Harriet shines on stage at local musical competition

Harriet Kent, a Musical Theatre student at Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC), recently took part in the Burton Competitive Musical Festival and was proud to win in her category.

The festival offers a valuable platform for amateur performers to showcase their talents and receive professional adjudication, providing constructive feedback to help them grow and develop their talents.

Explaining why she decided to apply for the competition, Harriet said: “I heard about the opportunity through the College when my lecturer suggested I should take part. I’m so glad I did because it really helped me with my confidence.”

The competition consists of a five-month process. Applications officially open in September, giving participants plenty of time to prepare and submit their creative piece by February. Each applicant is then invited to a 15-minute session with a judging panel, where they present their work and answer a series of questions.

Speaking about her experience, Harriet said: “For my creative piece, I decided to prepare and sing a song. During my session, I spoke to the panel about why I love performing and why I believed I deserved to win. It was a surreal but inspiring experience.”

The competition features between seven and ten category winners, with prizes up to £500 depending on the award. Harriet was thrilled to receive £250 for her performance. “At first, I was nervous knowing the panel would be judging my performance, I didn’t know what to expect, but hearing their positive feedback was so encouraging. It made me excited for what’s ahead, especially as I look forward to university. Just knowing that they appreciated my performance gave me a huge confidence boost.” 

Harriet is completing her course at Burton and South Derbyshire College and will begin studying Musical Theatre at the University of Chichester in September.