A FORMER student made an emotional return to her old school to perform ten years after starring in one of its most memorable productions.
Singer Danielle Ripley played Tallulah in Bugsy Malone, which was The King's Academy production exactly a decade ago.
She returned to the academy, in Coulby Newham, to perform alongside current students in the annual summer music concert.
Now 23 and mum to a seven-month-old son, Danielle works with students with learning difficulties and sings at festivals in her spare time. She is hoping to make the televised auditions on this year's X-Factor.
"This was the most nervous I've felt for a while, but it was lovely to be back at The King's Academy, which feels just the same as when I left.
"Playing Tallulah in Bugsy was my first performance and it's what set me off wanting to sing. The talent at the academy is fantastic and the students were brilliant," said Danielle, who also appeared in the academy's production of The Sound of Music.
The concert saw student musicians playing a variety of instruments and music from classical to stage and screen soundtracks and contemporary songs, both in ensembles and solos.
Opening the concert with a piece from Matilda the Musical, Alice Milburn was one of three pianists including Olviya Silvary and Daniela Cebotari.
Abigail Richardson, Millie Bean, Ellie Johnston, Rebecca Clarkson, Alice Milburn and Anton Blackburn played wind instruments, while brass was represented by Joseph Donnelly, Tom Sutton and Connor Sharp.
Haleema Anwar showed off her vocals and guitar playing with a rendition of Taylor Swift's If This was a Movie, while Principal Chris Drew performed Old Man River from the musical Showboat.
Teacher of performing arts at the academy Liz Walker said: "Some of our students have been playing their instruments for years while others have only been playing for a matter of weeks.
"In every case they have worked so hard and put in many hours of practice to be ready for the concert, which is a great opportunity for them to perform in front of an audience."
