A PUPIL from Solihull School was on song to achieve the highest marks in the country during her Grade 7 singing exam.
Charlotte Sasse, 18, from Dorridge, was awarded with the prestigious Miss Edith Oulton de Pauley Prize when she achieved a score of 145 out of 150 during her examination with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
Awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest mark in Grade 7 each academic year, the annual prize is usually awarded to students who receive a distinction (130 out of 150), but very rarely does a pupil score so highly at this level.
Charlotte’s performances of a series of challenging pieces including Mozart’s Un Moto di Gioia, Schumann’s Die Lotusblüme, Head’s The Green Cornfield and Gershwin’s Nice Work if You Can Get It helped her to secure her score.
Joining Solihull School as a music scholar at age 11, Charlotte has worked closely with singing teacher Clare Bovill for the past six years, and has made the most of all opportunities presented to her.
Charlotte said: “I came to Solihull School due to the fantastic music opportunities here and I’m so happy to have achieved such good marks in my singing exam.
“Miss Bovill and everyone else in the music department have helped me develop so much during my time here and I’m extremely grateful.”
A keen musician, Charlotte is also an accomplished player of the violin, viola and piano and currently plays viola with the National Youth Orchestra. She was also invited to join the acclaimed Rodolfus Choir following her participation at a choral course at Eton last summer.
Tim Kermode, director of music at Solihull School, said: “Charlotte spends the majority of her time in the music building and is a member of the school’s chamber choir, a cappella group and several strings groups in addition to her external activities with the National Youth Orchestra.
“I’m thrilled but unsurprised she has achieved such high marks in her Grade 7 signing exam, and I’m confident that she will also gain outstanding results in her A Levels later this year.”
As well as Charlotte’s national success, two fellow Solihull School music scholars have also tasted success.
Emily Dekker, 17, from Knowle, has been awarded a Level 4 diploma in music performance on the clarinet while Ziying He, 12, from Sheldon, has completed an ATCL performer’s diploma on the piano. Ziying is now working towards her LTCL – the equivalent of an undergraduate degree.
