Christmas Showcase!

Students at Louth Academy performed in their final show of the year, showcasing musical and theatrical talents along with some traditional festive spirit!

The evening opened with a beautiful performance from the choir, Louth Academy Voices. They sang an acapella version of Vuelie from the movie Frozen, which was arranged by Curriculum Lead for Music Mrs Baker.

The Djembe Drumming club then performed their own composition, titled Anke djé, anke bé, which translates to ‘everyone gather together in peace’. The music was composed by the students and arranged by Music Teacher Miss Drewery.

Mrs Baker said: “The Djembe Drumming Club is one of the many enrichment activities on offer at Louth Academy, and as a fairly new club for the school, to compose their own piece is fantastic.”

Year 9 student Halle Durrant-Jones took to the stage to sing a solo of Kelly Clarkson’s Underneath the Tree. Halle is a multi-talented student and can often be found at the Riverhead Theatre in Louth taking part in local productions. She is also part of the Youth Choir of Great Britain.

Halle Durrant-Jones (Y9)

The Dance Club then performed their first dance of the night to Please Don’t Stop The Music. Dance Club is another enrichment opportunity that is available across the Academy and this piece was choreographed for the lower-school students by Year 9 students Halle Durrant-Jones and Isabelle Molina.

The next performer was Year 10 students Ella Samuel. She sang a solo of Skyfall accompanied by Mrs Costa-Jackson on the piano. Ella is a gifted musician, vocalist and sportswoman and she takes part in many extra-curricular activities across the Academy and was very keen to be a part of the Christmas Showcase.

Ella Samuel (Y10)

The Performance Poetry Club were up next. Mrs Baker said: “Doing shows like this means that we can collaborate across departments in the Academy. The English and Performing Arts departments have combined to create this piece of Performance Poetry.” The group festively performed the poem Another Night Before Christmas by Carol Ann Duffy.

Niamh French (Y8)

Isabelle Leadbetter (Y8)

Phoebe Booth (Y8)

Felix Nichol (Y11) played The Best, which he arranged himself as part of his BTEC Music studies. Mrs Baker said: “I love this arrangement. As part of their studies, BTEC students are required to work on their weaknesses, but instead of just playing something well, he chose to arrange it himself and push his skills even further.”

Felix Nichol (Y11)

The Dance Club took to the stage once again to dance to Underneath the Tree. This was followed by Year 8 students Oscar Scarfe and Eva Costa-Jackson who performed a stunning rendition of Don’t Let Me Down by The Beatles. Oscar played guitar and Eva on vocals and whilst accompanied by Mr Wood on drums and Mrs Costa-Jackson.

Eva Costa-Jackon (Y8)

L-R: Eva Costa-Jackson (Y8), Oscar Scarfe (Y8), Mr Wood and Mrs Costa-Jackon

Popular Year 11 band, ‘Solar’ made up of 3 Year 11 friends, Lucy, Heidi and Felix performed a version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? accompanied by lower school singers, ‘The Solettes’.

Heidi Brown (Y11) on bass and vocals

Lucy Bryson (Y11) on the drums

Niamh French (Y8) and Arianna Dulieu (Y7) as part of 'The Solettes'

The second instalment of the evening for the choir was a version of Let It Snow, which also featured talented Year 10 student, Isla Brown on the piano.

Mrs Costa-Jackson and Isla Brown (Y10) on the piano

The JamBand from the lower school concluded the evening with versions of Seven Nation Army and the festive favourite Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.

L-R: Sophie Jarron (Y8), Eva Costa-Jackson (Y8) and Oscar Scarfe (Y8) on guitar, Arianna Dulieu (Y7), Inioluwa Kehinde (Y7) and Florence McDermott (Y8) on vocals, Ruby Barnes (Y8) on drums, Isabelle Leadbetter (Y8) on Cajon and Phoebe Booth (Y8) on piano.

Mrs Baker commented: “We have over 80 students taking part in the show this year and they have all put in so much effort and practice to make sure it’s a show to remember. They are such committed performers, giving up their free time for rehearsals and showing so much enthusiasm for everything they do.

I’d like to give a special shout out to Finley Nicholson (Y10) who has worked hard to learn all about the role and responsibility of being a sound engineer, taking on the role for the two nights and operating the sound equipment with excellence.

I’d like to thank all of the staff who have made the show happen and of course the parents and relatives who have come to support the students in performing in these shows. They really are a credit to the Academy and we’re all so proud of them.”