top-scoring Trinity Guildhall grade 5 speech and drama
examination students Ted Greensmith-West (left) and Ellen
Devaney hold masks, beside music theory top student Hamish
MacArthur. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
"I used to stand on chairs at relatives' houses when I
was little, and put on a bit of a play. I like the limelight -
very much so."
It should come as no surprise that University of Otago
theatre studies and dance student Ellen Devaney gained the
top equal mark in New Zealand for the latest round of Trinity
Guildhall grade 5 speech and drama examinations.
The 18-year-old was one of three Dunedin people to gain top
marks in the Trinity Guildhall examinations.
She shared first equal with Kavanagh College pupil Ted
Greensmith-West (15).
John McGlashan College pupil Hamish MacArthur (17) gained the
top mark in the grade 5 music theory examination.
Miss Devaney was surprised by the result, because it came
after her first attempt at a Trinity speech and drama
examination.
But for Ted and Hamish, the experience was not new. Ted sat
grade 4 last year and received a distinction award, and
Hamish has sat grade 1 (100%), grade 3 (merit) and grade 4
and 5 (distinction).
Both Ted and Ellen have plans to use their talent in careers
such as teaching English and acting, respectively.
Surprisingly, Hamish does not.
The keyboard player said music was "more of a hobby" than a
career option and was tossing up whether to pursue careers in
law, IT, surveying, economics or air-traffic control.
"I do music because I enjoy it - not to become a professional
performer."
Trinity Guildhall Dunedin representative John Elder said
students from Dunedin had gained top marks in the
examinations in the past, but it was rare for three to
receive top marks in the same round of examinations.
- john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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