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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.
Grade 2 Jazz Piano – Freddie Laughton – Age 8
Passed with Distinction
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 is pleased to welcome Saxon Gidney as the latest teacher for Guitar, Bass, Ukulele and Banjo. Saxon covers most styles of guitar, including acoustic, electric and classical too. Like other teachers who appear at the Academy each week, Saxon is degree qualified, graduating after three years of in depth study at Leeds Conservatoire, as so many of our teachers before him.
Another fine set of exam results sees high achievement for students in our summer Piano entry with Trinity College, with many students lining up to take exams later in the year.
Grade 4 – Isabella Flint – Age 14
Passed with Distinction
Grade 3 – Anna Hughes
Passed with merit
Outstanding music grade exam results bear witness to the commitment level of our highly motivated piano students. You get back what you put in. Well done, everyone!
Grade 2 – Vivienne Dela Luna – Age 9
Passed with Merit
Grade 1 Jazz Piano – Freddie Laughton – Age 7
Passed with Distinction
The examiner made many quote worthy observations, an edited selection of which appear following the results below.
Initial – Sophia Ponsonby – Age 12
Passed with Distinction
Grade 1 – Vinul Hiniduma Liyanage – Age 10
Passed with Merit
Grade 1 – Kevin Jayasekara – Age 15
Passed with Merit
Grade 1 – Leah Clarke – Age 14
Passed with Distinction
Grade 2 – Henley Hunter – Age 13
Passed with Merit
Grade 2 – Leila Gurtler – Age 13
Passed with Merit
Grade 2 – Erin Gurtler – Age 13
Passed with Distinction
Grade 3 – Isabella Flint – Age 13
Passed with Distinction
Grade 4 – William Hughes – Age 15
Passed with Merit
If you would like to study for grade exams with Northern Music Academy, please remember: in order that you can expect excellent results, a diligent practise habit must always be securely established.
The examiner was Victoria Proudler. A short selection of her comments follow:
“An excellent level of stylistic understanding led to an exciting, accurate performance played with conviction. Congratulations!”
” A stylish interpretation, showing real understanding. Highly accurate and fluent.”
” Lively and confident, this performance had an excellent tone quality with very good attention to detail.
” This was well-articulated, highly accurate and was played with style and conviction. Congratulations.”
” Excellent answers/A highly secure knowledge, well done.”
” Fully accurate and fluent, this was musically very convincing with an excellent tone and dynamic detail.“
” This was an accurate and detailed performance, with excellent articulation and strong rhythmic drive.”
” Congratulations on your outstanding performance!”