A decade of success at Dumfries House
For a decade, a pioneering partnership has broken down barriers to the performing arts, providing free specialist dance and music tuition to young people across Ayrshire.
This month, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and The King’s Foundation mark ten years of their partnership at Dumfries House.
Since 2016, RCS and The King’s Foundation at Dumfries House – together with East Ayrshire Council – have delivered a programme of fully funded weekly ballet and strings classes.
Classes are free to remove financial barriers, giving young people access to high-quality performing arts education and pathways to the Junior Conservatoire and beyond.
Hundreds of young people have benefited from the programme, developing their skills and confidence through dance and music.
For many, those first classes at Dumfries House have opened doors to further training, performance opportunities and aspirations for future careers in the arts.
Here, some of the young people whose lives have been shaped by the partnership share their stories.
Dumfries House Ballet
Jada-Jo Branney, 14, from Kilmarnock, joined the Dumfries House ballet programme at the age of eight. She recently achieved High Distinctions in two Royal Academy of Dance examinations in London and is preparing to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix in Barcelona later this year.
She has also secured a place as a Scottish Ballet Senior Associate, having previously progressed through the Junior and Mid-Associate programmes.
Jada-Jo said: “My time at Dumfries House has so many special memories. I absolutely loved my Tuesday nights with Miss Shanks as my teacher, she was always really encouraging, kind and supportive, and always knew how to teach so we could all be the very best that we could be. Miss Shanks helped me so much with my confidence and encouraged me to believe in myself a little more too. I was so happy in every class, I really did always have the best time.”
Siblings Ollie and Lucy Auld, from Cumnock, have both trained at Dumfries House. Lucy, who is in P6, is a current Dumfries House dancer and Scottish Ballet Associate. Ollie was at Dumfries House before attending the Dance School of Scotland.
Ollie, 13, said: “Being part of Dumfries House was the beginning of something really special for me. It gave me the opportunity to train alongside other young dancers right on my doorstep, learning from incredible teachers and, most importantly, believing that I could pursue dance as a future career.”
Lucy, 10, added: “Being part of Dumfries House this past year has been such an amazing experience. I have loved learning new things, working hard and meeting other young dancers who love ballet as much as I do. I can’t wait to see where my dancing takes me next and I’m so grateful to everyone who helps and encourages me along the way.”
Hope White, 12, from Kilmarnock, began ballet classes at Dumfries House in Primary 4 before progressing to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Junior Conservatoire of Dance.
At the end of her Dumfries House studies, Hope auditioned for the Junior Conservatoire of Dance and secured a place on the Modern Ballet programme. She is also a member of the RCS Young Ballet Company. Hope was accepted into Scottish Ballet’s Associates programme in Primary 5.
Hope said: “I know it is a long way ahead, but I am determined to continue with all my classes and learn more skills in ballet. I love performing and have joined RCS’ Young Ballet Company, which has enabled me to achieve one of my goals, performing at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. That was amazing!”
Izzy Longstaff, 16, from Dunlop, joined Dumfries House ballet classes in P5 and is now in sixth year. She is studying on the Modern Ballet programme at RCS’s Junior Conservatoire of Dance.
Izzy said: “I have fond memories of going to pre-junior ballet at Dumfries House, where I made great friends and was taught by two of my first ballet teachers Miss Jenny and Miss Suzanne, who I still work with at RCS.
“My time there helped build a strong technical foundation and it was a great introduction to dance training at a serious dance school.
“I’ve gone on to RCS’s Junior Modern Ballet and I’m part of the Young Ballet Company and Contemporary Dance Young Company. I’m now currently doing Higher Dance at West College, Paisley and considering further education courses in dance when I leave secondary school next year.”
Dumfries House Strings
Matthew Sullivan, 23, began playing cello as part of the original Greenmill Strings Project
(co-founded by RCS), served as a volunteer mentor at Dumfries House, and progressed to the Bachelor of Education degree at RCS.
He is now Principal Teacher of Music at Girvan Academy in South Ayrshire.
Matthew said: “Helping at the programme gave me my first experience of teaching. Returning to volunteer was very fulfilling and is where I realised I got a great amount of joy helping young people fulfil their potential and seeing them improve.
“I don’t think I would have decided to become a teacher without Dumfries House.”
Cellist Logan McLurkin, 16, is a current Dumfries House strings student and composed a new work, Dumfries House: A Decade of Music, for today’s anniversary event.
Logan said: “The support and encouragement from the teachers at Dumfries House are amazing. They have shown me what I can achieve and given me opportunities I wouldn’t have had without them.
“I want to continue with music and study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the hope of becoming a music teacher.”
Luke Hyslop, 16, is a double bass player who joins the RCS Junior Conservatoire of Music this month.
Luke said: “My lessons really helped me as it was a proper learning environment, and it accelerated the level I am playing at. Classes also helped reignite my passion for music and have solidified my love for my instrument.
“Getting accepted into the RCS Juniors programme was only possible because I joined Dumfries House. It is definitely the only reason I am where I am today.”
