Ebony Buckle Story - "London Calling"

Of the 3000 performers who audition for a place at London's Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts every year, only 25 are accepted.

One of them is Townsville vocalist Ebony Buckle, who will take up a spot at the prestigious British academy next month.

But the 22-year-old Townsville vocalist, who is finishing her Bachelor of Music at the University of Queensland, skipped the rigorous audition process.

Ebony won her place after her singing teacher, Joseph Ford, recommended she have a lesson with the academy's director.
"After that lesson he offered me a place, although you normally have to audition,'' Ebony said.

`The course is actually a Masters in Music Theatre. We study ballet, tap and jazz dancing, acting, stage combat training, film and television as well.'

"It makes us quite well rounded so we can get a job in a few different fields.'

"It is an intensive course with full days, 40 hours a week.''

At the end of the one-year course, students participate in a showcase, where Ebony is hopeful of attracting an agent in her bid to make a full-time career out of musical theatre.

"My dream is to make it on the West End and Broadway,'' she said.

"I have been learning classical music for the last three and a half years but my passion is in musical theatre.''

Ebony sought out more extensive vocal training after competing in the Townsville Eisteddfod 10 years ago.

Since then she has been an active participant in local musicals, including the Townsville Choral and Orchestral Society's Les Miserables last year.

"I have also studied acting since I was six, and I have been in a few plays,'' she said.

She's dabbled in the Brisbane music scene, forming a band with some friends recently.

"We covered a Radiohead song and performed originals.'

"That was really fun,'' she said.

In betweeen her studies, Ebony has also found time to perform at weddings, funerals and functions.

"I was singing in a choir concert once and I feel asleep. The orchestra was playing, and it must have been very relaxing,` she said with a laugh.

While Ebony will not be able to do any professional work during her time at the London academy, she will still be able to get her stage fix.

"We do put on a Shakespeare play and a musical in the time we are there," she said.