There was a touch of Broadway and West End glamour at the JDP when Musical Theatre Oxford — a new training academy for those wanting to pursue a career in this enduringly popular genre — showcased a selection of songs from hit musicals, from the 1920s to the present. With such a vast repertoire at their disposal, this could only ever by a tantalisingly fleeting glimpse at some of these shows, but a well-planned programme ensured that there was plenty of variety, from classics such as The Sound of Music, Showboat and Kiss Me Kate to lesser-known shows.

Nicola Harrison, the founder of the academy, was every inch the Broadway diva in her shimmering, sequinned costumes, and she soon showed that she had a voice to match. Something Good (The Sound of Music) and So In Love (Kiss Me Kate) were beautifully delivered, while the emotional intensity of Send in the Clowns was particularly compelling. Her experience was very much in evidence, with every offering a masterclass in vocal control and technique.

Happily, some of her students were on hand to benefit from that masterclass, and to display their own burgeoning talents. Particularly impressive was 14-year-old Floss Pugh, who sang When You’re Good to Mama from Chicago with all the confidence, vocal maturity and aplomb of a West End veteran.

I also enjoyed the lively and enthusiastic rendition of Don’t Rain on my Parade (Funny Girl) by Genevieve Dawson, a 20-year-old Oxford University student, and the strongly-delivered Taylor the Latte Boy by Kellie Anne Young, a 21-year-old Brookes graduate, who bravely took to the stage with one arm in plaster after breaking her wrist a few days earlier.

The evening was compèred in sparkling style by Amy Cooke-Hodgson, while a versatile group of musicians, directed from the piano by Guy Newbury, provided subtle and supportive accompaniment.