High achievements for Bedales musicians

PETERSFIELD, U.K. - May 7, 2015 - PRLog -- Bedales is celebrating the extraordinary musical talent of its students with recent confirmation that two music scholars will be studying at the Junior Royal Academy of Music, considered by some to be the most prestigious of the UK’s many world-class Music Conservatoires.

Block 5 (Year 11) student Caleb Curtis, has successfully auditioned for a cello place at Junior RAM from September. Caleb will be joining fellow Block 5 student, Luca Caruso, who won his jazz and percussion place at the Academy last year.

Caleb commented: “I am extremely excited to begin this next step in my musical education, where I’ll be participating in an intensive musical environment every Saturday.”

Further proving Bedales’ successful route into higher musical studies, following auditions held in March, Olivia Brett (aged 19) has been awarded a choral scholarship at Clare College, Cambridge from October 2015.  Clare was in the first group of the university’s previously all-male colleges to admit female undergraduates. Membership of its Chapel Choir has, for over four decades, been the ultimate goal of those ambitious sopranos and altos who have already won academic places in the university.

Commenting on the news, Olivia said: “I am just over the moon to have received the offer of a choral scholarship at Clare.  I feel so honoured to have been invited to work with such a well-renowned, well-respected and dynamic choir and very much look forward to singing with them in the beautiful college chapel - as well as on tour around the world.”

Olivia is currently travelling in the Middle East, volunteering at an archaeological dig on a biblical site near the Sea of Galilee. When she returns, she will begin rehearsals for her role as Nanetta in the forthcoming production of Verdi’s opera Falstaff by the Black Cat Opera Company, with performances at the Camberley Theatre from 12 - 16 August.

On a more contemporary note, two Bedales sixth form students have been offered places at highly sought after music colleges. Louis Giannamore (aged 18) has been offered a place on the Contemporary Writing and Performance undergraduate course at Berklee College of Music in Boston, US; he follows in the footsteps of former Bedales head boy and drummer in band Tellison (http://www.tellison.co.uk/), Henry Danowski. George Gardner (aged 18) has been offered a place on the Popular Music course at Leeds College of Music.

Luca, George and Olivia all attended Dunhurst, Bedales Prep School, before progressing to the Senior School. Reflecting on these recent successes, Nick Gleed, Bedales Director of Music, said; “The tradition of nurturing and promoting a variety of musical talent is our enviable inheritance and continues to be the motivational heart-beat of the Music department at Bedales. I am delighted that the skilful musicianship of these students has been recognised with such well-deserved awards.”