We were represented by four incredible acts, and to say the audience was blown away would be an understatement. Our Academy band, featuring Luca, Filip, Jack, Kurtis, and Meliton, led the way for us with an ambitious medley of Hans Zimmer and Billie Eilish. The performance was haunting and atmospheric, bringing a real cinematic feel to the theatre.

Alyssa followed this with a powerful and emotive rendition of an Adele classic that completely captivated the room, before Luca took to the stage for a hauntingly beautiful vocal performance of another Billie Eilish track. Closing out our performances was Filip, who showcased incredible technical precision on the piano with a piece by Chasing Kou.

The atmosphere in the theatre was electric throughout the night, and it was brilliant to see so many school staff in the audience cheering on our performers. A huge thank you goes to Mr Ward for his tireless work behind the scenes, helping the students prepare their sets and find the confidence to take the stage.

Ms Williamson, Assistant Headteacher for Personal Development, spoke about why these events are so important:

The arts are such a vital part of a well-rounded education. It is about more than just the music; seeing our students develop the character and bravery to perform on a professional stage is what makes these opportunities so special.

The standard across the entire region was exceptionally high, and we now face a nervous wait to see if any of our artists have progressed to the grand finals. Given the level of talent we saw on that stage, they certainly deserve to be there!