Help Iris follow her dream and get to uni

Hi,

I`m Iris.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved singing and I have dreamt of performing and following my love and dreams of singing, dancing and Musical Theatre.

I remember, aged around 8 or 9, sitting next to my Dad watching Wicked at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford and being totally mesmerised and in awe at the wonderful spectacle I was watching. I turned to my Dad that night and said “this is what I`d love to do all my life”.

And so, for all my life so far, I have sung, danced and performed. For ten years I have trained and worked hard and my love for my art has not diminished one little bit.

I sing every day. It`s what makes me and when I sing or perform, I am about as happy as I can possibly be.

Through my school years I trained my voice performing in productions such as Legally Blonde, playing Mary Poppins and the Narrator in Joseph. At 14 I auditioned and was given a place with The National Youth Theatre and following an intense summer course I realised that my love for the arts was not just confined to singing but also acting and acting through song, giving me more and more scope to express myself, build my confidence ( I was having to stay away in London ) and learn much more about performing. I was also chosen to be an ambassador for the National Youth Theatre and I loved helping others along their way and taking a lead role in master classes.

At 16 I auditioned to get into the Creative and Performing Arts College (CAPA) in Wakefield, one of the leading arts colleges in the North and won my place. This gave me the confidence to realise that I really could follow my dream and make my living out of something I love. At college I was also able to further my third love but sadly not my greatest strength – dancing. The teachers at CAPA have been fantastic with me, despite the challenge of 3 hours a day travel time I feel I have learnt so much in the last 2 years and I`m so grateful for their patience, understanding and belief in me. Playing a main role in the colleges production of We Will Rock You was an unforgettable experience.

Alongside my college studies I have also performed in a couple of local Musical Theatre Societies productions playing Wednesday in the Addams Family and Teen Fiona / Humpty Dumpty ( yes really! )in Shrek. Again, experiences and memories I will forever treasure.

And for the last 5 years I have had the honour and absolute pleasure of learning from, performing for and working with one of my idols. Damien Poole, of Damien Poole Theatre Arts, has helped, encouraged and improved me so much over that time. His belief and confidence in me has served to underpin almost everything I`ve done during that time. His generosity and sponsorship for me is something I will be eternally grateful for.

All of which has bought me to here. I have been dreaming for so long about getting a place at Mountview Theatre of Arts, for nearly 80 years one of the UK`s leading Theatre Arts Universities. I auditioned and have been so lucky to be offered a place on a foundation course in Manchester. Sadly though funding is not available for this first year course. The course alone costs £8995 before I find any accommodation and my cost of living. We estimate the overall cost will be around £16 - £18000.

My parents have very limited funds available to them. My Dad was injured last year and couldn`t work for 10 months forcing him to lose his work along with his income. He has since got other work but they are having to catch up with what they have lost and are doing what they can for me.

If I`m successful in raising enough funds to go to Mountview I intend to get a job and live as self-sufficiently as I can but I know in order to get there we need to raise at least £10 - £12000.

I would be so grateful if you could help me to continue living my dream.

Please feel free to visit my youtube channel @iriswallmusic

Thank you.

Iris Wall.