RGS performers dazzle festival judges

TALENTED musical theatre students from Ripon Grammar School dazzled judges at two major music festivals, winning a host of trophies and awards.

Leading the field was Year 12 student Evy Reed, from Ripon, who was crowned overall champion of the Harrogate Competitive Festival of Music, Speech and Drama after winning first place in the three solo categories of entertainment, solo acting and Shakespeare.

Year 11 student Ava Reeves, from Ripon, won two first places in solo acting and Shakespeare at Harrogate while Year 13 student Holly Maisey, from North Stainley, won first place in show song at Skipton Music Festival, picking up a second place at Harrogate.

Other prizewinners included Elodie Oxley, 12, Emma Caricato, 12, Tilly Jarman, 12, Ewan Donaldson, 13, and Eliza Sanders, 13, who won second and third places in solo acting at Harrogate.

Evy, 17, who trains with Upstage Academy in Ripon and has been performing since she was four years old, said: "The competition this year was so tough, like every year, especially in my solo acting category, and of course, in the championships."

She performed an extract from Cymbeline in the Shakespeare category, an extract from Boys by Ella Hickson for acting, and the Astrid monologue from Eight by Ella Hickson in the entertainment category.

Taking A-levels in French, RE and English literature and aiming for a career in law, she said: "I really enjoyed performing all my pieces, and had spent a lot of time rehearsing with my acting coach. Cymbeline and Boys were also two of the pieces I performed for my Grade 8 LAMDA exams earlier this year.

"I have always really loved competing at Harrogate Festival, and watching the work of really talented and hard-working performers, as well as having the opportunity to show my favourite pieces. 

"I was so pleased to win the championships, and really enjoyed hearing the feedback from the speech and drama adjudicators. I am so grateful to all my teachers at Upstage."

Holly, who also trains with Upstage Academy, came first at Skipton with her performance of Fools Who Dream from La La Land and second at Harrogate with Fools Who Dream and I'd Give My Life For You from Miss Saigon.

The 18-year-old, whose ambition is to perform on the West End Stage one day, said: "This was my last year performing and it was very sad to see it all coming to an end. I love performing and the festivals give you a chance not just to showcase your own talent but to see how everyone else’s talent can shine too. They are brilliant every year."

Holly, from North Stainley, taking A-levels in art, psychology and geography, has been performing since she was five years old and hopes to go on to study musical theatre at a performing arts school in London following a gap year after RGS.

She added: "I can’t wait to see how well everyone does it the future as I move on. There are so many incredible people, so invested in their work, which is very inspiring to me.

"It’s not really about winning for me, I just love performing and singing for the joy of it. I am so grateful for Upstage, not only with the opportunities they present but for the hard work they put in to get us there."