Three talented Bermudians pursuing arts studies overseas have received a financial boost from the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society?s Charitable Trust, which has just awarded each of them a $5000 bursary towards their tuition.

They are Kerri-Lynn Dietz, Zawditu Maryam and Madison Mello.

Miss Dietz, the recipient of a second bursary from the Trust, attended the Mannes College of Music in New York city last year but has now has been accepted at the Royal College of Music in London to study music.

The 20-year-old former Mount Saint Agnes Academy student began her singing career in 2001, and played Maria Von Trapp in ?The Sound of Music?. In 2003 and 2005 she was a soloist in the Bermuda Heritage Concerts.

Miss Dietz hopes to share her gift of music with others through formal education as she feels it encourages self-confidence, discipline, and drive in young people?s lives. She would like to mentor a music programme which is accessible to Bermudian students of all ages regardless of their economic background.

Miss Maryam, a recent graduate of CedarBridge Academy, enters Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada this autumn to begin theatre studies.

No stranger to the local theatre community, having been involved in the very popular ?Tony ?n Tina?s Wedding?, various BMDS and CedarBridge productions, aspires to become a director of film and theatre, and to start her own production company both on the Island and abroad.

Her stated aim is to ?change the performing arts in Bermuda into a career instead of a hobby?, and to ?open a door to the performing arts overseas and make the dream a reality?.

Miss Mello, who began music lessons at age seven and voice lessons at age 13, is now pursuing a one-year Ontario College Certificate in performing arts preparation at the Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Oakville, Ontario.

She grew up in the theatre community in Bermuda, where her father worked on sets and her mother choreographed or performed in shows.

While a student at the Bermuda High School for Girls, Miss Mello was in every school production from 1998 to 2003.

She has also performed in many BMDS and Gilbert and Sullivan Society productions, and was a proud member and soloist of the St John?s Youth Choir. Her life passion is musical theatre.

The BMDS Charitable Trust was formed in 2001 following the tragic death of Kate Huntington, and lists its main objectives as ?the promotion and development of the theatrical arts with particular emphasis on those artists having an association with Bermuda?.

This may be in the form of scholarships or bursaries, or through drama, music and dance workshops.

The Trust received a substantial donation from the proceeds of the 2006 Famous for 15 Minutes? playwriting competition at BMDS.

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