Leading Northern Ireland theatre school is offering 15 life-changing scholarships
One of Northern Ireland's leading Theatre Schools is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a landmark event and is offering up-and-coming performers the chance to enrol for free.
To mark this significant anniversary of the Belfast School of Performing Arts (BSPA) will host a grand concert at Belfast's iconic SSE Arena on 15th June 2025, where over 750 young performers from all over Northern Ireland will take to the stage to perform songs from the world's most beloved musical theatre shows that have been highlights of BSPA's history.
This milestone event promises to be a celebration of talent, creativity, and community, as BSPA students, aged from just 6 to 24, take to the stage to showcase their skills in an unforgettable evening of music, dance, and theatre. The concert will underscore the range of talent nurtured by BSPA over the past 15 years, the school's crucial role in shaping the next generation of performers, and the lifelong friendships made.
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BSPA say they are over the moon to reveal the launch of 15 FREE scholarships for the academic year 2025/2026, designed to give gifted youngsters from all walks of life a chance to pursue top-notch performing arts training. Each lucky scholarship recipient will be enrolled in one of the 10 main schools or performance academies, where they'll have the privilege of learning from some of the industry's most inspiring and skilled teachers.
This opportunity is set to unlock doors, offer incredible experiences, and foster lifelong friendships as students navigate their performing arts journey.
Artistic Director Peter Corry MBE shared his enthusiasm about the upcoming year: "I’m so proud to work with the talented young people at BSPA and I am really excited at how the school is growing. Celebrating 15 years leading youth performing arts is no small feat and I can’t wait to bring all our students to the stage in June to mark the occasion. ".
"Our students not only get to enjoy the performing arts when they come to us each week, they also get to build their confidence, work on new skills that can be applied to many areas of life and make new friends along the way. This concert will be a celebration of all those things. It will certainly be an arena spectacular not to miss – it’s also worth mentioning that the entire cast of over 750 will in fact be on the stage at once so I’m anticipating that the roof will literally be raised! ".
"I’m also looking forward to hosting the auditions for the scholarship initiative which I believe very much underscores BSPA’s commitment to inclusivity and our mission to inspire and empower young performing arts enthusiasts. Our small corner of the world is awash with young talent, and we hope to be able to nurture and bring opportunity to a further 15 for whom it might not have been possible for before."
Young people aged 6 to 24 who are passionate about the performing arts are encouraged to register their interest in applying for a free scholarship by emailing info@thebspa.co.uk. Auditions will be held in the coming months, giving aspiring performers the chance to showcase their talent and secure one of these life-changing opportunities. BSPA have a total of ten schools across the country in Belfast, Bangor, Ballymena and Lisburn.
Tina McVeigh, Managing Director of BSPA, said:"As we celebrate 15 years of BSPA, we are immensely proud of the community we’ve built and the countless young people who have discovered their passion, honed their skills, developed life skills that can be used in all walks of like or achieved their dreams. Above all they will have made friends, developed their confidence and had fun through being a part of our BSPA family.The SSE Arena concert will be a testament to the incredible talent of our students and the introduction of 15 free scholarships ensures that we continue to create opportunities for more young people. This is part of our way of giving back and celebrating the future and the importance of the Arts in Northern Ireland."
Over the years, BSPA has been a launchpad for numerous success stories, with alumni excelling in theatre, television, film, and beyond. This year’s 15th anniversary celebration is both a reflection of the school’s remarkable legacy and an exciting look towards its future.
Don’t Miss Out Tickets for the SSE Arena concert on 15th June 2025 are on sale now at www.ticketmaster. ie.
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