{"id":8027,"date":"2017-02-13T10:20:37","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T10:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=8027"},"modified":"2017-02-13T11:34:18","modified_gmt":"2017-02-13T11:34:18","slug":"scholars-spotlight-fleur-sumption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2017\/02\/13\/scholars-spotlight-fleur-sumption\/","title":{"rendered":"Scholars’ Spotlight: Fleur Sumption"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continuing the series profiling Music Scholarship students at the University of Kent. This week, first year Art History\u00a0student, Fleur Sumption<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Ever since I can remember, it seems that constantly being surrounded by music of some kind has had a massive impact on my life. Whether it was my Grandad taking me to various symphonies or being sat as a baby on the lap of the drummer in my Mum\u2019s Jazz Band that she ran. Initially, I was encouraged to learn the piano, and for a child who could rarely sit still, when I got to about 8 years old it was decided that I\u2019d rather take up the alto sax and have singing lessons instead.<\/p>\n

\"fleur-s-new\"My introduction to the world of the Theatre started at age 10, when I was picked for the children\u2019s choir in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat<\/em> at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End. Having been \u201cbitten by the performing bug\u201d, this marked the start of many musical possibilities. I then went on to participate in Bill Kenwright\u2019s touring production of Joseph<\/em> in the following year, and appeared on Children in Need as part of the Joseph<\/em> Cast. In 2012, my passion for singing increased when I was in the English National Opera cast of Carmen<\/em> at the London Coliseum and was swiftly followed by recording Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s children\u2019s recording of Cats<\/em> with The Really Useful Company.<\/p>\n

Closer to home, I frequently participated in Music Festivals in Essex, winning classes across the seven years when I competed. In 2015 this lead me to be named Havering Young Musician of the Year, through the annual competition ran by the Rotary. I have also previously been awarded the Jacamar Shield for outstanding performance, having reached the Regional Finals of the Rotary competition. At home, I am a member of Firebirds, a local theatre group, being Cast as Martha in our production of the Secret Garden<\/em> in 2014, and the Baker\u2019s Wife in our 2016 production of Into the Woods<\/em>– the latter of the two won many local awards, including \u201cBest Performance by a person aged 18 and under\u201d for my portrayal of the Baker\u2019s Wife.<\/p>\n

At my Secondary School and Sixth Form, The Coopers\u2019 Company and Coborn School, I was able to complete my ABRSM Grade 8 for Singing, and also my Music Theatre Diploma. Throughout my years there, I have been fully involved in the music scene, being able to perform with the Symphonic Wind Band at the Mansion House for the new Lord Mayor each year, having travelled to Birmingham for the Music for Youth Finals, and played and sang around Italy in our bi-annual music trip. In my last year at Sixth Form, I was invited to perform at prestigious company events and gigs, including\u00a0a wedding at the top of the Gherkin in London!<\/p>\n

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At University, I have been lucky enough to gain a place in the University Chamber Choir (pictured above) which is a huge privilege when you see the other musical talent in the University. Also taking part in Chorus and the Cecilian Choir, my musical diary is always bursting with events and rehearsals. I really love that there are so many wonderful musical opportunities here, and I am extremely excited to see how my musical journey will progress at the University of Kent.<\/p>\n