We are proud to announce a milestone celebration marking 15 incredible years of fostering young talent and championing the performing arts across Northern Ireland.
To commemorate this significant anniversary, BSPA will host a spectacular concert at the iconic SSE Arena on 15th June 2025, at which over 750 young performers from across Northern Ireland, will take to the stage to perform songs from the world’s most loved musical theatre shows which have been highlights of BSPA’s history.
This landmark event promises to be a celebration of talent, creativity, and community, as BSPA students, aged from just 6 to 24 take to the stage to showcase their skills in an unforgettable evening of music, dance, and theatre. The concert will highlight the breadth of talent nurtured by BSPA over the past 15 years, the school’s pivotal role in shaping the next generation of performers, and the lifelong friendships made.
Adding to the celebrations, BSPA is thrilled to also announce the launch of 15 FREE scholarships for the upcoming academic year (2025/2026). These aim to provide talented young people, regardless of their circumstances, with the opportunity to receive world-class training in performing arts. Each scholarship student will join one of the 10 main schools or performance academy and get the chance to work with some of the most talented and inspirational teachers in the business, opening doors and creating amazing experiences whilst cementing strong friendships as they progress through their performing arts journey.
“I’m so proud to work with the talented young people at BSPA and I am really excited at how the school is growing. Celebrating 15 years leading youth performing arts is no small feat and I can’t wait to bring all our students to the stage in June to mark the occasion.
“Our students not only get to enjoy the performing arts when they come to us each week, they also get to build their confidence, work on new skills that can be applied to many areas of life and make new friends along the way. This concert will be a celebration of all those things. It will certainly be an arena spectacular not to miss – it’s also worth mentioning that the entire cast of over 750 will in fact be on the stage at once so I’m anticipating that the roof will literally be raised!
“I’m also looking forward to hosting the auditions for the scholarship initiative which I believe very much underscores BSPA’s commitment to inclusivity and our mission to inspire and empower young performing arts enthusiasts. Our small corner of the world is awash with young talent, and we hope to be able to nurture and bring opportunity to a further 15 for whom it might not have been possible for before.”
Young people aged 6 to 24 who are passionate about the performing arts are encouraged to register their interest in applying for a free scholarship by emailing info@thebspa.co.uk. Auditions will be held in the coming months, giving aspiring performers the chance to showcase their talent and secure one of these life-changing opportunities.
Tina McVeigh, Managing Director of BSPA, said:
“As we celebrate 15 years of BSPA, we are immensely proud of the community we’ve built and the countless young people who have discovered their passion, honed their skills, developed life skills that can be used in all walks of like or achieved their dreams. Above all they will have made friends, developed their confidence and had fun through being a part of our BSPA family.
The concert will be a testament to the incredible talent of our students and the introduction of 15 free scholarships ensures that we continue to create opportunities for more young people. This is part of our way of giving back and celebrating the future and the importance of the Arts in Northern Ireland.”
Over the years, BSPA has been a launchpad for numerous success stories, with alumni excelling in theatre, television, film, and beyond. This year’s 15th anniversary celebration is both a reflection of the school’s remarkable legacy and an exciting look towards its future.
BSPA have a total of ten schools across the country in Belfast, Bangor, Ballymena and Lisburn, with each school producing an end of year show which gives all the students a chance to see what it is like to perform in a real theatre environment. BSPA also offers BSPA Junior classes where little ones as young as three can discover their love of dancing, singing and acting, along with a Performance Academy which supports young people aged 16-24 with the key skills required to take their performing abilities to the next level.
Don’t Miss Out Tickets for the SSE Arena concert on 15th June 2025 are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ie.