Oliver Passes Grade 7 Cello

Congratulations must go this week to our very own mini music maestro, Oliver Pearce, who has passed his Grade 7 Cello examination at only age 11.

Oliver, who lives in Old Colwyn, took up the cello at the tender age of six and practices for 45 minutes six days a week.

His brother Thomas, who is also at St David's College, is a gifted piano player, and Oliver is also now learning to play the piano.

For his Grade 7 examination Oliver, who plays with a 3/4 sized cello, played Tarantella by W.H. Squire and Arioso by Bach as well as a Concertina movement by Klengel and a wide range of scales and exercises.

“I got a Merit in my exam, my cello teacher said that I narrowly missed out on a Distinction but you can’t get everything perfect all the time," he said.

“I’ll take Grade 8 when I’m older, but for now I’m working on Après Une Reve by Faure, and a Brahms piece-he’s a bit like Mozart and Beethoven.”

Oliver also has a passion for cars and is currently saving his pocket money to buy a Bugatti Veyron model that’s he’s spotted saying excitedly: “It looks just like the real thing.”

Not only has Oliver passed his Grade 7 Exam, he has also been successful in gaining a place in the National Schools Symphony Orchestra (Great Britain) this year. Well done Oliver!