Jodie Rushton

Instrument
Percussion
Outside of BPO, what is your occupation?
I am currently a final year Physics student at the University of Birmingham.
How long have you been a member of BPO?
Since November 2023
What inspired you to take up your instrument?
When I started secondary school, the only instrument with spaces for new pupils was ’Orchestral Percussion’ I was intrigued, and I’ve been “hitting things with sticks” ever since!
How did you come to join the orchestra?
I believe that there weren’t enough percussionists for a series in October 2022, so I was asked to play a few things. I was then asked back to play a few more things until eventually I became a member.
Most treasured occasion with the BPO?
There was a nice little glockenspiel note in Rachmaninoff’s ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ which was very satisfying to play!
Any moments you would rather forget?
When I saw my old music teacher and briefly forgot that there was no longer any homework that I had neglected to do (as I had left school years prior), and tried to hide from him. The closest thing was a timpani so I picked it up in a flawed attempt to become invisible.
My back ached for at least a week afterwards- timpani are heavy!
Favourite composer? Least favourite composer?
like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. I don’t like Bach (still haunted by having to complete four part harmonies in the style of Bach for A level Music)!
Work(s) you would like to play before you die?
Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” might be fun!