Jamie, a Year 10 student at Lincroft Academy who was recently announced as our secondary school winner for Soundtrack My Story. He is a talented musician and actor who shares how he first got into the arts and his passion for creating music that led to his winning original entry ‘The Other Side of the Balcony’.
We recently asked him some questions for our My Studies series, which showcases students from across Meridian Trust:
Could you tell us a little about how you first got into music and performing arts?
“I started playing the piano at around 7 years old, and that’s where my interest in music began. My interest in performing arts began later, in Year 7, when my school, Lincroft Academy, put on Matilda Jr. This moment was so important to me as it was my first time performing on a stage. An experience I will never forget!
What’s it like to study music and drama at Lincroft Academy?
“It’s genuinely such a positive environment. Of course, both the facilities and the opportunities available are amazing, but the teachers are all so supportive and make you feel comfortable experimenting and trying out new ideas without worrying about messing up.”
Would you recommend Lincroft to anyone studying drama or music?
“I definitely would. I’d say the performing arts department at Lincroft is one of the best out there, with no end to the opportunities available. It’s the type of place where everyone can build confidence without feeling pressured to be perfect straight away.”
Is there a school facility/ music room that you enjoy using and helped you creatively?
“I really enjoy the music practice rooms. They give me the space I need to experiment with different creative ideas. Usually, those ideas aren’t fully formed, so it’s essential for me to have a private area where I can mess around on the piano and slowly shape the music into fully developed pieces.”
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
“The music I create usually tells a story. I enjoy creating fictional characters and then developing their stories through music. I tend to enjoy orchestral writing, or at least music that feels more expressive and even cinematic, rather than music that’s heavily produced in a studio environment.”
What’s your creative process? How did you come up with your ‘The Other Side of the Balcony’ composition for Soundtrack My Story?
“At first, I came up with a concept. I enjoyed the story of Romeo and Juliet, but I wanted to create a perspective that stood out. So I created this character who long for the kind of love shown in the play. The first part I wrote was actually the start of the second verse, where I decided I wanted the motif of ‘star-crossed lovers’ to tie every emotion, thought and lyric back to that central theme. It took a couple of months, but it all came together, surprisingly with the chorus being the last part I wrote. I then started orchestrating and notating everything in MuseScore until, finally, I had developed something I was happy with.”
Who is your inspiration?
“My biggest musical inspiration is Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. They have composed for so many amazing projects, including Dear Evan Hansen and The Greatest Showman, to name just a couple. Their music is what inspired me to start composing in the first place. I’m just in awe of their ability to tell stories in such an emotional and direct way through music.”
If you could work with any musician/ actor, who would you most like to collaborate with?
“I would love to work with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. I really admire the hard work they put into everything they create. Their work feels incredibly emotionally honest, and I’d love the opportunity to see their creative process in action and learn from it.”
What are you hopes and goals for the next few years?
I would like to continue developing as a composer and writer, and also finish the musical project that I’ve been working on. I’d love for it to be performed professionally one day. I also hope to keep studying music and English Literature throughout sixth form and beyond, and hopefully one day make a name for myself by writing shows for the West End.
You can listen to Jamie’s winning entry ‘Other Side of the Balcony’ on our YouTube channel
