Growing up in the idyllic landscapes of the English countryside, Oscar Osicki discovered his passion for music in a world where the horizons were both physical and metaphorical. His journey, from singing before speaking to becoming a composer for prestigious venues like the National Cathedral and BBC Radio 4, is a story of overcoming limitations, embracing diverse influences, and sharing his love for orchestral music with a broader audience. 29-year-old Oscar's early experiences with music were a mix of spontaneity and serendipity.
Born into a non-musical family in Cheltenham, Oscar's innate musicality was evident even as a toddler. "There are all sorts of home videos of me singing before I was speaking," he recalls with a laugh. Yet, growing up in the Cotswolds, his exposure to professional orchestras was limited, save for the occasional touring artist performing at the local town hall.
A pivotal moment came when Oscar attended the BBC Proms as a teenager. “Hearing something of that professional, world-class quality, blew my world right open,” he said. “I think because I'd only been exposed to amateur orchestras growing up, in sub-optimal acoustics, when living in the Cotswolds, so I'd always thought that was what orchestras "sounded like".
The Proms, and Birmingham Symphony Hall, really did change my life.” The experience reshaped his understanding of what orchestral music could be. "I had always thought that orchestras 'sounded like' the amateur groups I heard grow.