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A Form 5 pupil stormed West End auditions to join the cast of Carmen at the English National Opera in St Martin's Lane, London.

Pardis Ajala beat hundreds of hopefuls to secure a place in the chorus along with twenty other children. She has been rehearsing since April and will appear in several performances over the summer.

A party of St Hilda's teachers all went along one night to enjoy an evening at the opera and to support the talented pupil. They were 'blown away' by the scale of the production and the high quality performances.

They all agreed that they have been so impressed with the way that Pardis's commitment to her academic work has not slipped, despite all the late nights.

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