Cara Smith is a Scottish clarinettist studying on the BMus performance course at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Cara started clarinet at age 11, it may come as a shock to discover she only began lessons to get out of maths! Safe to say her love for music was entirely accidental but undoubtedly fate.

In September 2022, Cara accepted her place and scholarship at the RNCM studying with Sergio Castello-Lopez. Her highlights so far are performing Poulenc’s Sextet for Piano and Winds, and performing with the RNCM Wind Orchestra. Cara is grateful to the Cross Trust and Dewar Arts Awards for supporting her studies.

Upon leaving school in 2021, Cara took a gap year. She gained the role of Trainee Arts-Coordinator at the Beacon Arts Centre where she organised weekly classes in performing arts for ages 4-21 with additional support needs alongside working as a Performing Arts Coach in the performing arts department of a high school. This generated a strong passion to make the arts more accessible to all so that no barrier should stand in the way of someone finding a love for the arts.

In S5 she successfully auditioned for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Junior Conservatoire. During her time there Cara performed in concerts with their Wind and Symphony Orchestra, SCO Wind Academy, WSSO Symphony Orchestra and NYOS Symphony Orchestra.

In the future Cara hopes to secure a job in a professional orchestra and continue her work with widening access and participation in the arts.