We were delighted to hear that 2017 leaver Hermione Leitch is one of the new members of ‘The Sixteen’ – a highly prestigious choral choir which performs all around the world and is led by Harry Christopher.

Their website notes: “The Sixteen’s choir and period-instrument orchestra stand today among the world’s greatest ensembles, peerless interpreters of Renaissance, Baroque and modern choral music, acclaimed worldwide for performances delivered with precision, power and passion.” Hermione will be a member of the ‘Genesis Sixteen’ cohort, which is the UK’s first fully-funded choral training programme for singers aged 18 to 23. It has been specially designed to help participants navigate the testing transition from student status to life as professional performers.

This is great news and is very well deserved; Hermione was an outstanding singer and actress who was both a Music and Drama scholar during her time at Emanuel. Some of the many productions she featured in included The Little Shop of Horrors, Les Miserables and The Producers (playing ‘Audrey’ in the above photo). She also starred in The Suitcase Kid, which Emanuel performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016, and after leaving school had a role in Suppliant Woman at the New Vic Theatre.

In her final year Hermione was awarded the Headmaster’s Prize for Excellence for her outstanding contribution to Music and Drama and won the Raeburn Cup for singing. She was also leader of the orchestra, lead violin, leader of the choir and soloist. Congratulations Hermione!