Alyth Ross, 16, has spent the past school year studying at the Dance School of Scotland, part of the Knightswood Secondary School in Glasgow.
After years of excelling in local competitions, productions and making waves with her singing and songwriting, Alyth won a place on the school’s musical theatre course to study her highers.
The teen, who previously attended Lockerbie Academy for four years, said: “Lockerbie Academy is a brilliant school and really helped me to push myself to the best of my ability both academically and socially, giving me a host of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I’d been at a school elsewhere.
“The staff at the school were all very supportive of my decision to both apply to and move to the Dance School, especially the late Audrey Brockett and Gerry Griffin, who helped me to prepare my audition pieces and without whom I might not have been given a place.
“I’ve been back to the school several times since leaving and I’ve always felt so welcome; the people I met there are still very much my close friends, and I’m really glad I spent so much of my time at Lockerbie.”
After a tough audition process including multiple auditions, physio, medical and academic checks, Alyth started at Knightswood in August 2016, and boards there during the week.
And following a stellar year she has been awarded The Dance School of Scotland Drama Student of the Year title.
She said: “Last week we had our annual Musical Theatre Awards night. I made it through to the final of the drama award, and I had to perform my monologue in front of the panel on the night. It was a total shock to win, not only the fifth year prize but also overall as well.
“The whole night was incredible and it was a great last opportunity to sing with our sixth years before they graduated.”
Speaking of her hopes for the future, Alyth hopes to attend a musical theatre or drama school in London after she graduates from Knightswood.
She said: “I’ve spent a lot of my life performing and I think at this point it would be really hard to give that up.
“I also really want to pursue songwriting and music, which I haven’t done for a while because of sitting my highers, but over the summer I’m going to be updating my YouTube channel and writing new music, which I’m very excited about.”
