Drama Scholar and Enrichment Programme Vocal Masterclass – Mar 2026
As part of our Drama Scholar and Enrichment Programme, students recently took part in a vocal masterclass led by Mrs Lockwood, our Head of LAMDA and voice expert. Year 11’s Annie and Year 9’s Mariella share their experience of the masterclass.
Year 11’s Annie
“We were lucky enough to take part in a Vocal Masterclass led by Mrs Lockwood. The session focused on stage presence and public speaking and we learnt about the importance of gestures, posture and facial expression. We ended the session performing speeches to each other which was a great way to tie together all we had learnt.
With Mrs Lockwood’s knowledge and experience we all left with a useful skill for the future and really enjoyed the opportunity.”
Year 9’s Mariella
“I extremely enjoyed the second vocal masterclass, as it provided valuable practical techniques to improve our confidence in speaking and delivery skills. The session began with movement to music, which created a calm and focused atmosphere. This helped me understand the importance of preparing and clearing the mind before performing.
A key focus of the workshop was posture and stage presence. I learned how correct posture can influence breathing, projection, overall confidence and how the audience perceives a performer. We also explored the use of hand gestures and discussed how intentional, controlled movements can strengthen communication, whereas unnecessary movement can distract from the performance.
We were split into groups and instructed to perform the same piece using different interpretations; this helped me understand how tone of voice can influence the mood of a performance. For example, delivering it with an excited tone created energy and urgency, whereas using a more informative tone made it feel calmer and more serious. We also experimented with stage placement within our performances, which showed how deliberate positioning on stage can affect the audience’s focus and the overall impact of a performance.
Overall, I took away a greater awareness of how physical control and body alignment impact vocal performance. The masterclass reinforced the idea that confident delivery is not only about voice, but also about posture, movement, and purposeful choices.”
