FMAT schools showcase 2024: Creative arts students from Erdington Academy took to an iconic stage at Birmingham University when they joined other schools from the respected Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust.
Bournville School, Erdington Academy, Fairfax Academy and Smith’s Wood Academy came together in the University’s impressive music hall for a fantastic night of music, drama, dance and spoken word performances. The event was the third of its kind, and Erdington students displayed an incredible range of talents.
Drama and spoken word were well-represented by Erdington Academy, with some acts being assembled for the school’s Black History Month celebrations.
Head of Drama Ami Love said:
“For Black History Month we wanted to bring to life a piece that showed the injustices and prejudices that still exist today. We started studying the book “Punching The Air”, took pieces from the book and started playing around with it on stage.
“The Year 11 students did amazingly, especially considering it’s a stressful time for them with their GCSEs coming up. We welcomed all their ideas, and the students were able to adapt excellently to challenges and changes in our plans.
“They’ve worked really hard. It was a huge success in our Black History Month performance, and a great success tonight.”
Powerful spoken word duets were delivered by Lawdon Fenton and Patrick Ugochukwu, and Isabella Budiana and Isabele Stuart-Cooper.
Erdington stars perform Greased Lightnin’ at FMAT schools showcase 2024
Erdington Academy closed Act 1 of the night with an exciting finish, delivering a showstopping performance of an extract from Grease – singing the crowd-pleasing Greased Lightnin’.
After the interval, drama students Spencer Rawlins, Elisha Salmon, Jaieda Bailey, Isaiah Pengelley, Reanea Whitehead, Amelie Dixon, Jessica Deehan, Modupe Olumesi and Ruky Onakoya performed a dramatic piece for the audience.
Drama teacher Adelaide Hitchinson said: “The students have been working on their performances since the end of September. At Erdington Academy we’re big supporters of Black History Month, and we wanted to prepare music and drama performances in celebration. Some of those pieces we got to showcase tonight, and show how people of colour have changed the world we live in today.”
Erdington’s Music Faculty also put forward astonishing musicians to get the audience’s feet tapping, including Amari Glenn-Bennett and Cedric Voua.
Two bands from the Academy performed on the night. The Year 8 R&B band, Band 678, united students Rio Thompson, Adam Savaton, Victory Idowu, Glamari Wright, Nana Yaw Sarpong and Elisabeth Bulankete in a memorable performance.
And the Academy’s Guitar Band, comprised of Jacob N’Zoungou, Armani Benjamin, Connor Sands, Arina Rusetki, Iara Qunital Calaca and Kushnoor Shoaib, then brought some energy to the middle of Act 2 with an Arctic Monkeys song.
Amari Glenn-Bennett and Cedric Voua performed an impressive rap.
FMAT Schools Showcase 2024 – Erdington Academy Stats Wow Audience
Music teacher Ian Haughton said: “We’ve been preparing for it since September. We knew the show was coming up. As a trial run, some of our musicians took part in our Black History Month event, although they were performing different pieces today.
“The students have worked really hard and thrown themselves into it.”
The night ended with students from all four schools coming together on stage for the curtain call.
Principal Simon Mallett said: “We are so proud of all of the Erdington Academy students who took part in the FMAT Showcase.
“They worked hard to prepare for the night and I’m sure they will remember performing on the stage at Birmingham University for the rest of their lives.
“The students have worked really hard and thrown themselves into it,”
– Music teacher Ian Haughton
“We strive to ensure that Erdington Academy is a happy and harmonious school, where the students have a real sense of belonging and aspire to achieve their potential.
“By working together to prepare for the Showcase and then delivering such wonderful performances, the students really lived up to that ambition.”