A Shirebrook student who turned to music to get her through the difficult days of lockdown has set her sights on becoming a professional songwriter after winning a place at a performing arts college.

Kelsey Hind, who has just left Shirebrook Academy, has been given a place at Confetti, the Institute of Creative Technologies, Nottingham.

The 16-year-old says she cannot think of anything else she would rather do after finding solace playing her guitar to help her deal with the mental health challenges associated with remote learning.

Kelsey, who will be studying for a BTEC Level 3 in music songwriting and performance, is one of three students from the school heading to Confetti .

She will be accompanied by her friend and former classmate, Gracie Dexter, who has her own reasons to thank the power of music after her talent for singing changed her life two years ago.

Naturally shy, Gracie overcame her insecurities to enter the school’s annual Shirebrook’s Got Talent show after she was encouraged by her support teacher, who knew about her talents even though many of her friends did not.

She won the show with a rendition of Lewis Capaldi’s song Hold Me While You Wait.

Kelsey and Gracie will have to undertake a 90-minute journey to Nottingham every day to complete their studies, but Kelsey says that is a price worth paying for following her dream to one day write and perform her own songs.

“I have always enjoyed studying music at school and as soon as I saw the course at Confetti I knew I had to apply for it,” she explained.

“I’m really happy that I’ve been accepted. Music is more than a hobby, it’s always been a form of therapy for me. It’s got me through some difficult and dark days, especially during lockdown, because whenever I’ve ever felt low I could work through it by playing my guitar.

“Performing, even to myself, allows me to get any negative emotions out, while I’ve had a huge confidence boost from learning to play the guitar because it’s very complicated and it feels brilliant to be able to have achieved it.”

Gracie also wants to pursue a career in music, albeit either as a performer or as a teacher or music therapist, so she can use its power to change people’s lives to help others.

 She said: “I had never intended to study music but I’ve chosen it because it’s helped me to find something that I’m passionate about.

“I used to be really shy but when I performed two years ago I felt amazing and everyone was surprised because they didn’t know I could sing.

 “Kelsey and I have been performing in school and it’s been really enjoyable bringing people together to listen to music. Like Kelsey, music became really important to me during lockdown because it’s like a friend when you’re lonely. I’d love a career working in music somehow.”

Shirebrook Academy has seen a huge increase in the numbers of student wanting to learn music this year, while another talented school-leaver, River Hopkins, hit headlines after a song he wrote about Mansfield went viral on social media.

Adam Case, head of arts at the academy, added: “It’s been incredibly rewarding seeing students including Kelsey and Gracie grow as musicians and people during their music studies and I am extremely happy for them that they are now taking their music forward at Confetti.

“Music has a wonderful habit of encouraging young people to grow in character and confidence, allowing people who walk on a stage feeling nervous and self-conscious to leave feeling ten feet tall. This has an enormous positive impact on their development.

“Both Kelsey and Gracie have shown a real passion for music and it’s had a positive impact on their lives, so it’s great to see them both take their next step by winning a place at Confetti.”