23 year old Scottish tuba player Ross Knight has won one of the most keenly sought after positions in the professional orchestral world, after being invited to audition for the Karajan Academy, Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Challenge

The Yamaha Performance Artist beat off the challenge of 25 rivals from across the world to take on a role which will now see him make his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle in December.

Speaking exclusively to 4BR, he said: "Young tuba players (up to the age of 27) were specially invited to audition for the position, with the panel made up of members of the brass section of the Berlin Philharmonic, including principal tuba player Alexander von Puttkamer.

It was an amazing experience, so to be chosen is something of a dream come true."

Performances

It means that over the next two years Ross will perform with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra when a second tuba is required or when principal tuba player Alexander von Puttkamer cannot play.

He added: "I will be required to play in projects and concerts with the other Academy players such as chamber music, both brass and with other instruments, bigger ensemble concerts and projects. I will also undertake workshops and solo engagements."

Achievement

The appointment is the latest achievement for a performer who cut his competitive teeth with the Carnoustie & District Youth Band and who has kept his brass band connections in place by playing with the Co-operative Funeralcare Band.

After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2104 before adding his Performance Diploma to his CV, he is now studying for his Masters Degree (MMus) at the Hochschule fur Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover, under Danish tuba professor Jens Bjorn-Larsen.

Rattle debut

He has recently performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and will now make his Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra debut when he takes the principal tuba role under Sir Simon Rattle on Debussy's opera, 'Pelleas et Melisande'.

"That is something which I'm certainly looking forward to,"he says. "The news just came through to me in the last couple of days, so now it's down to plenty of practice and rehearsal for what will be an amazing experience."

Horovitz Concerto

However, Ross will not be lost to the banding world just yet — with an eagerly anticipated performance of the Joseph Horovitz 'Tuba Concerto' to look forward to with Tredegar Band at the 2016 Festival of Brass at the Royal College of Music on Saturday 30th January.

The news just came through to me in the last couple of days, so now it's down to plenty of practice and rehearsal for what will be an amazing experienceRoss Knight

Ultimate goal

He adds: "My ultimate goal is to have a job in an orchestra as well as teaching and playing as a soloist.

Through the Karajan Academy I will be trained to prepare for orchestral auditions as well as getting the experience of playing with one of the world's top professional orchestras.

I will also continue to work with Jens with a view to enter some of the top solo competitions in Germany and further afield.

With that in mind I'm really looking forward to playing the Horovitz Concerto with Tredegar. They are a great band with such an innovative musical outlook."