Ollie Sharpe, 13, who recently passed Grade 5 Rockschool with a strong merit score, started playing at only 7.
That’s when then-Remarkables Primary teacher Chris Stevens presented him with a plastic trumpet donated by the TuM trust — ironically he then learned his dad, Stu, also used to play the instrument.
Ollie, who’s just started Wakatipu High School, has played in WHS’s jazz band since he was year 6 at Remarks Primary, helping it win prizes at the Southern Jam festival in Blenheim.
He’s been receiving tuition from WHS music teacher Alistair Monteith and TuM principal and brass tutor Emma Wilson.
Wilson says Ollie’s ‘‘a delight to teach as he always gives his best effort’’, and she’s super-proud he’ll be first trumpet in WHS’s production of Legally Blonde next month.
He also recently played at his grandmother Kirsty Sharpe’s wedding ceremony.
— Philip Chandler
