Strictly Come Dancing’s toe tapping astrologer, Russell Grant, is helping a talented young singer reach for the stars.
Former Coleg Harlech student Donna Lea Morris was picked by the TV personality to take the lead role in one of this show-stopping theatre productions.
The musical, Bliss, had the audience dancing in the aisles at Theatr Harlech.
Since then Russell has become a valuable and much loved mentor to Donna, from Barmouth.
Thanks to him and the course she took in Music Technology at Coleg Harlech, she is heading off to Chester University.
“I have Russell Grant on my Facebook page as a friend, that wouldn’t have happened before Coleg Harlech,” she laughed.
“When we were doing Bliss he was amazing, he brought us out of our shells with the acting because he was directing.”
Donna has now picked education ahead of trying to make it big on reality singing shows after gaining a distinction in Music Technology from Coleg Harlech.
As millions of people seek fame and fortune on programmes like The X Factor, Donna decided further education is the key to making it in the entertainment business.
The 22-year-old singer believes her new found confidence is down to her nine month Coleg Harlech course.
“It’s given me so much confidence and the tutors were amazing. I wasn’t doing much. I left college at 16 and this was my big chance,” she said.
The course aims to teach students what it would be like to work in the music industry whilst recording original sounds using the latest computer and studio technology.
Following her role in Bliss she was put in touch with a Record Producer whom she is waiting to hear back from.
“He said he loved my album and he’s going to get back in touch,” she said.
Donna, who has started a Jazz group with fellow musicians said the insight made her realise she didn’t just want her 30 seconds of fame.
“It would be great to make it like Duffy, she’s a really great singer but I write my own songs and programmes like the X Factor- as good as they are – want singers to do cover versions of songs and I don’t want to do that.”
She hopes to become a recording artist and thanks to Coleg Harlech she has been accepted by Chester University to study for a degree in Popular Music Performance. She begins the three year course on 26th September.
Despite the financial constraints and the need to find £3,000 for the first academic year, Donna is adamant that she wants to continue studying.
“I didn’t consider University until Coleg Harlech. I enjoyed it to so much that I thought I’d go. I know I wouldn’t be going if it wasn’t for Coleg Harlech.
The tutors were amazing and got the best out of me. I can go now and say I’ve got a distinction in music technology and people will take me more seriously.
“What’s more I lived in Harlech at the college’s halls of residence so it made me realise what it would be like to live away from home.
She added: “Barmouth is a beautiful place but I’ve always wanted more, I’m quite ambitious.”
In the meantime, Donna is keeping her fingers crossed that Russell Grant wins Strictly Come Dancing.
“I’ll be voting for him, he’s lovely and keeps in touch with us all. During Bliss he was always dancing, he’s so bubbly and full of fun, a really good person to have around,” she said.
