Peter Ho | Class of 2017
During his time at the College, Peter Ho immersed himself in the Arts, which led to his role as Arts Captain and receiving College Colours for Drama in his final year.
As Peter reflects on his time at AvÐÔ°®, he declares that, ‘Every production I did has a special place in my heart as they all helped me discover my love for the arts. However, the production of Guys and Dolls in 2016 will always be a favourite, as it was my first every musical. It’s not every day where I get to play a charming, cool and slick character like Sky Masterson. Mainly, it was the best learning experience to get to perform with my friends and to work with Mr Dove and music teacher Mr Harries, introducing me into the world of Musicals; changing my path in life.’
Upon graduating, Peter decided to spend his first year out of school undertaking part-time study at Curtin University, with his main goal being to train for an audition with WAAPA at the end of 2018.
Part-time study gave him the opportunity to work towards his goal, using his spare time to take dance classes, vocal lessons and gain further stage experience by performing in plays and musicals. He featured in VERGE, a student written, horror/thriller play at Curtin and was a supporting lead in the musical Be More Chill with Phoenix Theatre Company. The latter was submitted and performed at the Fringe Festival in late January 2019. Being involved in the festival was an eye-opening experience both into the industry and the arts community in Perth. The experience confirmed his love for acting & music theatre and wanting to chase his dreams of a career in the industry.
At the end of the 2018, Peter’s dedication paid off, with a successful audition and acceptance into the Diploma of Musical Theatre for 2019 at WAAPA. It was a one-year, full-time course where he honed his skills and worked harder than ever before. He shares that he ‘met a wonderful group of friends and teachers who helped me to further establish the skills I needed to achieve my goal for 2019: to get into a Bachelor course.’
Recently, Peter put all of his hard work to the test and auditioned for four drama schools across Australia. He was fortunate enough to receive an early offer to study at Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide, and finally an offer at WAAPA, achieving his ultimate goal of getting into a Bachelor Course of Music Theatre for 2020. As one of the most challenging Performing Arts places to attain in WA, this accolade is a testament to his talent and potential. By setting a goal and mapping out how to get there, Peter showed that perseverance and self-belief can be as important as raw talent.
Peter acknowledges, ‘All these achievements and goals I’ve reached, I couldn’t have done it by myself. I’m forever grateful to have met all the teachers, coaches and friends who have helped and who will continue to help me for the next few years. Yes, it takes individual practice and hard work, but the community, learning from others and sharing in the experience with others is invaluable.’