Grace gains early professional diploma – and aims for the top

	Grace practising with Director of Music, John Shooter, at the piano

At 17, singer Grace Eccleson is setting a cracking pace in an ambitious bid to become a leading player in the West End.

She is in the Upper Sixth at Colston’s School, and as well as studying for her A Levels she has been given a major role in a Bristol musical production and will shortly audition for a place at drama school.

Realising the competitive world she is entering, she has taken what she hopes will be a decisive step in gaining competitive advantage over thousands of rivals across the UK.

Grace has gained the professional diploma of Associate of the London College of Music in Musical Theatre two years ahead of the norm. She is now entitled to use the letters ALCM after her name.

“This is a big achievement,” said John Shooter, Director of Music at Colston’s.
“It is beyond the Grade 8 examination in music and is not usually tackled by students until well after leaving school.

“Typically it would be studied by undergraduates in their second or third year degree course, and is a highly regarded professional qualification.

	Grace performing at Colston's Christmas Concert last year

She is one of three in the family to attend Colston’s. Her brother Barney went on to Oxford Brooks University where he is now in his third year, and her sister Florence is in Year 9.

A soprano with a range of more than three octaves, Grace has sung with the School Choir and as a soloist with the Colston’s Choral Society.

She has been selected for the part of Johanna in Bristol Musical Comedy Club’s production of Sweeney Todd at the Redgrave Theatre from September 30th to October 4th, playing opposite her boy friend Rob Kelly in the role of Anthony. In the same cast is her father Paul who plays Pirelli.

“I believe I am the youngest ever to take a romantic lead in the company’s history,” she said. “It’s naturally exciting, but at the same time pretty nerve-wracking.

“But I am even more nervous about an audition I have the following week. It’s for a degree course in Musical Theatre at the Arts Educational School in London, and I’ll be among 1400 applicants competing for 20 places.

“That’s when the pressure will be really on. And I have auditions to come over the following weeks for degree courses at two more arts schools.

“Also I have also been chosen to sing to parents and visitors as part of the Colston’s Open Morning presentation on October 4th, so I do have a lot on my plate at the moment.

“But the ultimate prize is enormous,” Grace added. “It’s well worth all the hard work and pressure.

“Getting to the top in the West End can be a cut-throat business, but that doesn’t put me off at all. Above everything else, it’s the thing I really want to do.”