ArtsEd is delighted to announce the appointment of Sharon D Clarke to the post of Vice President. 

Sharon has forged an exceptional career, garnering critical acclaim for dramatic and musical roles on stage and on screen. In 2019 she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her standout performance in Caroline or Change. In 2020, she won the Olivier for Best Actress for her sensational portrayal of Linda Loman in the Young Vic’s production of Death of a Salesman. The latter also made Sharon the first person to be nominated in all four performing categories of the Olivier Awards. In 2017 she was awarded an MBE for services to drama.   

This extraordinary breadth of success and experience make Sharon a perfect fit for ArtsEd, which offers world-class training in both Acting and Musical Theatre.   

On her appointment Sharon said: 

“Attending the ArtsEd 2018 Graduation Ceremony I was delighted to see Olivia Hibbert, who I had just worked with at The Hackney Empire on King The Musical. I couldn’t have been more proud watching her receive her Degree. 

I have had the joy of working with many ArtsEd alumni and applaud them for the talented triple threat performers, choreographers, directors, producers; beautiful humans with good work ethics, that they nurture and guide and enrich this industry with. 

I am truly delighted and honoured to be appointed Vice President of this wonderful Conservatoire of Excellence who are addressing change at a grass roots level, ever pushing forward to Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity, I look forward to us working together.” 

Chris Hocking, ArtsEd Principal said of Sharon’s appointment: 

Sharon’s outstanding and varied career speaks for itself, and I’m thrilled that she is joining the ArtsEd family as Vice President. Her integrity, her passion and her commitment to creating change where it needs to happen in our industry will be an inspiration to us all. I very much look forward to introducing her to our students and to working together. 

Sharon joins David Grindrod and Robert Powell in the role of Vice President. ArtsEd’s President is Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

PHOTO: Sharon D Clarke with ArtsEd alumna, Olivia Hibbert at the 2018 graduation ceremony

Launching the Chris Hornby Bursary Fund in 2015

A special memorial event, held at The Lyceum Theatre in October 2015, gave family and friends from across the industry the opportunity to share their memories of Chris. Opened by Aled Jones who had worked with Chris on White Christmas, moving performances included ‘You Are My Sunshine’ sung by Louise Dearman, ‘Circle of Life’ performed by the cast of The Lion King, and Nat King Cole’s ‘Smile’ performed by the ArtsEd Choir. The Chris Hornby Bursary Fund was also launched, with an incredible £7,000 raised in just the first few days.

From top left: (1) Omid Djalili and Jodie Prenger share their stories. (2) Tim Howar and cast members of The Lion King. (3) Members of the ArtsEd Choir.

Since then we have continued to be moved by the generosity, enthusiasm and creativity of so many supporters. Other fundraising events include a Christmas Concert at the Actors’ Church, Kirsty Spark’s ‘Healthy Hearts for Hornby’ dance classes, Donald’s Beaujolais Night, West End audition masterclasses, and let’s not forget the Ealing half-marathon team!

We are so grateful for everyone who has supported the fund.

Together you have raised over £30,000!

Left: Song Workshop with Tim, Matt Henry, Jill Green and Alan Williams. Right: Christmas Concert with Joel Montague, Jo Napthine, Cavin Cornwall, Andrew Lancel, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Louise Dearman and the ArtsEd Choir.

The impact of your support

The funds raised have had a huge impact on the lives of two young performers studying on ArtsEd’s Musical Theatre degree, Jacob Thomas and Maria Conneely.

Maria Conneely in her showcase performance at ArtsEd, 2020 and Jacob Thomas in Legally Blonde ArtsEd, 2019.

Jacob was the first Chris Hornby scholar, receiving support for the full three years of his degree. This award was the first funded place at ArtsEd to be sponsored by individuals, a momentous achievement, without which Jacob would not have been able to complete his training. You can see Jacob’s showreels here. Graduating last summer, Jacob said:

“The support I have received not only financially but emotionally from Tim and the Chris Hornby bursary has been a crucial factor in my development and completing my degree. This has been a life changing opportunity that would not have been possible without the bursary. I am so excited to see where my career takes me, and to make Tim and Chris proud.”

Maria Conneely is in her final year and is on stage at ArtsEd this week as Jellylorum in Cats, the final graduate show of 2020/21. You can also watch Maria’s showreels here, produced to replace the usual Showcase whilst ArtsEd has been unable to welcome audiences. Maria said:

“I feel so honoured and privileged to have received the Chris Hornby Bursary this year. The financial support makes such a different to myself and my parents, for this we are so grateful. This bursary is so precious to me and has already supported me in so many ways in my final year of training. For the rest of my career, I will do my best to make Tim, and all the supporters of the fund, extremely proud.”

Continuing Chris’s legacy at ArtsEd

With students in greater need than ever in 2021/22, we are delighted that the Chris Hornby Bursary Fund has just enough funds left to support one more gifted young performer in their final year of study with us.

The particularly brilliant thing about Chris’s fund is that the vital financial assistance is accompanied by invaluable personal support, in the form of Tim’s expert mentoring and encouragement. We would really love to be able to continue this connection in years to come, supporting the next generation of performers and story-tellers.

If you would like to help make this happen, then please make a donation today. Every donation will make a difference, enabling future students to thrive and keeping Chris’s legacy bright.

Photography: Michael Donne, Tony Brown and Robin Savage