City of London Academy Highgate Hill student awarded prestigious music award

A City of London Academy Highgate Hill (CoLA HH) student has been awarded a prestigious music award which recognises her musical talents.

Year 10 student, Klaudia Mitiajew, 15, performed at a gala concert at the iconic London Palladium to mark five years of the Music in Secondary School Trust (MiSST).

MiSST provides funding to secondary schools to guarantee that every young person in these schools can learn how to play a classical musical instrument and have the opportunity to play and perform.

10 London schools including 250 musicians performed well known classics including Finlandia by Sibelius, a Mozart piano concerto and two movements from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

Klaudia was awarded the MiSST Musician of the Year award for her dedication and hard work after spending Saturday mornings practising the violin.

She was gifted with brand new instruments by MiSST after she excelled in a short space of time.

Prince Gennuh, Headteacher of City of London Academy Highgate Hill, said:

“Klaudia is a very talented musician and without the MiSST project, this talent may never have been recognised.

“Klaudia was invited to join the MiSST senior orchestra soon after she arrived in the UK from Poland in October 2015.

“She had no musical experience and knew very little English but, with some encouragement from the Head of Music and her teachers, Klaudia attended early morning music classes and, through hard work and determination, she has exceeded all expectations. We are all very proud of her achievements.”

Chair of City of London Corporation’s Education Board, Henry Colthurst, said:

“This is a fantastic achievement, really well done to Klaudia. Credit must also be given to Klaudia’s teachers who guided and encouraged her along the way. The City of London Corporation is committed to providing access to world-class education and learning opportunities to all students.”

Six Year 8 students and four Year 10 students also represented CoLAHH at the gala concert, which took place last month.

The City Corporation sponsors or co-sponsors 10 academies across Hackney, Newham, Islington and Southwark. In 2017, Sutton Trust named the City Corporation as the UK’s best academy sponsor for empowering pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to perform above the national average, and the leading academy sponsor for Progress 8 and Attainment 8, which track pupil progress and achievement.

The City of London Corporation family of schools has one maintained primary school and 10 sponsored or co-sponsored academies in neighbouring boroughs. It also supports three independent schools. The City of London Corporation sponsors, co-sponsors or governs the following schools:

Co-sponsored academies: City of London Academy, Islington (co-sponsor City University), The City Academy, Hackney (co-sponsor KPMG)

City of London Academies Trust: City of London Academy (Southwark), Redriff Primary, City of London Academy, Galleywall Primary, City of London Academy, City of London Primary Academy Islington, City of London Academy Highgate Hill, City of London Academy Highbury Grove, City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre City of London Academy

Local Authority maintained school: Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School

Independent: City of London School, City of London School for Girls, City of London Freemen’s School