We are enormously proud to reveal that Year 8 pupil Matilda Samuels has reached the final five in the Junior Category of BBC Young Chorister of the Year. The recording of the semi-final takes place at the beginning of July and we will all be watching when it is televised in October.

Matilda is the school Choir Captain and a valued member of our award-winning Bax Choir* which won the inaugural Bedford Choral Cup (judged by Bob Chilcott) last year and was awarded third place at the International Eisteddfod 2024 in the Children's Open Choirs category.  

Matilda is a dedicated and talented musician who contributes so much to the musical life of the school and makes the most of our extensive extra-curricular opportunities.  She attends twice-weekly choir rehearsals with our Choral Director, Lucy Joy Morris, and has singing lessons with  Caroline Patterson as well as weekly flute and guitar lessons. In addition to performing with Bax Choir, she plays the flute in Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band and our Scholars' Band.  Outside of school, Matilda is a member of the National Youth Choir.

"It’s such an impressive achievement for Matilda to have been selected for this prestigious competition," says her singing teacher, Miss Patterson. "I have been lucky enough to work with this super voice throughout Matilda’s time at Heath Mount and am delighted that her hard work has resulted in such an exciting opportunity."

Matilda is a music scholar and has been part of our music scholarship enrichment pathway over the past two years, enjoying extra mentoring from our Head of Music, Mr Fisher, and countless performance opportunities - as well as special trips such as going to see the BBC Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. She was recently awarded a prestigious music scholarship to Haileybury. 

We wish Matilda the very best with her preparations for the semi-finals.

* Matilda is a member of our renowned Bax Choir which has previously enjoyed success at the BBC Songs of Praise Young Choir Of The Year competition and was named Children's Choir Of The World at the 2019 International Eisteddfod in Wales.

• 3rd Place Children's Open Choir Category (up to age 16) Llangollen International Eisteddfod
• Winner Bedford Choral Cup 2024
• Winner Children's Choir of The World at the prestigious Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2019.
• Winner Folk Children’s Folk Choir Competition Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2019.
• Finalist in the BBC Songs of Praise, Young Choir of the Year in 2019.  
• Finalist in the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition in 2019, 2022 and 2024.
• Winner BBC Songs of Praise Young Choir of the Year in 2012.