{"id":229762,"date":"2026-02-23T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T18:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=229762"},"modified":"2026-02-23T11:03:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:03:18","slug":"windward-cc-partnership-london-drama-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/23\/windward-cc-partnership-london-drama-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Windward CC<\/abbr>‘s partnership opens doors to top London drama school"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"W
Windward CC<\/abbr> resident director Taurie Kinoshita and students at East 15 acting school<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Windward Community College has solidified its reputation as a global launchpad for actors. Eight students from the spring 2025 and spring 2026 cohorts at the Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts<\/a> auditioned for the East 15 Acting School<\/a> in London, and the school offered spots to all eight.<\/p>\n

This coincides with another major milestone. In fall 2025, East 15 Acting School—ranked fourth in the UK<\/abbr> for drama in the Guardian University Guide 2024—officially elevated its relationship with Windward CC<\/abbr> to Premium Partner status.<\/p>\n

Ensuring access<\/h2>\n
\"W
Windward CC<\/abbr> students in costume and ready to train at East 15<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts at Windward CC<\/abbr> is dedicated to ensuring this elite training is widely available to local students.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re committed to leveling the playing field for anyone who has the tenacity to do this for a living,” said Professor Nicolas Logue. “No one should be excluded from the program because they can\u2019t afford it.”<\/p>\n

Every student who successfully auditions into Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s year-long Foundation in Acting<\/a> program receives a Dr.<\/abbr>. Dennis Carroll Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition. The new Premium Partner status further expands this financial support. Windward CC<\/abbr> students transferring to East 15 are guaranteed a dedicated scholarship of $5,000 per year of study.<\/p>\n

Building bridges<\/h2>\n

The partnership is the result of more than a decade of bridge-building by Logue and Resident Director Taurie Kinoshita, both of whom arrived at Windward CC<\/abbr> in 2012 directly from East 15. Pioneered by former Windward CC<\/abbr> student Brandon DiPaola, every Windward CC<\/abbr> student who has matriculated to East 15 has graduated with the UK<\/abbr> equivalent of summa cum laude (with highest honor).<\/p>\n

Chris Main, East 15 director of acting, said, “Through summer programmes, via the audition process for our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, to the numerous students who progressed from Windward CC<\/abbr> to East 15, we have consistently witnessed the talent and craft of Windward CC<\/abbr> students and graduates.”<\/p>\n

First in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"W
Windward CC<\/abbr> student getting in costume<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts is the first performing arts conservatory in the state. An articulation agreement signed in 2023 recognizes the Conservatory’s Foundation in Acting program as the academic equivalent of East 15\u2019s own Foundation year, allowing Windward CC<\/abbr> students to matriculate directly into the second year of East 15\u2019s three-year bachelor\u2019s degree programs.<\/p>\n

With similar philosophies, the dedication to supporting students\u2019 growth, and the recognition of the importance of story-telling, Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s partnership with East 15 is sure to grow.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in pursuing a career in acting, sign up for an audition<\/a> at the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scholarships for the East 15 Acting School available to qualified Windward CC<\/abbr> students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":229772,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[1682,736,572,71,66],"class_list":["post-229762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-hawaii-conservatory-of-performing-arts","tag-performing-arts","tag-scholarship","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t