Southfields saxophonist secures Royal Academy place

By Jamie Henderson, Chief Reporter
5:00am Saturday 8th February 2014 in

A sixth former from a Southfields school who has cites jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker as his inspiration has won a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

Saint Cecilia's student Quinn Oulton, 18, fought off stiff competition to win a coveted place at the world renowned Academy, based in Marylebone Road.

The teenager, a music scholar at the school, begged his parents for a saxophone for his eighth birthday and has played ever since.

Mr Oulton, who achieved grade eight on the saxophone aged 12, has been strongly influenced by Parker and impressionist musician Claude Debussy.

He said: "I started to take lessons at Saint Cecilia’s in Year 7 thanks to the free tuition given as part of being a music scholar.

Read more: http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/10996101.Southfields_saxophonist_secures_Royal_Academy_place/