Who will follow in the footsteps of MTA's Nina?

What a year it has been for a Hartlepool performing arts organisation.
Nina Bunter who won the Miss Toni Award for Performing Arts at last years ceremony.Nina Bunter who won the Miss Toni Award for Performing Arts at last years ceremony.
Nina Bunter who won the Miss Toni Award for Performing Arts at last years ceremony.

And to celebrate its achievements, the MTA Academy in Hartlepool will hold its third presentation night next month.

MTA will hold the event in the Borough Hall on Friday, June 24.

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Academy owner Toni Parker-Harvey said the interest in the event was so huge a bigger venue had to be chosen.

This is the third time that the academy has held a presentation night, and Toni added: “It is a really exciting time for us at MTA as the atmosphere will be amazing at the Borough Hall.

“We have a school of more than 120 students now and have sold over 400 tickets for the event, which is amazing.”

The presentation night will include the hand-over of more than 60 awards, and they will range from trophies for the best beginners to students who have shown the most improvement.

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There will also be a special highlight when two full school scholarships will be announced.

That means that the winners will have their lesson fees paid for a year.

Toni added: “The night recognises the hard work and talent we have at MTA and the achievements over the past 12 months.

“Every MTA student will receive a progress award and plaque. We really like them all to have their moment as we are so proud of every student.

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“There will also be performances on the evening from across all the departments.”

It has been a busy 12 months for MTA, which put on its first town hall production called “Music, Talent ... Action!” earlier this year.

It featured 80 of the performing arts academy’s students, with the youngest aged two and the oldest 19.

Singing, dancing, musical theatre and guitar solos all featured, as well as the school’s performing arts department, which performed big show-stopping musical numbers from Billy Elliot, Matilda, We Will Rock You and Bend it Like Beckham The Musical.

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Toni said the MTA students had a great time “both on stage and back stage too”.

This year’s winners will follow in the footsteps of great achievers at the last awards, including Nina Bunter, pictured, who won the Miss Toni Award for Performing Arts.

The MTA Academy is now based in Enterprise House in Thomlinson Road, Hartlepool.

Parents have praised it with one saying “it isn’t just a performing arts school it’s a family”.