Clean Sweep of Distinctions for BMS Performers 20 January 2020

Bedford Modern School students have received a clean sweep of Distinction grades in this year’s London College of Music (LCM) Musical Theatre exams. Year 13 student Jade Ajibola and Elizabeth Gale in Year 12 both received the DipLCM award, one of the highest performance awards on offer.

The other successful students were Alexandra Wishart and Lilly Brittain in Year 11, David Bygraves, Ginger Galey and Phoebe Templeman in Year 12, and Addie Whitelaw and Jodie Tyler in Year 13. Many of these talented students have taken leading roles in hugely popular BMS shows, including the recent production of Oh What a Lovely War! and Sister Act! last year.

To complete the LCM grades students are required to perform two to five pieces followed by a discussion with the examiner. At Grade 8 this also includes a duologue and at DipLCM candidates are required to sight-sing a short passage from a musical. The aim of the syllabus is to promote and encourage knowledge, enjoyment and experience of musical theatre and to foster a commitment to the development of the various skills, techniques and disciplines involved.

Diploma recipient and National Youth Theatre member, Jade, said: “I started taking the LCM Musical Theatre exams at Grade 5 when I was in Year 8. I have received distinctions for all my grades so far, so I am thrilled to have been awarded one for my diploma too. I’m hoping to go on to study English and Theatre at Birmingham University later this year, and then on to Drama School, so this qualification will really help.”

Fellow diploma recipient, Lizzie, added: “I’ve been taking these exams for the past six years and, like Jade, I have received distinctions for them all. Although I’m hoping to go on to study midwifery at university, I will keep performing as I will always love Musical Theatre”.

Liz Bottone, a visiting singing teacher at BMS taught both Jade and Lizzie and commented: “I am so proud of the commitment both girls have shown to their studies and of how hard they’ve worked on their technique to reach this level. I look forward to seeing what they go on to do in the future.”