Welcome to Imogen Royce, our new Flute

When did you first start playing the flute?

I started playing the flute at primary school when I was nine. My first teacher was actually George Galway (James Galway’s brother!). I grew up surrounded by music; my mum is a violinist and she’s been in the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester for 37 years, so my childhood was spent at Hallé kids concerts and backstage at the Bridgewater Hall. I got quite used to the crazy lives orchestral musicians live and thought it looked like a lot of fun. I knew I wanted to get involved, but I actually wanted to play the trumpet and both parents wouldn’t let me! They thought the flute would be easier to cope with … clearly they’d never heard a beginner flute at that stage!

What are you most looking forward to in the LSO’s 2024/25 season?

To be starting my time in the orchestra with Britten’s War Requiem at the Proms will be quite an epic moment. I’m also really excited to be there for Pappano’s first season as Chief Conductor, and touring Japan and America with incredible repertoire, including Mahler 1, The Planets and much more. Working with Janine Jansen is also really exciting for me as she is one of my all time favourite musicians. Even as I write this, it all feels so surreal!

If you could go back, what advice would you give your younger self as an aspiring musician?

Seize every opportunity to play with other musicians, especially during your time at school, university or music college. These experiences are so invaluable, even if you don’t see the benefits instantly. The music industry is obviously incredibly competitive, so you have to work really hard, even at the times you really don’t feel like it. There were many times where I felt it wasn’t going to work out for me, but getting through these challenges helped to build resilience. Now, I’m so happy and feel so lucky to have persevered and got my dream job.

Are there any other interesting things about you we should know?

I’ve never been great at memorising classical music (end of year recitals were always a particular stress for me!), but my friends are always amazed at how I can belt out the lyrics to most 90’s and 00’s pop songs. This quirky talent of mine is great for karaoke, which is another reason I’m so excited for the Japan tour!

If you had to pick, what is your favourite piece of orchestral music, and why?

It would have to be Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. The first time I played it was with the National Youth Orchestra, and I remember feeling incredibly teary, especially in the last movement! It’s one of those pieces that has everything, and really made me sure that I wanted to pursue music as a career. Playing with the NYO was great fun. I was in the orchestra with Principal Flute Gareth Davies’ son Luke on trumpet, my now fiancé Ben on horn and a bunch of other amazing friends who are still stuck with me now!

Those Mahler 9 concerts are still some of my favourite memories with them. Last year I was fortunate enough to play the symphony with the LSO and Sir Simon Rattle at the Proms which felt like a real full circle moment.