Q. Briefly explain your talents.
I play several musical instruments and belong to a stage school that puts on performances every year. I love to perform because it builds my confidence each time and makes me feel special and a part of something. This, I have loved since I was really young.
Q. Which musical instruments do you play?
I play the Clarinet, Piano, Saxophone and I sing. I also play varieties of the Clarinet, such as the alto clarinet. I am grade 5 in piano, clarinet and singing. I also play the recorder and I like playing chords on the ukulele and strum along to my favourite songs. I hope to learn some other musical instruments in the future!
Q. Which instrument is your favourite?
I love all of my instruments. They each mean something special to me. The clarinet was the first real instrument that I learned to play, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. The piano is something that I can express myself fully on and I feel I am in a special place when I am singing. I also love the sound of the Saxophone. But I think I love the piano the most.
Q. Are you part of a band or in a club?
Unfortunately, the band I used to play for - Shefford Town Band - recently shut down, but I do play in the first orchestra, the wind band and the choir at my school. I have attended Mad Hatters Theatre School in Shefford for 6 years. Mad Hatters is my favourite thing in the world. I have been going there for over 6 years and it means so much to me. I have learnt things I couldn’t have possibly learnt elsewhere, I just really love it.
Q. When do you practice, with who and for how long?
I try to practice at home, but it is quite hard when most of your family also needs to practice and all you can hear is the sound of your brother trying to play the oboe in the next room! I usually do my practice at school in the music practice rooms before school starts. My mum says I need to do more practice!
Q. Who is your favourite singer or musician?
I don’t really have a favourite singer, I like lots of different songs, mainly from musical theatre. The one person who inspires me the most is Lin Manuel Miranda. He wrote the musicals ‘Hamilton’ and ‘In the Heights’. He also wrote the score for ‘Moana’ and has performed as Alexander Hamilton and as Jack in Mary Poppins Returns.
Q. What are your goals/dreams/visions?
My goal is to one day perform on the West End in musical theatre and meet my heroes, and some day, to be like them.
Q. Do you ever perform in shows or won any competitions?
For the last two years I have competed in a National Piano competition called EPTA. Last year, I got into the finals in London and got to play on a gorgeous piano. Unfortunately, I didn’t win, but it was an experience of a lifetime and I’m definitely competing again next year! Over the last 7 years, I have had roles in over 20, mainly musicals. I have played Tessie In Annie, Sarah Brown in Guys ‘n’ dolls, Mr Warbucks in Annie, the Caterpillar and Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and most recently Badger in Wind in the Willows.
Q. Any advice or tips for anyone who wants to write a book, play an instrument or sing?
I have two pieces of advice to anyone who wants to do any of these things: don’t give up, so many people get overwhelmed with school work and quit because they think they can’t balance two things at once. But you can do it! The next one is to stand out and be yourself and sing, write or play music from how you feel on the inside.
