Biography

Ceri-Ann was born in Scotland and has always loved music. She is descended from two musical parents who have performed in rock bands and choirs, and says it’s no wonder she ‘caught the musical bug’.

Ceri-Ann began her musical journey by taking part in dance classes.  When she was three years old, she joined Dance til Dawn and excelled at tap as well as other disciplines. She developed her love of dance as well as singing when she became part of Our Lady of Loretto Youth Players at the age of 10 – an amateur musical theatre company where she played roles such as Oliver, Sandy in Grease and Anita in West Side Story.

Having taught herself piano before taking lessons, Ceri-Ann also took up the trumpet in primary school. She achieved exams in both instruments which continue to be part of her musical repertoire.  Her love of percussion began in her first year at high school and has grown ever since. She has been part of Midlothian percussion ensembles, which played at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh as part of the Midlothian Festival of Music and in Perth for the SBBA percussion competition.  She has also participated in Rotary Young Musician competitions as well as the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra.

Ceri-Ann’s school percussion career included appearances in their productions of Seussical the Musical and Sister Act on the drums, working from professional musical scores. She was also in many concerts, including the school’s first ever Strictly Come Dancing, where she played kit in many different styles and tempos.  One of her proudest achievements has been attaining a place at the Junior Conservatoire in Glasgow in September 2018, specialising in percussion.  She went on to apply for a BA in Music at the RCS from 2020.

How the Award Helped

Ceri-Ann’s Award supported her studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Glasgow and in purchasing a marimba.