Ross Pople, 1966 soloist with the National Youth Orchestra, who has just returned to New Zealand after several years of study at London's Royal Academy and at the Paris Conservatoire. During this period overseas Ross distinguished himself both in his studies and in international competitions. He graduated from the Royal Academy with the institution's highest honour and won first prize in the Alessandro Pezze and May Muckle competitions. Just recently he was awarded first prize in the Stella Murray Memorial Competition. This year Ross participated in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. With the National Youth Orchestra he will play Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations.