In the Spotlight: Charlie Blades

This month, Charlie Blades (2017-24) is in the spotlight:  

Tell us about what you do now. Has your time at the school influenced your life today? 

I'm a professional musician and student at the Guildhall School of Music in London. I'm gigging roughly 25 times a month as a solo pianist and with a jazz trio, and I teach privately too. I mainly work around the luxury hotel circuit, playing piano in the Corinthia, Browns Hotel, Hotel Cafe Royal, Beaumont, Montcalm, and others. I've also been travelling the world with my jazz trio, and we're headed out for our second trip to the USA this summer. 

Attending BMS was a stroke of good luck that continues to change my life for the better to this day. My piano teachers at BMS set me on a path that would ultimately lead me to studying at one of the best music schools in the world, and the opportunities I had at BMS as a musician - playing in the pit band for school theatre performances, playing assemblies, parents evenings, and other events - gave me such a solid foundation of work experience at a young age. I also met my wonderful partner of nearly five years when I was in Year 10 at BMS. Her name's Ruby and she's studying to become a primary school teacher. 

Tell us about your time at BMS. Do you have any special memories you would like to share?  

I had a fantastic time at BMS and really tried to take every musical opportunity that was offered to me. My initial path into the school was through a scholarship so I was made keenly aware of how lucky I was to be there. By the time I was in Sixth Form, I was spending every break time, lunch, and free period in the Music Department at a club or practicing. I had a great social life too and usually got on well with my teachers. Special memories include playing open mic nights with my friend Isaac, having 1-1 piano lessons with my excellent teachers, and getting into debates in Philosophy class. 

Who was someone from your time at BMS who had an impact on you and why? 

The whole music department had an effect on me, but I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Mary Perry for everything that she did. She inspired me to work harder at my craft, offered me opportunities like gigs for the school, and supported me massively with the gruelling application processes that music universities have. 

What do you do like to do in your spare time? 

I love boxing and martial arts in general, and have been training on and off for nearly my whole life. I also play accordion, sing a little, and barely play the alto saxophone. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Listen to your teachers. Be ridiculously ambitious. Work hard at what you love and become the best version of yourself that you can be. 

Are there any other thoughts you would like to share with the OBM and BMS community?

The arts is a wonderful industry, and has and will always be a viable career path! Don't let anybody dissuade you from being a musician, actor, singer, dancer, performer, artist, writer, photographer, or any other kind of creative. Music and art are some of the most important things in life.