Interview with Daisy Middleton, performer at the Warden's Recital during Hilary Term 2024
Daisy Middleton, first year music student at New College, will be performing in the Warden's Recital on Sunday 25 February. Ahead of the concert, she told us more about the programme, her experience of New College so far, and what she's planning for after her degree.
The Warden tells us that you are playing a mixture of modern and traditional classical pieces at the recital. Tell us why you chose these pieces?
When I was asked to do a 45 minute recital, I thought really hard about the type of repertoire should play and I thought that doing a concert through the time periods would be a fun way to fill in this time. So rather than doing a long concerto or a sonata, I opted for shorter pieces which represent different genres of oboe playing. I am starting with baroque and some galant style too and then Marcus [McDevitt, who will accompany Daisy] play a piece by Bach which suits the programme perfectly. Then I will play some Schumann which is very lyrical and filled with rubato and Marcus follows this will Schubert which is equally fitting. The last piece I will be playing was composed for my oboe teacher, Rosie Jenkins, by one of her family members. The piece has a free beginning and ends in a jig which is exactly how to end a recital on a high note (quite literally in this case).
You are now halfway through your first year at New College - how are you finding the experience?
I absolutely love studying at Oxford, the city is so convenient, all the students are likeminded and driven and the specialist tuition is unmatched. I will admit that the 8 weeks terms here are extremely busy and it can be hard to find a break, especially as a musician like myself who is involved in so much extracurricular but I would not have it any differently. As long as you can balance your work load with having fun then it is a fantastic place to be. Also, New College is such a beautiful college with lots of social space and a very well stocked library - the community here is so caring and I feel so grateful to be here.
You are currently having lessons with renowned London Symphony Orchestra oboist, Rosie Jenkins. What is the most valuable piece of advice she has given you so far?
Rosie is such an inspirational teacher and I am very grateful to be having lessons with her. I think the most valuable advice she has given me is to express myself visually through the music. I think that many performers forget that the audience do not just need an aural experience but also a visual one so Rosie always makes sure that my emotions and connection to the music comes across when I play.
Finishing your degree probably feels like a long time away but what are your plans for the future?
I am going to begin looking that postgraduate courses at a music college for after Oxford. I really want to enter the world of composition and spreading the joy of classical music so I would be really keen to do outreach as well as working on my compositions. Of course, I will not be dropping the oboe as being a good composer also involves being a master of your own instrument. The future is far away but time at Oxford moves so fast that I will definitely have to plan in advance.
About the performer
Daisy Middleton is a first-year oboist reading Music at New College, Oxford with a performance scholarship. Daisy started playing the oboe at seven years old at a junior conservatoire in Montreux, Switzerland and since moving to England has been an oboist at the Junior Birmingham Conservatoire and was specialist oboist at Wells Cathedral School, Somerset for her sixth form years. Having had many opportunities to play first oboe in orchestra and do many solo recitals including having her ARSM Diploma, Daisy has a love for performing. Having previously studied with Liz Fyfe, Daisy is currently having lessons with renowned London Symphony Orchestra oboist, Rosie Jenkins.
