RGS students prove their star quality

SIXTEEN Ripon Grammar School students proved their star quality when they excelled in national drama and musical performance exams.

Leading the field is Holly Maisey, 18, who achieved a distinction with an outstanding score of 96 per cent in her grade 8 musical theatre London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art exams.

All RGS students, who are members of the city’s Upstage Academy, achieved distinctions in solo acting, group devised and musical theatre, including grade 8 students Amelie Eltringham, Ava Reeves and Evy Reed, who achieved a gold medal.

Ewan Donaldson achieved a score of 100 per cent in grade 5 solo acting, alongside 94 per cent and 93 per cent in his grade 4 musical theatre and grade 7 devised drama.

Holly, 18, from North Stainley, whose ambition is to perform on the West End stage, hopes to study musical theatre at a performing arts school in London, following a gap year after her A-levels.

Taking A-levels in art, psychology and geography, Holly has been performing since she was five years old and joined Upstage Academy in 2019 to study musical theatre, acting and singing while training to dance externally.

She took her grade 8 in acting last year and performed three songs covering a range of styles and eras, in addition to writing a pre-monologue and answering questions about each song, to gain her musical theatre grade 8.

Having also applied to study psychology at the University of Manchester as a back-up, level-headed Holly says: “A gap year will give me the chance to give my performing arts auditions my full shot, with no distractions after gaining my A-levels.”

Before A-levels, Holly spent about eight hours a week training in performing arts and says all her performances with Upstage and festival competitions have been fantastic experiences, giving her the best start.

“I have been lucky to get to perform on stage in London, at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and at Silverstone.

“I played Rizzo in the musical Grease, and it was so exhilarating. Every time I perform, I am reminded of why I want to do this. The endless support and opportunities I have had have pushed me to do my very best.”

Evy, 17, from Ripon has performed from the age of four and plans to study law after taking A-levels in French, RE and English literature, she spends five hours a week assisting with acting classes at Upstage and loves taking part in competitive festivals.

Ewan, 13, from Galphay outside Ripon, has been studying musical theatre for nine years and hopes to study performing arts and become an actor in the future.

He has played Jack in Into The Woods and  Zack in School Of Rock with Upstage Academy and has also competed in competitive festivals for the past four years: "I love performing and would like to continue to challenge myself with a variety of different roles," he says.

Ava, 16, from Ripon, has performed from the age of four and hopes to study drama at university. In addition to her Upstage roles, she has had roles in a wide range of productions at RGS, including Blood Brothers, Teechers, Richard III and Taming of the Shrew.

She dedicates six hours a week to her musical theatre training and has ambitions to appear in the West End and Broadway one day.

Amelie, 14, from Sharow, has been acting from the age of four and spends five hours a week practising for her dancing, acting and musical theatre.

"The highlights have been performing in huge theatres and having fun with friends. I'd love to get into more shows and even have a go at screen acting," she says.

Upstage Academy tutor Amelia Urukalo said: "I am incredibly proud of every single student as they work so very hard towards these examinations outside school, showing great commitment, resilience and respect to their training. These examinations will honour students with fantastic skill sets for their future."

Solo Acting/Group Devised and Musical Theatre all students received distinctions the highest grade marking

Elodie Rennie-Oxley Grade 1 Group Devised Drama/ Grade 2 Solo Acting

Imogen Tocher - Grade 1 Group Devised drama/ Grade 2 Solo Acting

Adam Hardy - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/ Grade

Storm Huyser - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/Musical Theatre Grade 2

Ewan Donaldson - Solo Acting Grade 5 and musical Theatre Grade 4 Group Devised Drama Grade 7

with scores at 100% 94% and 93%

Louis Boyce - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/Grade 3 Solo Acting

Amelie Eltringham - Grade 8 Group Devised drama/Grade 5 solo Acting

Ava Reeves - Grade 8 Group Devised drama/Grade 7 solo Acting- Silver medal

Evy Reed - Solo Acting Grade 8 final medal gold grade/ Grade 8 Devised Drama

Eliza Sanders - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/Solo acting grade 4

Matilda Jarman - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/Solo acting grade 4

Isobel Eltringham - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/Solo acting grade 2

Kimberley Whitehouse - Grade 4 Group Devised drama/Solo acting grade 3

Musical Theatre all distinctions

Florence Anderson - Musical Theatre Grade 4

Lily Donaldson - Musical Theatre Grade 2

Holly Maisey - Grade 8, 96%