EDUCATION AWARDS 2019: University Academy Holbeach to perform a medley of songs from Les Miserables during gala night in Spalding

A taste of London's West End "Theatreland" is in store at this year's Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian Education Awards.

Highlights from the UK's longest-running musical, Les Miserables, will be performed during the awards ceremony at Spalding's South Holland Centre on Thursday, July 4, at 7pm.

But instead of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Helena Bonham Carter, this particular version of "Les Mis" will feature "stars" from University Academy Holbeach (UAH).

Sam Graper, head of music at UAH, said: "We are really excited to have been invited to perform at the Education Awards and we will be reuniting members of our Les Miserables cast, in order to perform a medley from the show.

"Our original production took place in November 2018 and included pupils from Years 7 to 13.

"UAH had never produced such a challenging show, but the pupils completely surpassed our expectations and the whole school was exceptionally proud of the high standard they achieved.

"However, the production is just one element of our programme of extra–curricular activities we put on at UAH which also include Big Band, Chamber and Pop Choirs, Pop Harmonies, Chamber Orchestra, Ukulele Orchestra and our Mash Up Ensemble.

"The latter is a group that provides free instrumental tuition to any child who wants to attend.

"We provide the instruments and the children learn to play them in an 'ensemble' setting.

"A number of pupils have gone on to take individual lessons on their instruments, but Mash Up is vital for those children who cannot, for whatever reason, afford to pay for such lessons.

"Recently, our Mash Up, Chamber Choir and Ukulele Orchestra all took part in the Boston Area Music For Youth Festival where they received extremely positive feedback.

"In addition, Mash Up members were also invited to perform during the Spalding Music Service concert at South Holland Centre in March.

"The school holds a concert every term, with the Spring Concert including performances from a student-led band and the Gamelan (an Indonesian Orchestra).

"We have also hosted drumming workshops in Samba and Taiko, provided by Act II Theatre Company, and we are looking forward to forthcoming concerts which will include a Sixth Form Showcase, featuring our own Level 3 pupils performing music, among them our own compositions.

"Finally, rehearsals for our next production have just started and we are working towards performances of 'Return to the Forbidden Planet' in November 2019."

. You can nominate an individual, group, pre-school and/or school in one or more of the awards’ 11 categories.

Nomination forms are available by emailing Denise Vickers at denise.vickers@iliffepublishing.co.uk or call 01775 765400.

The categories are Contribution to the Community, sponsored by Bakkavor Group; Environmental Award, sponsored by South Holland District Council; Pre-School of the Year, sponsored by Riverside Training; Inspirational Teacher of the Year (Primary), sponsored by Springfields Outlet Shopping and Leisure; Inspirational Teacher of the Year (Secondary), sponsored by Produce Industry Expo 2019; Most Improved Student, sponsored by Worldwide Fruit; Student of the Year, sponsored by Duncan and Toplis Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers; Outstanding Sporting Achievement, sponsored by Double G Clothing; Primary School of the Year, sponsored by Moore Thompson Chartered Accountants; Secondary School of the Year, sponsored by Freshtime UK; Support Staff Award, sponsored by Calthrops Solicitors.