Springtime Music Successes!

We are always keen to congratulate our students but we are overjoyed that two of our amazing young musicians have been celebrated by organisations outside Leighton Park for their incredible musical prowess.

Alice (Year 10) has been selected by the Royal Academy of Music to join the Junior Section after Easter. Alice is a skilled bassoonist, currently working towards her Diploma, and is a Music Scholar at the school where she plays in the orchestra, the bassoon ensemble, the jazz band and often performs as a soloist as well.

Alice was delighted to have been chosen to join the prestigious group who meet on Saturdays during term time throughout the year. The young musicians who come from all over the UK range from 8 to 18 years and enjoy a tailor-made programme of outstanding individual lessons, chamber music, musicianship, orchestral and choral training.

Alice shared her experiences of the selection process saying: “I recorded myself playing two pieces and sent it in alongside a short video of me talking about why I love music. This was a bit nerve-wrecking but it was really great playing with an amazing pianist and felt less scary as it was online. I went in for an open day before the final audition and absolutely loved it. Out of nowhere the Head of the Junior Academy offered me a place and I was over the moon. I will be starting next term and I’m super excited to play in so many new groups. Although it will be sad to stop seeing my amazing teacher, it will be exciting working with the RAM bassoon teacher.”

Director of Music & Media, Rosemary Scales, added “We are so proud of Alice and absolutely delighted to hear about her acceptance into the Junior RAM next term. It’s a real testament to her dedication, hard work and ability. Alice is an important member of a number of ensembles here, not least in our fantastic Bassoon Trio! We will be excited to follow her progress next term and beyond.”

Vivian (Upper Sixth) possesses an absolute showstopper of a voice and has starred in School productions such as ‘Guys and Dolls’ as well as being a long-standing member of the school’s elite singing group, the Chamber Choir, who competed in the national ISA A Cappella competition last week. Vivian’s vocal talents, her strong acting ability and her interest in both Music and Drama allow her to combine her Music and Drama scholarships to great advantage in the medium of Musical Theatre. Vivian won the KS4 category in the ISA Musical Theatre competition in 2021 when she was in Year 10 and her ambitions are set on a musical future as she is currently applying to a number of performing arts schools and music conservatoires.

Vivian’s latest achievement has been her selection to star in a new show at the Kenton Theatre in Henley-on-Thames from 27^th to the 30^th March. Vivian enthused: “I’m currently playing Dorothy Gale in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with the Reading Operatic Society. It’s been wonderful to engage with other actors in the community, they’ve been so welcoming to me. Being in a cast with adults (and a real live dog!) has taught me so much –  I’ve been in School productions and the past two summers have performed in the companies of British Youth Music Theatre and National Youth Music Theatre, which were amazing, but being in my first adult production with a group of people who are so enthusiastic about theatre, who really love it, is such a great experience.”