CELEBRATIONS have been held at New College Worcester after the news sixth former Zoe Dixon had received a conditional offer to study music at Oxford University.
The talented musician is also studying Maths and Physics at A Level at the college, which is a residential school for youngsters who are blind or visually impaired.
Whilst Zoe is delighted to be offered a place, she is very modest about her achievements. Her music teacher at NCW, Jo Christie, said, “Zoe has a marvellous talent but is also incredibly hard-working and dedicated. As a musician who is visually impaired she sets herself extremely high standards to ensure she is equal to or better than her sighted peers”
Zoe plays the piano, clarinet and harp to an extremely high standard as well as the organ and guitar. She sings in the NCW choir and is a talented composer, using Sibelius score writing software with a screen reader.
Zoe said she was more surprised than anyone at the news and was really excited about the prospect of moving to Oxford. Most of all she is looking forward to meeting other like-minded people and finding her own speciality in music.
Amongst her other accomplishments, she recently won a carol composition competition and the Oxford University Worcester College Choir performed her composition at the Carol Service of Christmas 2017.
Zoe was also one of six blind musicians who came together to record a tribute to Louis Braille – a documentary about Braille Music directed by American film-maker Michael House. Her composition ‘Hope’ is the piece of music featured in the film, and is available on Amazon, iTunes UK and Google Play.
Zoe will find out in August if she has attained the grades she needs in her A levels.
