2009 Winners
The Musical Theatre Bursary awarded 35 Bursaries in 2009 ranging from £1,200 to £8,000. The bursaries will be used by aspiring musical theatre performers to pay for their tuition fees.
Amana Jones: £8,000
Amana is going into her 3rd and final year at The Arts Educational Schools London. She is delighted that the BBC Performing Arts Fund has enabled her to finish the last year of her training. "
I feel so fortunate to have had this support from the BBC Performing Arts Fund as without it I wouldn’t have been able to continue working towards my ambition of being in the West End and more! I am so grateful to the Performing Arts Fund and I think it is a great idea because it helps make young performers dreams possible. Thank you so much!"
Sarah McNicholas: £8,000
Sarah is in her final year of a BA at Mountview Academy and says she enjoys every minute of it (even the 8:00am Ballet Barre!). Her previous professional work includes a UK Tour of Bill Kenwrights and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Whistle down the Wind’ playing the lead juvenile role of ‘Brat’ (2003-2005).
"I would like to start by thanking the BBC Performing Arts Fund wholeheartedly for their help and support during my final year. Without the help of the BBC Performing Arts Fund it would have been extremely difficult to complete the fantastic training at ‘Mountview’. Thank you!!"
William Keith: £7,000
William is about to begin his second year at Arts Educational Schools London in Chiswick and says he can’t wait! William found his first year absolutely fantastic... however, due to financial stresses he feels he was unable to make the most of every single part of it.
"Thanks only to the BBC I will now be able to learn as much as I can and enjoy the experience of training on one of the most rewarding and intense courses at what I consider to be the BEST school in the country! This really does means the world to me... Thank you!"
Annalise Webb: £7,000
Twenty year old Annalise has just finished the 2nd year of her B.A course at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She says she feels privileged to be training at Mountview and is grateful to the many people who have helped and supported her over the years and whose love of Musical Theatre has inspired her to get this far.
"I was overwhelmed when I heard I had been given a BBC Performing Arts Fund grant, because it was the lifeline I so desperately needed to continue my training. I had no means of paying next terms fees and would have been devastated to leave before my final year, and lose everything I have worked so hard to achieve. Thank you so much to everyone at the BBC Performing Arts Fund for believing in me and enabling me to finish my training. I am so happy and look forward to beginning my professional career."
Matthew Evans: £7,000
Matthew is about to start his first year of the BA in Musical Theatre at Arts Ed and has previously tried everything in his power to raise the money needed for his first year at Arts Ed, including a fund raiser of a 50 mile bike ride, from his house in Chelmsford to Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick, London.
"I am eternally thankful to the BBC Performing Arts Fund, without whom I would have never been able to pay my first year's tuition fees. They have allowed me to follow my dream and I thank them from the bottom of my heart."
Ross Barnes: £6,500
Ross received his LAMDA Gold Medal with Honours in Acting, LCM Grade 7 Musical Theatre Singing with Honours and Guildhall School of Music Classical Singing Grade 7 with Honours. He has performed with the National Youth Music Theatre in Edinburgh and has been in the cast of "Red Hunter" a jazz musical with Youth Music Theatre UK in Manchester and Newcastle. Ross has also performed the roles of Rolf in a production of 'The Sound of Music' and played the role of Frankie Epps in the UK Premiere of Jason Robert Brown's 'Parade'.
"I am delighted that the BBC Performing Arts Fund have enabled me to take up my place on the MA Musical Theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music. Without funds like this it would not be possible for young performers to take up places at performing arts institutions and for this I am very grateful!"
Benjamin-Brook Perry: £6,000
Originally from Cwmbran, South Wales Benjamin-Brook is entering his second year at the Arts Educational School London, studying a BA Hons in Musical Theatre.
"I am delighted to have received £6000 from the BBC Performing Arts Fund, it means so much that I am able to continue training in such a fantastic school and take on board everything offered to me without the burden of finance looming over me. Thankyou so much to everyone at the BBC it really is appreciated!"
Francesca Berlin: £6,000
Francesca is currently entering her second year at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She feels that the first year of her training has been an incredible journey and is excited to be working with such experienced, inspirational teachers. Francesca feels she has achieved so much in that year and her desire to improve and learn is ever growing.
"Words cannot describe how grateful I am to have received this grant as it means that I can enter into my second year of training. I can assure the BBC that I am going to make the most of the opportunity that I have been given. I am so passionate about Musical Theatre and I am happy that the BBC Performing Arts Fund will facilitate my going forward with my training."
Tom Partridge: £5,500
Originally from Norwich, Tom is a member of both the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre, and has just completed the BA (hons) in Dance and Theatre Performance course at Bird College in Sidcup. Whilst at college, Tom played the roles of Billy in '42nd Street', Benardo in West Side Story, and most recently he has appeared in the ensemble cast of the 'Voice of Tomorrow' at the Bloomsbury theatre in London.
In September, Tom is thrilled to be going to the Royal Academy of Music to study Musical Theatre at Post Graduate Level, and would like to thank the BBC Performing Arts fund for their generous support.
Barry McGonagle: £5,000
Barry studied Music at the University of Huddersfield specialising in performance (Flute and Piano) and composition. After graduating, he moved back to Belfast to work at HBOS where ironically he experienced his musical break starring in three advertising commercials. Barry was introduced to local amateur dramatics in Northern Ireland where he played a number of leading Musical Theatre roles, as well as other performing opportunities across Ireland and beyond.
Earlier in 2009 Barry was offered and accepted a place at the Royal Academy of Music studying a post graduate course in Musical Theatre.
"I am over the moon to have been offered a grant of £5000 from the BBC Performing Arts Fund, I will always be indebted as without these funds it would have been almost impossible for me to complete my year at the Royal Academy, and follow my dream. I am so excited at the opportunities that both this grant and my year at the academy may bring."
Waylon Brewster-Holloway: £5,000
Waylon is moving in to his final year at Arts Ed and says the last two years there have been the best of his life! "I've improved so much, and grown as a person as well, and it's all thanks to the Performing Arts Fund. I am so grateful for everything they've done for me I couldn't have done it without them, words cannot describe my gratitude for the help I have received. Now I've reached my final part of my training and I'm that step closer to reaching my dream. THANK YOU BBC!"