STAR TURN Rachel is among top Scots
31.05.2018 A talented Paisley teenager has been named runnerup in the Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year competition.
Former Paisley Grammar pupil Rachel McFadyen is studying for a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree at the MGA Academy of Performing Arts in Edinburgh.
Rachel was given the accolade after performing in front of a panel of judges at the SEC in Glasgow earlier this month.
The 18- year- old said: “My singing tutor at the MGA Academy suggested I should audition for the Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year competition.
“I was really nervous and so it came as a huge surprise when I found out I’d made it to the finals. I was really happy when they announced I’d been chosen as the runner-up as all the finalists were so talented.
“I’ve always loved musical theatre and knew I wanted to work in the industry after being cast as Sandy in my school’s production of Grease when I was 14.”
The Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year competition is organised by Glasgow Chorus Group and the Singers Company. The judges this year were Billy Differ of BBC Radio Scotland; Stephen Whitson, associate director for the West End productions of 42nd Street and Hamilton; singer in London’s West End Claire Moore and broadcaster Janice Forsyth.
Rachel was a member of Razzamataz Paisley and PACE for a number of years, before moving to Edinburgh to study two years ago.
She said: “I initially decided to audition for a place at the MGA Academy as I wasn’t ready to move to London and had heard they offered the same standard of training as the top London drama schools in Scotland.
“At the audition, I took part in a jazz workshop and performed two songs and two monologues. When I received my acceptance letter, I was over the moon as I knew it was the right place for me.”
The MGA Academy is set to become the only independent performing arts academy in Edinburgh to offer fullycomprehensive honours degrees in musical theatre, acting and dance performance.
From September, the academy will offer degree courses in collaboration with Bath Spa University and Rachel will be one of the first students to graduate with the qualification.
“I’m really excited to be training for an honours degree in musical theatre as I think it will open more doors for me in the future,” Rachel added.
“Once I graduate, I’d like to sign with an agent and audition for roles in touring productions as I think it’d be great to be able to travel the world whilst doing what I love.”
Drew Gowland, co- founder and managing director of The MGA Academy, said: “We are so proud of Rachel’s success in the Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year competition and are delighted that her talent has been recognised in this way.
“For more than a decade, we have been providing students like Rachel with exceptional training on a par with London’s leading dance and drama schools.”