Performing Arts Awards

By Miss Rebecca Curtis, Head of Dance
On Thursday night, we welcomed over 100 guests to our annual Performing Arts Awards evening. The event celebrates the many successes and contributions our students make to dance, drama and music both in lessons, enrichments and in the wider school and local communities.
The evening began with a canapé and drinks reception in Woolverstone Hall followed by the ceremony itself in the Hayworth Theatre. After the opening speeches the audience were treated to stunning performances from our students including solo, duet and group dances, instrumentalists and singers. These pieces served to showcase not only the diverse talent we have here within the school, but the breadth of styles and genres we are able to offer to our students in both curriculum and enrichment activities.
Students from each department gave a summary of the plethora of performance, leadership and competitive events that take part throughout the academic year. What was clear from the speeches is how many opportunities there are to participate, enjoy and excel in Performing Arts here at Ipswich High School, and the value that our students place on these experiences. Not only do our students gain confidence, but they are also fostering life-long skills and attributes that will see them succeed far beyond their schooling and into their future careers. The support shown for one another is something to admire.
The awards given out at the event include certificates of achievement for our younger students and half or full colours for our older students. These recognise outstanding commitment and hard work in both their curriculum, enrichment activities and participation in performances. It was wonderful to be able to recognise so many students in this way.

We also have a series of special ‘Major Contribution’ awards. These are given to students across all three disciplines who have demonstrated truly remarkable levels of service, commitment, leadership and endeavour; along with a ‘Rising Star’ award for those who we feel have really got what it takes to succeed in the arts. Whilst these may only be awarded to one person, they absolutely represent all of our students and are a testament to what can be achieved by taking each and every opportunity the programmes here at school give.
We recognised the long service of both Maria and Jess, who from a very young age in our Prep School have been dedicated to the Performing Arts and now, as Year 13 students, are going off to future training and careers. They leave a lasting legacy and have inspired so many of our younger students to participate in each of the subjects, and have shown tireless support for all of their peers and teachers. We thank them for this hard work and wish them every success in the future.
Handing out or awards was our special guest for the evening, John Graham-Hall. An internationally successful opera singer, John was able to give our audience an insight in to his career, which began as a chorister in the King’s College choir in Cambridge. He has sung for the English National Opera, Royal Opera and Glyndebourne as well as other opera houses in Europe and America. His anecdotes and words of advice for pursuing a career in the arts was invaluable, along with his passion for how music serves to lift morale and improve mental health. We were then treated to a highly entertaining performance of Come Into the Garden Maud, showcasing his talents as a superb character actor and singer.
Thank you everyone who made the evening such as success.