Poppy Livingstone - Voice

Poppy is an extraordinary student who works exceptionally hard and reaps the rewards. She won each of her three classes recently at the Cornwall Music Festival achieving 'outstanding' and marks of over 90 in each class. She is currently in “Carrie's War” at the Minack Theatre and will be playing the character Wednesday in the Polwhele House Summer Show - The Addam's Family. Recently, she was one of the Lost Boys in the pantomime at the Hall for Cornwall of Peter Pan. She performed the 'Young Eponine' in the 2022 UK Tour of Les Miserables and was in the Tesco Christmas advertising campaign last year. Poppy is a delight to teach. She works hard, at grade 4 level, and is always prepared for her lesson; she is eager to learn as much as she can and put it into practice. She is a Polwhele House Performing Arts Scholar as well as a member of many local performing clubs. Catch her now and get her autograph as this girl is going to set the world on fire!

Jojo Stobbs - Saxophone

Jojo has been learning the saxophone since September and has been working hard to free up her sound. Jojo has the potential to be a really good classical and jazz saxophonist. She is thoughtful and always keen to learn in lesson time, as well as at home. …In the last week Jojo was able to free up her jaw, giving an impressive flexibility of sound. Jojo is easy going and willing to try anything, even if it appears a bit silly. Jojo participates in extracurricular school ensembles and is an asset to her school.

Willow Finch - Violin

Willow has gone from strength to strength in her years of learning the violin. She has such a positive attitude and a really strong work ethic. She rises to every challenge set her so well and really listens to everything I suggest to help her improve, working at it until it makes a difference. Willow has undoubtably been one of the reasons why so many in her class have decided to learn the violin, along with her little sister. This term she is going to take part in her first Superstrings day in Truro and I am so very proud of her!

Ted Howard - Guitar

I started teaching Ted when he was in year 3 and he was already very knowledgeable of certain chords that beginners need to learn. He can play through the initial rock and pop syllabus from memory on certain songs, which I am very impressed with. He is always highly enthusiastic in lessons, and often sings whilst he plays, which is very hard to do at his age!

Luca Fogg - Piano

Luca is full of enthusiasm, he works hard and has achieved great results. He loves performing and loves nothing more than to learn a piece so well that he can play it at lighting speed!

Macaulay Kacorri - Brass

Macaulay has progressed fantastically since starting to learn the trumpet back in March of this year. He plays with a beautiful tone, and his control of both his embouchure and the instrument are continuing to improve. Recently we have been working on Macaulay's reading… I have been consistently impressed with his perseverance and enthusiasm. To go from a blank slate to beginning work towards Grade 1 in just 6 months is very impressive, and I hope that Macaulay feels proud of what he is achieving.

Edie Cook - Grade 3/4/5 student

An exceptional student! I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for the June 'Pupil of the Month Award'. Edie is 13 years old and is a polite, committed and conscientious pupil, working above and beyond every week. She is a very modest young lady and would not see herself as exceptional in any way, but the level of commitment she shows, her attitude and approach to learning, her reliability and loyalty to St. Austell Chamber Orchestra and the SuperStrings group is a special quality I have not come across in my 30
years of teaching. Having worked extremely hard towards her grade 4 examination on the violin this year I would dearly love for Edie to receive this award in recognition for her efforts and achievements.

Rosie K - Woodwind

Rosie started learning the Saxophone in Year 6, she is now year 7. She joined in with the Christmas concert at school, got stuck into Tros and Hellys band straight away and is not phased by anything. She is kind and supportive to her peers and will give anything a go. She has made so much progress, despite her incredibly busy schedule. I can't stress enough how proud I am of her.  She tries really hard and always does her best, without complaint.  She has signed up for Jazz band at Humphrey Davey School and would like to work towards becoming a music scholar; she is off to Paris with HDS band soon.  I think POTM recognition would really support her when she feels ready to apply. I have been going to her house to teach her or she has a lesson before Saturday band. My baby, Elowen is most welcome and Rosie does not mind playing her 'twinkle twinkle'. She really is a superstar and I am very proud of how hard she works and her amazing attitude! 

George Attison - Piano

Even though George is only 7, he has a fantastic attitude to learning to play the piano and his confidence and love of performing to others is wonderful to see. He has had full attendance for this year and in the 18 months that he's been learning has always been ready for his lessons with all the right books and a big smile! George practices effectively between lessons which gives him confidence and has enabled him to make great progress. He performed two pieces, beautifully, to a big audience at the end of the Spring Term. With such enthusiasm, talent and dedication, I'm sure that George is a great candidate for Pupil of the Month and will go forward to even greater achievements in the future.

Edie Newman - Pop and Rock Vocals

Edie has been committed to learning the Piano and Singing since lessons started in September 2021. Always well-prepared, on time and open to trying different warm-ups and song styles. Edie has never missed one lesson and so in a very short space of time, we are working on Grade 5 Trinity Rock and Pop Vocals. The perfect student!

Stanley Fletcher - Guitar

Stanley has worked consistently since the start of the academic year to build on skills and competencies, allowing him to make great strides in learning the Grade VIII repertoire for classical guitar.

Patrick Thurston - Percussion

Patrick is developing into a great young player. He is keen, enthusiastic and always well prepared. This year he has begun to make considerable progress and approaches his lessons with determination and energy. He practises extensively at home (no doubt helped by a new drum kit for Christmas!) and is supported by his parents. He is working towards his grade 1 exam, which he will hopefully take in the summer term.

Florence Judd - Woodwind

Florence is the model pupil!  Since September last year, when Florence was a grade 2 flute and beginner piano, she has worked her way up to grade 5 flute and grade 2 piano!  Besides this, since starting playing the saxophone not long ago, Florence  is now almost ready for her grade 4. She is currently a member of the CMST woodwind ensemble “Carrick Breeze” and about to join “CYWO” – the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra; she is also an active member of the music department at school.  It is very obvious she practices regularly and so pleasing that she won a CMST music award for her longer individual lessons.  Florence is an absolute pleasure to teach and a superstar.  One to keep an eye on for future stardom!

Holly Crompton - Strings

Holly is a year 11 student at Penrice Academy. Despite a heavy workload, and GCSE mocks looming, she has never wavered from her commitment to play the violin this term and has just passed ABRSM Grade 6.  For Holly to have put herself in an exam situation, on top of all her other commitments, this is absolutely tremendous!

 A more committed and conscientious pupil one couldn't wish for.  Holly is a dream student, totally reliable, and has never missed a lesson in 8 years.  She is a reliable member of a weekly string ensemble, ‘St. Austell Chamber Orchestra’ ( for pupils in the St. Austell/Roseland area), supporting every concert and festival appearance.  Holly is a result of CMST and the support she has received through the Award lesson scheme which has helped her enjoy playing and flourish on the violin.

Maisie Le Lacheur - Ukulele

Maisie is the pupil of the month for October 2022 and you can hear her story here in this interview with BBC Children in Need:

Olivia Thornhill - Brass

Olivia has only been learning the Cornet for the past year and she has already taken her Grade 1 exam. Olivia joined the St Keverne Youth band as a complete beginner alongside starting lessons and as well as home practice, Olivia takes her cornet down the road to her grandad and has regular practice sessions with him. Olivia is an extremely committed young lady who puts in a lot of work both at home, in lessons and in the St Keverne Youth band where she helps the other younger musicians during the rehearsal.

Jacob Parr

Jacob has gone from not practising very much at home to putting in lots more effort, and is also using his brass lessons as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award. His dedication is paying off in that he is now producing a much clearer & consistent tone, with more ease in the higher register - and he is getting to grips with the rhythms of swing music! He always remembers his lesson time each week and takes on board any advice given. I think receiving this award will be a lovely recognition of his improved efforts, and help him to build confidence. Thank you! Jacob is a percussionist in Carrick Breeze, Carrick Winds, and CYWO. He recently performed the Xylophone solo - "Irish Washerwoman" in the Carrick Winds concert. He was absolutely outstanding. IN CYWO he's learning all of the really tricky tuned percussion parts, sometimes incorporating two split parts into one. He's so dedicated, so reliable, an absolute star.

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer has worked so hard towards her ARSM for this term. All aspects of her Flute playing have significantly improved. She never misses a lesson and is always punctual. She recently performed with Bournemouth SO for school concerts in Truro and Launceston. She is the longest serving member of CYWO and Carrick Winds and there is no doubt as to her unfailing support for ensembles and Cornwall’s youth music. Currently in the process of finalising her programme for her ARSM performance examination, Jennifer has continued to work hard on all of her four chosen pieces, this intensity has developed her into a most accomplished flautist. She maintains a strict practice regime and is putting the final touches to her performance. She is most worthy of the 'Pupil of the Month' award.

Oliver Rudge

Oliver is now a year 11 student at Penrice Academy and he isn't the typical student one would think to put forward for an award like this, but he has impressed me so much in terms of his level of commitment and effort to learning the violin that I genuinely feel he deserves recognition for his efforts. He joined one of my violin groups when in year 4 at primary school, but at that time didn't really take to the violin and it wasn't long before he decided to drop out of the group. Then 7 years later approached me asking if he could have lessons again. Oliver had a violin at home which belonged to another family member and began to have lessons, starting completely from scratch. He really took to the instrument this time around, playing it daily at home and coming back week after week mastering each new piece of work and more. Within the space of 18 months he is playing repertoire from the grade 3 & 4 Associated Board syllabus. He is also a regular member of my string ensemble and although he has recently left school to go on study leave to concentrate on his GCSE exams, he comes in every Friday just to have his 20 minute violin lesson. You couldn't wish for a nicer, more committed student to teach and it has been a pleasure for me to see Oliver develop, achieve things he never thought he would be able to do in terms of technique and performance in such a short time. I wholeheartedly recommend you consider Oliver for a "Pupil of the Month Award".