Lauren (Year 13) recently gained her ARSM singing Diploma with distinction, gaining a magnificent 48/50. For the exam she had to prepare a 40-minute recital of contrasting songs, in which she managed to encompass 300 years of music in Italian, Latin, French, German and English. This was the first time she had performed a programme of this length which posed a huge challenge of stamina, concentration and memory.

She was expertly accompanied by Miss Palfreyman and sang with mature expressivity as she negotiated the different styles of song.

The examiner noted that Lauren sang with drama and passion, using an impressive range of dynamics and colours, and her rendition of Herbert Howell’s evocative ‘King David’ was particularly enjoyed. He commented that she presented "a most varied and enterprising well-paced programme, which showed off the wide variety of your vocal expertise".

Lauren has grown enormously as a singer during her time at St Mary’s. She has sung in the Chamber Choir, Opera Ensemble and Junior Consort Scholar's Consort, and represented the school as a chorister in Mr Totney’s choir at St John’s Church in Devizes. As well as her vocal talents, Lauren is also a gifted violist who plays in the school orchestra and various other string groups, and she has also had opportunities to play in orchestras outside of school. Lauren will be continuing her musical education next year at York University.

Mrs Rachel Allard (Teacher of Singing)