Full marks such sweet music to student all-rounder Helena
A student from Dunblane has achieved full marks in her Music GCSE - and completed the course a year early.
Helena Paish, a Year 11 boarder at Truro School in Cornwall, achieved 200 marks out of 200.
She is not only a grade eight singer but also plays the violin, the trombone and the piano. The Music GCSE is made up of three elements, performing, composing and appraising.
Helena joined Truro School as a boarder to develop her singing talent in the school’s Girl Chorister scholarship programme, which is run in partnership with Truro Cathedral.
The 18-strong choir have performed at venues across the UK and, in August, launched a CD recorded alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Described as a“good all-rounder”by the school, she performed major solos in a live broadcast bythe Cathedral Choir on BBC Radio 3 earlier this year, and in concert with the City of London Sinfonia.
“I was one of the first girl choristers when the choir launched,”said Helena. “I was lucky enough to have entered into it in my first year so I’m getting the whole deal. It was perfect timing for me.
“My teachers Mr Palmer and Mr Thomson were amazing in supporting and helping me through the GCSE. Mr Palmer with all the help he gave with composition was amazing. The way Mr Thomson taught us for the exam was just fantastic. He really helped with exam technique which I can take forward with the rest of my subjects.”