Graduates at Cadogan Hall concert #2

It was only halfway through ‘Go The Distance’ by Olivia Lallo that I clocked that I’m not sure I’ve heard a woman sing this song from Hercules. So brava for switching up the song choice and this enduringly uplifting power ballad fits effortlessly into the sweet spot of Lallo’s register. 

Trained at Guildford School of Acting

Audra McDonald introduced me to the music of Will Reynolds and so I have to say I’m impressed with India Chadwick’s song selection here. ‘Spring’ from his Poems and Moon Songs is a powerful showcase for a supple soprano, full of comedy and character as well as some gorgeous musical passages and Chadwick impresses as she skips gaily through it all with consummate ease.

Trained at Guildford School of Acting

Henry Shine brings his guitar along for his highly personable take on ‘It All Fades Away’ from Jason Robert Brown’s The Bridges of Madison County and his tender crooning proves highly seductive, I could listen to him sing like this all day long. I’ll watch with interest to see how his career progresses as there’s something special here.

Trained at ArtsEd

As a reviewer, sometimes you just want to be able to say ?
‘Journey To The Past’ may be taken from Anastasia but Faye Wheeler’s impassioned rendition here finds extraordinary resonance in the lyrics to create something spinetinglingly good. These are all the people who are the future of musial theatre but this is a standout moment, this is the talent I want to see showcased and then cast in any and everything. Casting agents and producers, the ball is in your court. 

Trained at Mountview

Niels Bouwmeester has gone for a track from brand new musical Between the Lines and whilst that can sometimes be a bit of a wildcard, ‘Something to Hold Onto’ written by Elyssa Samsel & Kate Anderson is a gorgeous song. Bouwmeester gives it his all with dynamic range and a delicious sense of vocal control (and a natty suit to boot).

Trained at Royal Academy of Music

One of the joys of these kind of showcases is being introduced to new musicals and songs and ‘Way Ahead Of My Time: The Caveman Song’ from a revue by Pete Mills called Taxi Cabaret is just one of those. Curtis Patrick has an absolute ball with the teasing wordplay and internal rhymes, showing no little skill there too, as he comes close to a showstealing moment (Bonnie Langford would be proud!).

Trained at Urdang

Smash is one of those shows like Nashville and Glee that I always say I will get round to one day even though we’ve just gone through a year of lockdown TV bingeing, so ‘Second Hand White Baby Grand’ was a new song for me. Georgia Lennon delivers this rather lovely power ballad with a refreshingly unfussy vocal performance, recognising so much more emotional power comes from sustained notes rather than skipping up and down the scale. 

Trained at Laine Theatre Arts

Adam Guettel’s music can sometimes pose challenges but for me, I’ve come to find it exquisitely beautiful. So Mark Lockhart is already onto a winner with me by choosing Myths and Hymns’ ‘Hero and Leander’ but boy does he do a fantastic job with it. He gets to show off a seriously impressive range, with ample power and feeling throughout – consider me a fan.

Trained at Royal Academy of Music

Aiming for the Beautiful rendition of Carole King’s iconic (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman rather than going anywhere near Aretha’s interpretation, Harriet Waters shows off a really pleasant tone to her voice in a song that could have otherwise overwhelmed her.

Trained at Mountview

Tackling a soul standard like ‘A Song For You’ requires no little talent and a sparkly jacket, so it is good that David Mairs-McKenzie finds himself in possession of both attributes. A quietly passionate performance, blessed with superb accompaniment from Sam Young on the piano, Mairs-McKenzie clearly understands the power in restraint – excellent work.

Trained at Mountview

‘Me And The Sky’ is as close as Come From Away gets to a breakout number and in Jennifer Adab’s supremely confident hands, it is easy to see why. Adab glides impressively through the potted biography of Beverley Bass and breaks your heart just a little as she arrives at the moment of enormous tragedy, wisely resisting overplaying it and focusing instead on landing the perfect emotional final beat.

Trained at Guildford School of Acting

Fallon Mondlane opts for Sister Act’s ‘Life I Never Led’ for her moment in the show but sadly doesn’t don the habit! What she does do though, is tease out a real sense of yearning from this ‘I Want’ song that proves quite delicately touching before she launches into a storming climax that really made me sit up and listen – one to watch out for. 

Trained at Mountview

Joely Colleen Emms wraps up the second concert with a performance full of barnstorming sass. She nails ‘Jenny’s Blues’ from It Shoulda Been You with a wonderful confidence and the kind of magnetic stage presence you just can’t buy. Huge fun and highly impressive.

Trained at London School of Musical Theatre