Olivier Award winner is new arts academy patron

An Olivier Award-winner has become the first patron of a Scottish academy of performing arts.

The Edinburgh-based MGA Academy of Performing Arts has announced world-famous performer Peter Schaufuss has taken on the role, with the goal of continuing the trend of having coached some of the UK’s prominent young performers.

The Olivier Award-winning ballet dancer, choreographer and director is the founder of the English National Ballet School who, in a stellar career, has performed and directed worldwide. Schaufuss is also the founder of Edinburgh Festival Ballet, a specialist school established earlier this year that is set to launch full-time training from 2019.

The MGA is overjoyed at the prospect of receiving the backing of Schaufuss, as the academy aims to build on the fortune of having trained now-Disney film star Thomas Doherty, and West End stars Fergal McGoff and Rhiannon Chesterman.

After being awarded accreditation by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre last year, the academy is also noteworthy in offering Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degrees in Musical Theatre, Acting and Dance Performance, following a collaboration with Bath Spa University.

Schaufuss said that he had: ‘Admired the work of The MGA Academy for a long time and feels it provides a unique offering to students wishing to study in Scotland at a level comparable to that of the well-known London schools.’

Marcella Macdonald, principal of The MGA Academy, with Dr Andy Salmon, executive dean of Bath Spa University

He added that it was an honour to become a patron of The MGA Academy, and that he hopes to lend his assistance in order to help the academy grow.

Drew Gowland, co-founder and managing director of The MGA Academy, said: ‘We’re naturally delighted that someone of the calibre of Peter Schaufuss, so well-respected in the performing arts industry for his wealth of work on-stage and in education, is willing to lend his name to the work of The MGA Academy.

‘For more than a decade, we have been providing students from Scotland and the rest of Europe with exceptional training on par with London’s leading dance and drama schools.

‘Our training has allowed our graduates to build successful international careers on stage and screen and now they will also leave with a degree, enabling them to pursue professional teaching work and postgraduate-level study. We hope our partnership with Peter will help us continue to grow and continue to gain recognition for our work on an international level.’