Drummer hopes to inspire young musicians at Knaresborough concert

A percussionist performing in Knaresborough next month is hoping to inspire other young women to follow in her footsteps.

Sophie Mullender is an accomplished musician and will be playing percussion with the Knaresborough Choral Society.

She hopes seeing her perform on the drums will help girls in the audience to realise that the instrument is open to everyone.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“I did try out pretty much every instrument. The reason I stuck with drums was because, growing up, I never saw anybody that looked like me playing drums.

“It was a bit of a duty to show it’s possible. Every time I perform, I think, ‘if one person looks at me and says, if she can, maybe I can, I’ve made a difference’.

“There are plenty of women out there doing it, it’s just finding ways for them to gain exposure. Social media has been great for that.

“We’re making progress, but I still think fundamentally there’s a lot of work to do.”

She only moved to Harrogate in 2021 and works for the Diocese of Leeds as a fundraiser and in its music department.

In her spare time, she often accompanies choirs at concerts – but the Knaresborough event on July 8 is particularly special.

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She will be joining her boyfriend, conductor William Bruce, for the performance, and it will feature some of her favourite songs.

Under the title The Great American Songbook, the choir will perform songs by Duke Ellington, Rogers and Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and More.

Sophie said:

“I’m a jazz drummer by trade, but I also did quite a lot of musical theatre growing up. I haven’t had much opportunity to play it since moving to Harrogate.

“It’s a very varied, lively, upbeat programme. I think it will uplift everybody that comes to see it.”

Knaresborough Choral Society will perform The Great American Songbook at King James’s School on Saturday, July 8 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £12 for adults, and free for under 18s and essential companions and carers.