Prince George Speech Arts Students Win Top Honours

Prince George Speech Arts students garnered 5 out of 10 of the top marks in the province during the most recent practical exams, conducted by the Royal Conservatory of Music.

The five -- all students of local Speech Arts instructor, Debbie McGladdery -- received the RCM's 'Silver Medal' for their respective grades, following rigorous exams that involved performing poetry, prose, dramatic prose, and mime.

In addition, McGladdery says, each student had an in-depth discussion with the examiner about the author they focused on and the relevance of his or her work to them. She says, "In my opinion, it has to be a very complete job to get the highest mark in B.C.." McGladdery credits the parents of the winners as well, saying preparation for the exams is really a family affair.

The Silver Medal winners are:

RCM Grade One -- Isabel Stratton age 7
RCM Grade Two -- Anthony Preston age 8
RCM Grade Three -- Anika Green age 9
RCM Grade Five -- Kate Preston age 11
RCM Grade Nine -- Erik Leisinger age 15

McGladdery feels the RCM exams help to round out the "Speech Arts experience" in Prince George where students of the two local schools -- McGladdery's Rainbow Kids' Theatre and Kathy Bloomfield's "Paintbox Kids" -- get lots of performance experience at mini-festivals and the annual Prince George Speech Arts & Drama Festival. She says this helps the local performers meet with great success at the provincial festival. But the exams offer another dimension, says McGladdery. "The invaluable experience of learning to discuss and dissect literature with someone the kids haven't met before -- and that can only serve them well in life."

In total, 60 local students participated in the practical exams, and approximately 250 children took the exams province wide.

The five silver medallists will be appeared before Prince George City Council this evening, January 18th, to receive Certificates of Achievement from Mayor Dan Rogers.