Jenny Martins

Graduated: 2007, BA Hons Music

Now working: Opera North, education accompanist, freelance accompanist, pianist and teacher

The best things about ICMuS: “I found the department exciting as it was such a melting pot of different styles which prepared me for working in environments where you meet and make music with people from all walks of life.

"The academic and instrumental teaching staff were excellent and thanks to their infectious enthusiasm, I developed lifelong interests in all sorts of musical genres I had never discovered before.

"As a pianist it was also very useful to be in a department with two well-established concert series.

"The lunchtime concerts exposed us to world-class performers, while the student concerts gave us the opportunity to perform regularly to a supportive audience.

"The department is a good place to socialise, in the common room, the studios or excellent technology facilities and on sunny days, heading out to the beautiful quadrangle.

"I also sang with two different choirs and played with the orchestra, all of which was really exciting as the standard was so high.”