Scholarship Success
Stonyhurst’s Scholarship Programme is a huge success, fast-tracking pupils in the disciplines at which they excel and enjoy
Scholarships at Stonyhurst are among the College’s biggest success stories. Each year they are awarded at various entry levels to those pupils that display outstanding talent in specific areas.
From academia, science, sport, art and music, the pupils who benefit from the Stonyhurst Scholarships Programme have gone out into the world to showcase their individual expertise, many of whom have worked at the top of their industry.
More recently Stonyhurst Music Scholar, Dominic Sutton, who graduated from York University two years ago, has been involved in composing music for films, TV and gaming projects.
Having gained considerable musical experience as a young pupil at Ampleforth College in York, Dominic applied for a scholarship at Stonyhurst when he was in Year 9: “When I came to Stonyhurst I didn’t even know I was auditioning!” he recalls.
Demonstrating his ability to adapt to various musical disciplines, he sang, played the piano, trumpet and bassoon: “It was a classical repertoire,” says Dominic, who having been successful in his application, secured a Music Scholarship for the rest of his five-year studies at Stonyhurst, offering him a bespoke pathway including additional tuition in singing, trumpet, piano and participation in (and leadership of) relevant ensembles.
“Having access to these lessons was fantastic! Without the Stonyhurst Music Scholarship I would never have been able to keep all three going,” says Dominic, who soon went on to achieve Grade 8 in all three disciplines as well as gaining experience in playing with various ensembles during his time at the College.
Director of Music Andrew Henderson recalls Dominic as a Sixth Former: “He was one of the most promising musicians,” he says. “Music is not about how fast you can play a piece, it’s not about the notes it’s about the music and the communication, and by the time Dominic had reached Grade 8, he really understood this. Dominic demonstrated a willingness to learn and more importantly, to enjoy the music.”
Recalling Great Academies – the annual end-of-year concert at Stonyhurst, Mr Henderson said: “It is always quite a lively event as all the pupils are in high spirits. Dominic got involved singing ‘Time to Say Goodbye’. It was a theatrical performance and as soon as he started to sing the hall fell silent – it was a real tear-jerker!”
Since leaving Stonyhurst and graduating, Dominic has enjoyed a gap year in New Zealand and on his return is taking steps into the world of freelance composing, having recently worked for a Los Angeles director on a musical score for a short film: “That is the direction I want to take and while it’s a very competitive industry, I am enjoying it tremendously,” he says.
“If it wasn’t for the Stonyhurst Music Scholarship I don’t think I would have kept up the same level of interest in music, nor would I have made the lifelong friends I made there. My time at Stonyhurst was brilliant!”
Stonyhurst College
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