Private School News

BEDFORD MODERN SCHOOL STUDENT OFFERED A PLACE AT THE NEW YORK CONSERVATORY FOR DRAMATIC ARTS

Bedford Modern School Year 13 student Alex Bloch has reason to celebrate after having been offered a place on the Acting course at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Each year, The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts searches for the most passionate and promising young actors from around the world with fewer than 200 special young people being accepted.

Talented student, actor and singer, Alex, joined Bedford Modern School in Year 12 and has had lead roles in the School’s recent productions of West Side Story and Blood Wedding. Alex, who has nine GCSE’s is studying Theatre Studies, English Literature and History A Levels. “Without a doubt, the Theatre Studies course at Bedford Modern School has improved my performing and I have received tremendous support from the School’s Faculty of Performing Arts. The Theatre Studies course has provided me with more discipline and understanding of what is required by the professional world of actors,” said Alex.

Obtaining a place at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts came about by accident for Alex. “I had auditioned for the Old Vic and several other major U.K. Drama Schools, and after speaking to my grandmother, she gave me the website address for The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. In some ways, being offered a place at The New York Conservatory will be like going home again, as I was born in America,” added Alex.

The New York Conservatory accepts foreign students into its programme providing they can prove they are academically capable of dealing with the course. Alex’s admission interview took place at the London Renaissance Fair Hotel in Chancery Court, Holborn during the Easter holidays. “My audition was conducted by Joan See, Artistic Director of The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. I performed two monologues, namely “Equus” by Peter Shaffer and “Another Country” by Julian Mitchell. The Americans have a different way of auditioning and although it was quite relaxed, the entire interview process was very purposeful.”

Alex had a two week wait before receiving a phone call on Wednesday 28th April offering him a place at The New York Conservatory starting in August 2010. “In some ways I will be sad to leave the U.K. but New York is the centre of the acting world and I am delighted to have such an opportunity to make a career for myself, hopefully leading to professional television and film work,” said Alex.

The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts have offered Alex an interim grant of $5,000 dollars to assist with transitional costs as schooling in America is quite expensive. Alex’s course runs for two years and Alex will be living in accommodation in Manhattan.

Photo: Bedford Modern School Year 13 student, Alex Bloch, who has been offered a place at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts