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MONCTON, N.B.: FEB.5, 2026: Two New Brunswick Youth Orchestra performers will pack their bags to continue their music studies in September at the world’s No. 1 ranked conservatory (QS World University Rankings) after securing placements at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, United Kingdom.
Amy Robichaud and Alexander Urbina traveled to Toronto on Monday, Feb. 2 to audition for the prestigious London college. It was the first time NBYO musicians have secured coveted seats at the famous school.
Amy Robichaud, a bass trombonist, said the audition was nerve-wracking but she was pleased with her performance.
“I’m very excited to be selected. I was very nervous in the audition, but the judges were very nice. One of the judges was a trombonist, and explained he struggled through anxiety in auditions as well,” Robichaud said.
Alexander Urbina, NBYO bassoon principal, is eager to start his studies in September.
“I’m very excited. It’s an incredible opportunity for me. I have no words to describe how happy I am,” he said.
Robichaud is from Caraquet and began playing the trombone when she joined the Sistema NB program in Moncton in 2015. Through the program, she advanced to the Moncton Youth Orchestra and later to the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. Robichaud performed Concerto in One Movement by A. Lebedev and Rock by A. Ralph for her audition.
Urbina, who began his musical studies in El Sistema in Venezuela, joined the NBYO this year. His parents, Marvicpermar Urbina and Steven Rojas, are instructors at Sistema NB Chaleur Centre. He performed Bassoon concerto in A minor RV498, first movement, by A. Vivaldi and Get It by G. Koshinski at his audition.
“It’s an incredible honour to be offered a position at the college. My family is really excited for me, and I want to thank Sistema NB and NBYO for making this journey possible,” Robichaud said.
Kenn Mainville, NBYO President & CEO, was ecstatic the auditions were successful.
“The Royal College of Music is the number one ranked music school in the world. The competition is incredibly intense,” Mainville said. “This is where big careers are developed in music and the arts…. For our students in Sistema NB and the NBYO it shows any dream is possible, there is no ceiling on your potential.”
Robichaud and Urbina submitted video auditions to the college in November and were invited to the Feb. 2 live auditions in Toronto. The musicians received acceptance letters immediately after their live auditions.
Maestro Tony Delgado, NBYO music director and conductor, said the students will receive an incredible music education in London.
“When students like Amy and Alexander succeed, it confirms what we strive for in Sistema NB and NBYO. We know the talent is there, we provide the opportunity, support and the scaffolding needed to raise up to the highest level possible,” he said.
Delagado predicted the RCM admissions will be inspirational to fellow orchestra members, showing the values of discipline and hard work. He said the orchestra’s policy that all musicians must perform annual auditions help students when they compete at elite levels.
“They know that they have to do their best in front of a panel or jury… that’s how they prepare for these challenges,” he said.
Kevin Porter, deputy director for the Royal College of Music, said the school receives about 2,400 applications a year for 300 vacant seats.
“The school is looking for talent and potential. We are looking for the most talented students we can find anywhere in the world… You don’t get offered a place unless you are a very likely prospect to forge a career as a musician at the highest level,” Porter said.
About a dozen Canadians are accepted annually to the London school, but Porter said the college recognizes the growing numbers of top Canadian musical talent and is looking to increase Canadian student numbers.
“London is the centre of music in Europe. There are more orchestras, performance halls in London than any other European city. International musicians travelling to London frequently come to visit (the college) and give master classes. Our professors are drawn from the major London orchestras… so it is a very direct connection with the music profession in London.”
Porter said entrepreneurship is stressed throughout the students’ studies to cement an understanding of the music industry. RCM’s world-leading performance laboratory uses video game technology to allow musicians to practice in real-world performance conditions in front of a virtual audience or audition panels that react to their music.
The college director said the Royal College of Music’s outreach program is similar to Sistema NB’s curriculum, providing an intensive, comprehensive early music education.
“This gives RCM students an opportunity to work with young kids to excite them about music and give them the skills they need to pursue a future in music,” Porter said. “We are very impressed with the scale of Sistema NB. It’s clear they are generating very talented musicians. It’s fantastic to partner with them and have a chance to help these students continue their education.”
*QS World University Rankings
