Chloé Underwood

I have two favourite memories that I cannot choose between.

My first is performing in Grease the Musical in 2016, it was an amazing production and I performed with all my friends. Being one of the Pink Ladies with four other girls from House 4 is something that will always stay with me.

My second is when our U18 indoor hockey team qualified for the national finals after our team scored a goal in the final minute. Representing my school whilst playing with my best friends was an amazing feeling and I will treasure it forever.

Throughout Malvern I was offered a range of performance opportunities that therefore allowed me to explore all areas of Music and Drama. Whilst I couldn’t choose between music and acting I thought that opera would be the best combination for me. After a Masterclass in 2015 with OM Quentin Hayes, he encouraged me to contemplate studying opera after Malvern. I love the thrill that being on stage gives me and the power that music and theatre have to bring people together in a way that nothing else can. For example, house singing and house drama is something that has always stuck with me.

Malvern gave me a huge amount of skills not only to use as a singer but life skills that I will use forever. Being part of sports teams and working together as a house in house events taught me how to work confidently in a team and with various year groups to collaborate in all areas of the school. With the arts industry being extremely competitive, Malvern taught me to be resilient and gave me the confidence to overcome my failures and keep striving for success. Malvern also taught me to always be ambitious and allowed me to try out all areas of co-curricular activities such as CCF, DofE, and cricket which taught me a huge amount and something that I would never have done if I wasn’t encouraged and supported by all the staff.

My ambitions are to perform in operas throughout the UK and Europe. I would love in the next few years to gain a place on a young artist programme in Europe which would allow me to work with professionals from all over the world. In the future I would also like to open my own vocal studio giving lesson to children and adults and give younger professional singers the chance to get experience in teaching drama and singing.

Never let rejection or one person’s criticism stop you from achieving your goals. The arts industry will always be very competitive but as long as you are in love with performing and ambitious to always further yourself you will find success in whatever you want to do.

Throw yourself into every opportunity that Malvern offers you as nothing ventured is nothing gained. From CCF to hockey or rugby to house drama to house chess, you never know what you may end up enjoying and the memories that you make with your friends are something that you can’t create anywhere else.

The amount of leavers who I hear say they took Malvern granted is huge and something that we may all feel once we have left, so I urge every pupil to explore, venture and achieve as much as possible whilst at Malvern and forge friendships that will last a lifetime. Leave no stone unturned.