to Grade 6 in just under two years. “I think [the French Horn] has helped me improve with singing… because when I do fast notes, they're so hard because you have to play it fast, and I think that's helped with my singing because then I could sing fast songs,” said Sofia.
It is clear that Sofia really values the social connections she has made at Nucleo.“It makes lifelong best friends,”she said, referring to her best friend, another brass player who she initially saw as competition but quickly became firm friends with. Francis reflected on Sofia’s interactions with the other members of the orchestra:“She’s chatty! When she's with the group, she's enjoying herself and having fun with her friends and enjoying the community and moments with the others.”The power of community is strong at Nucleo, evidenced in the way that Ana and Paulo are invested in the progress of all of the students: Commenting on the 2023 Opera Holland Park concert, they said: “It was fabulous. [Our daughters] have been improving all the time, and it's good to see them. Not only [them] but all the kids, … the way that they are growing and the progress that they've made.”
Through Nucleo, Sofia gained confidence and independence which benefits her life, both within music and outside: “We don't have the benefit of comparing this Sofia with the Sofia that never attended Nucleo, it's difficult, but surely having to attend lessons four times a week for 10 years must have built up her resistance-” (Paulo) “resilience and confidence as well.” (Ana). Sofia reflected on her adaptability: “I think Nucleo also improved me on… change. We changed instrument, we changed the Nucleo building about three times, every single time I would get so lost. But every time I managed. It also helped me with my memory because I had to remember all the rooms and different days and stuff like that.” Francis agrees, saying “Now, I don't see Sofia lowering her head or trying to make herself smaller, just because she's next to someone that plays well. She's now much more confident. And she shows that in her body posture, body language, the way she speaks.”
Paulo and Ana are immensely grateful for the opportunity that Nucleo has provided to both of their daughters: “When could we ever afford the bassoon, for Sofia’s sister, or even a French Horn, for Sofia?”
Sofia is looking forward to joining the RCMJD in September, and in the meantime perfecting her repertoire for the next grade.
“Nucleo is really fun. And not only is it fun, it teaches you how to play an instrument, so both good things”