It’s a Full House – Distinctions All Round

The last few weeks have seen seven Northern Music Academy students take piano grade exams, ranging from Grade one to five, and yes, all seven were awarded distinctions. All of them study piano with one of our dynamic duo, the singular father/daughter team of Darrell Priestley and Jessica Laughton. Marks ranged from 87% to 96%.

Set your aspirations ever so high, and we will help you work to achieve them. While some may call this excellence, we prefer to think of it as business as usual.

November – ABRSM Piano

Grade 2 Jazz Piano – Freddie Laughton – Age 8 

Passed with Distinction

December – Trinity Piano

Grade 1 – Evan Geng – Age 9

Passed with  Distinction

Grade 2 – Alfie Chunnoo – Age 14

Passed with  Distinction

Grade 3 – Ferdinand Clarkson  – Age 12

Passed with  Distinction

Grade 5 – Ethan Xiao – Age 15

Passed with  Distinction

Grade 5 – Mia Xiao – Age 12

Passed with  Distinction

Grade 5 – Isabella Flint – Age 14

Passed with  Distinction

Special commendations to the following: Isabella Flint, age 14, for achieving full marks with all three pieces she performed at piano grade 5; Ethan Xiao, 15 yrs, and sister Mia, 12 yrs, for being our first brother and sister to both achieve distinction in grade five piano within minutes of each other; Freddie Laughton, for being our youngest ever recipient of a distinction in Grade 2 Jazz Piano having just turned 8 years of age; and to Ferdinand Clarkson’s mother Helena, for not letting a little thing like her car breaking down prevent her from getting her son out of school and to Leeds in time to achieve Distinction with 94% in his Grade 3 exam. So proud of you all.

Darrell Priestley, Eileen Priestley, Jessica Laughton.

Northern Music Academy

– 36 successful years and counting.