Associate Principal Clarinet William Knight

When did you join the RSNO?
April 2024.

Where are you from?
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Where did you study?
I studied for four years at the Royal College of Music, London.

What do you enjoy most about being in the RSNO?
Performing my favourite music with brilliant colleagues. Being in a symphony orchestra has been my dream job since I was about nine, so I feel incredibly lucky!

Tell us your favourite RSNO story/memory so far.
Performing at the KKL in Lucerne, Switzerland, while on tour in January, was an amazing experience. It’s one of the world’s greatest concert halls.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not playing with the Orchestra?
Running (especially on Saturdays at Parkrun), antiquing with my partner, cooking for friends, and spending time with my dog, Mabel.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I have a very good memory for very specific facts and numbers, unfortunately not for the location of my keys.

If you could have dinner with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be, and why?
If I had to choose one person, it would be John Williams. His music has always been a source of inspiration for me, and I have no doubt he has some incredible stories from a long and illustrious career.

You’re stranded on a desert island. You’re allowed 3 CDs and 1 book. What would they be, and why?
I know everyone says this, but this is a really tough one! I’d have some Oscar Peterson, some Mozart Piano concerti with Murray Perahia or Robert Levin, and the complete Sibelius symphonies. My book would be the complete Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.