Holly, a pupil at Rendcomb College from 2001 to 2012, is from Cirencester and  moved to Manchester, following her studies at Birmingham University, on a scholarship to BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music) to study Professional Musicianship. It was in Manchester that she took on the stage name IORA and began performing in some of the UK’s most iconic venues.

Performing to an audience of over 170, the acts put on the fantastic night of entertainment to raise money for local charity CHYP who work with vulnerable, young homeless people in the local area.. Nearly £600 was raised on the night.

Inspired by both life in the country and the city, IORA has appeared at the 2,000 trees festival in Cheltenham and the Dot-to-Dot festival in Manchester. Her single “Thieves’ Den” has been played on BBC Manchester Introducing and was recently included in BBC Introducing’s Sound of 2018 Winner, Sigrid’s playlist as an artist to watch.

Joining IORA were fellow Old Rencombians Charlotte Clements and Ed Slark, who performed a selection of beautiful classical duets and singer-songwriter Mark Gunner, who showcased his own compositions on bass guitar and voice.

Former student, Lance Baynham, is part of comedy duo Force of Habit with  his partner Cormac Connelly-Smith.

Luke Nixon, a student at Rendcomb till until 2014, performed a stand-up comedy set. Luke, with his writing partner, Josh Philips, are is set to perform their a new musical which opens in London’s award-winning Canal Café Theatre in February.