Introducing... Zoë Tweed, Third Horn
How did you become involved with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO)?
I joined the RPO in December 2023 after auditioning for the position and undertaking a trial with the Orchestra a year prior.
What was your first experience of orchestral music?
My first experience of orchestral music was at around 11 years old, playing in the ‘training orchestra’ at my school. I’m pretty sure that we played one of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Marches.
How did you find yourself on this career journey?
My parents are musical, so I was always surrounded by music and aware of the possibility of a music career but it wasn’t until around the age of 16 that I made a conscious decision to focus on that as a profession. I remember playing as a bumper horn [an additional horn player supporting the Principal Horn] in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture at school and whilst listening to the Principal Horn play a beautiful counter-melody, I realised I couldn’t let that be the last time I played that piece! It’s still a very emotional and nostalgic piece for me.
What is the best thing about being part of the RPO family?
The lovely people, the brilliant music (and musicians) and the tours!
Tell us about your favourite RPO journey.
I was really lucky to get the opportunity to take part in an RPO Resound project which took us to Antigua to work with the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra, where we coached the young musicians alongside members of the Kanneh-Mason family. It was such a special week and the students seemed to have as much fun as we did. Being able to watch them all improve over the week was very encouraging as tutors.
Do you have any pre-concert rituals?
It all depends on how nervous I am about the performance. If I think I’m likely to get very nervous, I talk to myself in the mirror, saying positive affirmations and reassurances. I also listen to some of my favourite (non-classical) music and incorporate some movement, or just sit with my eyes closed, depending on whether I need to feel hyped up or calmed down. I try to do most of this somewhere private as having an audience defeats the point…!
Must listens – if you had to recommend one artist or composer, who would it be and why?
It feels impossible to pick just one, but I’ll pick something that will be very familiar to horn players but less so to concert audiences. There are two pieces by Jean-Michel Damase written for Horn and Piano, Berceuse Op.19 and Pavane variée. They are simplistic and beautiful, and the harmony is completely effortlessly expressive – it’s my favourite kind of music to play.
Symphonic crossover – if you could work with any artist on a performance or project, who would you choose?
It would have to be singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Jacob Collier!
Away from music, tell us two of your favourite hobbies and why they strike such a chord.
At the moment, my two favourite hobbies are crocheting/knitting and video games. Partly the enjoyment comes from problem solving and being able to complete a project – as with anything crafty, it’s nice to have something to show for it when you are finished. I tend to have a lot of hobbies on the back-burner, I like collecting new skills and activities. Both of these hobbies put you in a very focused headspace and they are extremely fun.
Dream dinner party – who would you invite, what would you cook?
There are too many options! I’d probably just invite my closest friends and family… or maybe Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler. I’d cook some kind of mega vegan buffet with all my favourite dishes: scrambled tofu, aubergine parmigiana, tan-tan ramen, roast potatoes, massaman curry, fajitas, and so on and so on!