Rotorua student selected for Ingenium Academy of music summer school

Rosa Hook, 14, has been selected into the Ingenium Academy of music summer school. Photo / Stephen Parker

Any 14-year-old would be happy to have a month off school. But for Rosa Hook, it's not much of a holiday.

The John Paul College student has been accepted into the Ingenium Academy of music summer school in the United Kingdom.

She'll spend four weeks at the residential summer school alongside 14 to 18-year-olds from around the world.

During that time she'll stay at Winchester College, south of London and spend about five hours a day in rehearsals, individual lessons and masterclasses.

The academy teaches the students what it might be like to be a professional musician.

"I'm really excited, we're boarding for the whole time we stay there and there are four concerts. There are courses on improvisation and conducting, so it's really great not just for the orchestra but for different genres," Rosa said.

"I'm looking forward to the experience and meeting heaps of new people I share a common ground with and playing in a good international orchestra."

Rosa has been playing violin since she was 5.

"We went to a market and we saw a busker and I fell in love. I thought I had to do this so I started learning.

"Sometimes practising is hard but when I perform and accomplish a piece it's worth it."

In order to be selected, Rosa had to submit an audition video of her performing a movement from a concerto and a short orchestral excerpt set by the academy.

The course culminates in four public concerts, one in London and the others in Winchester.

Rosa hoped to pursue music after she left school.

"I do want to have a back up, something if it doesn't work out, but I do want to pursue music because I really like it."

Rosa also received a $1500 scholarship from the Rotorua Civic Arts Trust to go towards the academy and her participation in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orchestra in April.