Year 12 pupil Jake Sittampalam has won second prize in a national music essay-writing competition. Entrants to the Cambridge Music Essay competition had to write an essay on one of a variety of musical topics set by the organisers, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Jake’s essay was on The Existence and Significance of Musical Genius.
“Many of the entrants were students preparing to apply to Oxbridge, so this represents a significant achievement for Jake,” said QE Director of Music, Kieron Howe. Jake won £100, with first place going to a boy from Winchester College.
Although Jake is in the School’s Big Band, is a founder member of the new marketing group set up by Mr Howe and is currently taking Music at AS Level, he is not planning to study the subject at university. “I’m hoping to read English or History,” he said. “The competition was a great opportunity to hone my essay-writing skills, which will be invaluable whatever subject I pursue.”
Jake received his prize at a presentation at Fitzwilliam College.