Forest Singers Musical Bursary

Connor Edwards is 15 years old, he is a year 10 student at John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye, and is studying for his GCSE’s, including Music.  He has a real passion for brass and aims to then go on to study A level Music, and ultimately a Music Degree at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.  His achievements include: ABRSM Grades 1-7 Bb Cornet Practical, all with Distinction, Grade 5 Piano Practical with Merit, and Grade 5 Music Theory with Merit.  

Connor has been playing the Cornet since he was 10 and his ability has rapidly increased over the years.  His original interest was sparked when a Gloucestershire Education Brass Initiative came to his primary school and motivated him to learn to play for 10 weeks, after which he joined Bream Training Band and swiftly progressed to play in the main band.  After a few years he then moved onto the soprano cornet seat, and loved it so much he attended the West of England Area contest with them in 2022.  Also in 2022 he was invited to join The A. W. Parker Drybrook Band, based in the Forest of Dean, a first section band, where he currently plays Second Cornet One.  Connor enjoys contesting and has been to many competitions, recently Drybrook Band were champions of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association Contest, gaining 8 awards.

Frankie D’Amato is a qualified primary school teacher with a love for music and performance. At a young age, she enjoyed singing and acting and has loved performing ever since.

From joining the school choir at primary school to performing in musicals at secondary, it did not take long for Frankie to realise that this was something she adored. For almost 8 years now, she has been a member of the Forest Musical Society and has taken on a range of leading roles. Amongst her favourites are ’Sally Smith’ in Me and My Girl and ‘Julia’ in The Wedding Singer. 

Whilst still currently an activity she does on a weekday evening, Frankie is very passionate about musical theatre and is always eager to improve so that it perhaps might one day be more than just a hobby. She is extremely grateful to receive the bursary and is excited to use this as a contribution towards achieving her goals.

Talia Recine was born in Minsterworth in 2007. She began learning the piano aged 3 and the violin when she was 5 at the Gloucestershire Academy of Music, gaining her Grade 8 with distinction on both instruments by the age of 12. 

She was the recipient of numerous awards at the Cheltenham Festival when she was younger and in more recent years has been a member of the Gloucestershire Youth Chamber Orchestra, National Children’s Choir and National Children’s Orchestra. 

As a soloist she has performed several times as part of the Chapel Arts Lunchtime Concert Series. She studies violin with Michelle Fleming and attends Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham.