Ardglass singer gains top spot at Paris event

Ardglass singer gains top spot at Paris event

21 March 2018

A TALENTED Ardglass girl has won acclaim at a major international festival in France.

Emma Denvir sang her way to victory at the prestigious International Festival of Performing Arts at Disneyland Paris recently.

Emma won first place in the U-13 Disney vocal solo category.

Emma was one of 21 members of the Belfast Voice and Dance Academy, which is based in Belfast and Downpatrick, taking part in the competition.

The academy won several awards in the face of tough competition from around the world, including Russia, Malta, Dubai, the Canary Islands, Scotland and England.

Anita Rafferty won first place in the U-13 open vocal solo section, Mollie Lucas was second in the U-13 open solo, Emma Moffett was second in the U-13 Disney solo section and Aeryn Bailie, from Killinchy, was third in the U-13 open solo category 

In the group categories, the academy achieved runners-up placings in the open Disney group singing section with their performance from Cinderella and in the open group vocal category with Daddy’s Lessons.

They were also second in the musical theatre open group with a rendition from Annie and third in the musical theatre senior group with an excerpt from Matilda.

The children come from Downpatrick, Ardglass, Killinchy, Newcastle and Anahilt, as well as Belfast and Lisburn.

The academy’s Downpatrick stage school class runs on Saturdays in the St Patrick Centre and the show choir meets in Down Arts Centre on Monday.

The Downpatrick academy is currently enrolling for its production of Annie in the Baby Grand at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, in May.

For further information check out their website: www.bvdacademy.com.