No fewer than nine Amersham & Wycombe College students have been selected as finalists for this year’s prestigious Royal Opera House Design Challenge - from a total entry of 450 students nationwide.

Graphic Design, Fashion and Costume, Foundation Diploma and Media Make-up students were all recognised for their efforts, making it a particularly strong entry for the college.

Matt Woodward from the ROHDC said: "I can honestly say that this year’s competition has set the standard even higher across all categories and has made shortlisting for the final judging even more difficult."

The Challenge is set each year for member colleges of the National Skills Academy Creative & Cultural. Membership provides access to a range of unique student opportunities and initiatives in Creative Industries.

Beth Ring, deputy head of creative industries, said: "Every year the competition gets tougher and tougher and this year was no exception.

"Our students have yet again shown their commitment to raising the standard of work with their continued professionalism and creativity. It is amazing how well these exciting young designers have done to achieve fantastic success."

Shortlisted Level 3 Theatrical Special Effects student Laura Barton, 20 from Loudwater said; "My designs were based on the theme ‘Superpowers’. The final design for my Madama Butterfly character was based on the ‘temperature’ which is controlled by the character’s emotions; ice for calming and relaxation. I used airbrush make up and hand made the eyelashes from latex with powder and created the hairstyle which I also airbrushed white."

The Final Judging will involve leading figures from each Royal Opera House department who will select the winner of each category. The announcement of the overall winner of each category and the winner of the Director’s Choice Award will take place during the interval of the Schools’ Matinee performance of Madama Butterfly on March 27.

All shortlisted entries will be presented in an exhibition on March 27 and all winning entries will be used in a Design Challenge exhibition at the Royal Opera House running from summer to Easter 2016.

The College finalists are: Lydon Fleisig – Costume, Ariane Young – Hair, Wigs & Make-Up, Jodie Waugh – Hair, Wigs & Make-Up, Laura Barton – Hair, Wigs & Make-Up, Aaron Horne – Graphic Design, Alex Webb – Graphic Design, Megan Newton – Graphic Design, Robbie Gray -Graphic Design, Lucy Forgham – Foundation Diploma in Art & Design.