Olive Blyth, one of Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) head students last year, has been awarded the New Zealand Top Student Scholar for Drama for 2021. 

“It is a very significant achievement for any student to receive the top award in their subject domain,” MAC head of arts Emily McRae told the Wānaka App.

“We have a number of students who have successfully achieved external scholarship exams in our Arts and Performing Arts programmes over years but this is the first time we have had a student achieve the top for their cohort in New Zealand award.”

Emily explained that for students to tackle the drama exam they must first build a diverse range of practical skills and achieve mastery in a range of styles of performance. 

The students then commit to a regular tutorial programme across the year to develop a programme of work to fit the tight conditions of the exam. 

She said drama has conditions not found in any other external exam on the schedule: It is a live practical performance presented to two examination supervisors who record the work on camera; the student must present three sections of work in a short space of time; and the student must speak flawlessly about the theoretical approaches to their work; all under specific time pressure.

Olive is studying in Wellington in the New Zealand Jazz Music programme and continuing with some drama studies. 

“It is a true test of the ability to perform with excellence practically under high stakes live conditions,” she said.. 

Olive (who uses the gender pronouns they/them/theirs) received full marks of 24 out of 24. 

Olive also passed the music scholarship exam. 

“[It was] a huge work undertaking all round by Olive with incredible drive and focus required to get there,” Emily said.

Olive is currently studying in Wellington in the New Zealand Jazz Music programme. They are also continuing with some drama studies as part of their overall learning. 

In 2020 Olive was selected to represent New Zealand in the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) Young Shakespeare Company in England in 2021.

Read more: MAC performing arts student London-bound

“It was an utter pleasure to teach and mentor such a dedicated student over four years in drama classes,” Emily said.

“Olive is an incredibly brave, determined and focused student who will continue to break ground and do exciting things in the professional music and performing arts arena.”

Find more about MAC's Arts programme here.

PHOTOS: Supplied