Girls’ musical triumph
TWO Newbury students have won a prestigious national composition competition.
Ceri Amison and Lucy Robertson, who are both sixth form pupils at St Bartholomew’s School, have now been selected to take part in a national programme with ORA Singers.
The girls competed against students from across the country for the chance to create a new piece of music for the award-winning professional choir.
In the youth competition Ceri was one of just 10 finalists selected based on their compositions and personal statements, as well as their current level of experience and their access to compositional teaching.
A further set of apprentices were then selected to take part in the scheme alongside them, with Lucy being chosen to take part with this group.
Head of expressive arts at St Bart’s, Georgina Robertson said: “The music department have been working hard to keep musical education alive and relevant so this is exciting news.
“The Ora Singers are an international award-winning music ensemble and students from all over the UK competed in this competition so this is a tremendous achievement for both students and we are exceptionally proud of them.”
The girls will now receive 10 hours of mentoring from a specifically-assigned composer who will work with them over several months to develop their compositional writing.
Finalists will also attend a workshop in London, meeting fellow participants and trialling ideas on a quartet of singers, before attending the competition final concert later in the year to hear their new pieces performed by the professional singers.