2007 Winners
The Musical Theatre Bursary awarded 36 Bursaries worth a total of £150,000 in 2007 to aspiring Musical Theatre performers. The bursaries will be used to pay for tuition fees, private coaching, living expenses, travel, study abroad and self promotion.
Andrew Adam
I was delighted to be awarded a bursary from the BBC which I’ve used to contribute to the cost of my tuition fees at the 'London School of Musical Theatre'. I left behind a career in medicine to follow my dream and ambition of becoming a musical theatre performer.
I feel privileged to be able to sing every day and am looking forward to the future.
Florence Andrews
Winning this money means that I am now able to fulfill my dreams and take up my place on a course that I feel will give me fantastic opportunities and some of the best training I could hope to receive in my specific field. I will be using my money to live on whilst I study, so that I can buy the dance shoes I need, new repertoire throughout the year, and of course so that I have a shower I can sing in!
All in all, this bursary has given me the chance to be able to start this course knowing that I can finish it, and knowing that I can give all the focus I have to it.
Aimie Atkinson
I am studying at the Royal Academy of Music on their one year post graduate Musical Theatre course. The Bursary has really helped me as I would not have been able to go to the Royal Academy without it, I am very grateful for their support.
Caroline Bateson
From September 2007 I have been training at the Urdang Academy in London and I hope to pursue a career in Musical Theatre.
Receiving the Performing Arts Fund means that I can complete my three year course and fulfill my dream of working on the stage.
Nicola Bentley
I am in my 2nd year of a Higher National Diploma in Musical Theatre at Performers College in Essex. The Performing Arts Fund gives me the opportunity to continue to enhance my vocal skills by working with a top vocal coach as well as continuing to work with my singing tutor at college.
Jennifer Bowling
During 2007 my voice broke down completely, because of a burst vocal cyst. My parents, supported me financially and emotionally through the operation and I am working extremely hard to get my voice back to a high standard. I want more than anything to overcome my problems to have the chance to audition at The Royal Academy in London.
The money awarded to me by the Performing Arts Fund has not only paid for all the after care sessions I have needed but also all travel costs to and from London to ensure I see the best doctors in the country. My third and final year at drama school is very exciting as I can now work to the best of my ability. Auditioning for a post graduate course was a goal completely out of reach but the Bursary has made my dream come true.
Charlotte Bradford
I Graduated from East 15 Acting School, June 2007 with a BA in Acting. The Musical Theatre Bursary will go toward further training in Musical Theatre, and memberships of Actor's Centre, Pineapple Dance Studios and more singing lessons.
Waylon Brewster-Holloway
I am currently on the musical theatre BA programme at Arts Ed School London. Thes Bursary means the world to me and is the best thing that's happened, it means I can work with top names in the profession and hopefully take the first steps to achieving my dream of working in West End Musicals.
Find out about a day in the life of Waylon
Emily Brooks
I will be doing the MA Acting for Musical Theatre course at The Central School of Speech and Drama starting in September 2007.
I graduated from Warwick University with a BA in Theatre Studies and for a year since have worked at a car exhaust factory in order to save money to fund my studies. I was just short of the amount I would need for the year so this bursary is a Godsend! I am so grateful to the BBC for making this happen for me.
Paul Bullion
I am having the time of my life at Arts Ed and would like to thank everybody involved with the bursary scheme for making this professional training possible. I am currently preparing my material for my first year assessments and promise to make the most of this amazing opportunity.
Ceri-Lynn Cissone
A director and friend once said that training and working in the performing arts is difficult and competitive, so if I could think of another career I should choose that instead. Unfortunately there's never been anything else I wanted to do.
The BBC ‘Search For A Musical Theatre Performer’ boot-camp renewed my self- belief and gave me the courage and determination to leave the safety of my undergraduate course after the first year and, accept a place on the Post-Graduate Course at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Finances were my next challenge, but, once again, the BBC came to the rescue in the shape of The Performing Arts Fund which will go towards my fees and living expenses. Thank you!