St Patrick’s Grammar School head girl celebrates after winning singing show

St Patrick’s Grammar School head girl celebrates after winning singing show

9 March 2022

EVA Rowan, the head girl of St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick, has been crowned BBC School Soloist of the Year 2022.

The 18 year-old won the coveted title last Sunday as it was announced on BBC One Northern Ireland on Sunday.

She was in the school’s senior secondary school section along with Cara Keaveney from Assumption Grammar in Ballynahinch, Sarah Hoben from Our Lady’s Grammar School in Newry and Amy Ford from Dunclug Academy in Ballymena.

The Annacloy girl was with her parents, Micheal and Lucille, when compere Conor Phillips announced she had won.

Hundreds of entries were submitted to the BBC for each age group – primary, junior secondary and senior secondary — in a competition that celebrates the communal aspect of choral singing. 

After weeks of competing through heats broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, she made it through to the final in the BBC’s Blackstaff Studios in Belfast.

The three judges — Sheelagh Greer, Alan Leech and Sarah Richmond — were very impressed with Eva’s performances of No One Is Alone and Taylor The Latte Boy, awarding her the title and a trophy.

When asked by the judges how she felt winning the entire competition, Eva said: “My heart is going a million miles an hour and it isn’t even the caffeine” in a reference to her Taylor The Latte Boy song.

All the finalists were asked to choose a new piece for the final, and Eva chose a piece in tribute to Stephen Sondheim, who sadly passed away last November. Eva felt that No One Is Alone from Into the Woods embodied an important message to all who may be struggling at this time.

Eva and her family had to keep the news of her win to themselves until the final was 

televised last weekend. 

“The hardest thing to do was have to sit on this for over a week,” she said. “It was a total dream to be on a stage like this, and the realisation that this was actually happening was a dream come true. It was so positively, emotionally overwhelming.”

Eva, who performs with St Patrick’s Choral Society in Downpatrick, had the greatest respect for the talents of her fellow competitors.

She joined St Patrick’s two years ago to study for A Levels in Music, Drama and English and has always been vocal in her appreciation of how the school has supported her. 

“Throughout my entire time in school I have always felt supported, and each day has opened new opportunities.”

Eva paid tribute to her accompanist, Darren Day, who “made the process so much easier” and his ability to make her feel at ease. 

She was also very grateful to the BBC for the opportunity to work with a live string quartet, performed so beautifully by the Aria Quartet, as the sound that was created really brought to life her final song.

Eva also paid tribute to her singing tutors, Courtney Burns and Adam Darcy, and her teacher, Mrs Celeste McEvoy, who entered her submission to the BBC and was with her at every stage of the competition.

Eva’s singing ability has been nurtured from a tender age. As a very young member of the choir at Holy Family Church in Teconnaught, she listened to family members singing in the choir and was encouraged and supported by singer and guitarist Laura Larkin.

As a nine year-old, Eva was in the St Patrick’s Choral Society’s production of The Sound of Music in which her brother Ciaran sang The Lonely Goatherd. Her love for musical theatre was born and she later took on various lead roles.

She has a dream of continuing on with musical theatre work after studying it at university and has her eyes set on top roles. 

“My favourite roles would be Angelica in Hamilton, Vivian in Legally Blonde and Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd,” she said. “These roles were all strong, independent women.”

Eva has struck up a great working partnership with fellow St Patrick’s students Lucien Coole and Edward Gilmore in their busking three-piece, The Thing Is. 

They have recently been employed at the Downpatrick Artisan Market, and on St Patrick’s Day will be providing entertainment in Downpatrick.

Eva will also be entertaining the audience at the St Patrick’s Centre tonight during Gerry Kelly’s interview with Patrick Kielty. She will be singing No One Is Alone. Gerry, Patrick and Eva are all alumni of St Patrick’s High School.

The BBC School Soloist of the Year 2022 final is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.