The Glasshouse

Thanks to hard work and self-belief, Amonik Melaco has become a regular on London’s West End stages, a dream he’s chased since seeing Wicked as a child. Now, he’s ready for a new challenge: creating his own music.

“When I was ten, I discovered that musical theatre could be a career,” he says. “I knew 100%, without a doubt, it was what I wanted to do.”

After singing for some time, Amonik’s opportunity to develop his voice at the Centre of Advanced Training here arrived. It was time to take a deep breath and step out of his comfort zone.

“I knew I had a voice, but I needed a better understanding of how to make music,” says Amonik.

“I wanted to feel confident in every area and learn to read sheet music.”

Sometimes, he struggled to hit the high notes and felt tense when singing to an audience.

“It’s great to have one-to-one singing, but singing in front of people is a different story, especially in an intimate setting.”

One of Amonik’s strengths was also his challenge: he was determined to do everything right. When performing, he found it hard to let go and present the song authentically.

Working one-to-one with an inspiring music leader on breathing and posture, he trained until he was ready to put his heart into every performance.

“I trained hard. Spending time rehearsing and singing in the right environment made me believe I could do it.”

Eventually, Amonik was ready for a BA Hons degree in Musical Theatre at Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey, where he learned about stage production and theatre directing.

“University training boosted my confidence. I met people who shared the same path,” he says. “Before that, I sometimes found it hard to connect with people who didn’t understand what I was doing.”

Amonik has since appeared in Self Esteem’s music video for Prioritise Pleasure and performed in musicals like Heathers and Oklahoma in London’s West End. This winter, he’ll perform in the London Palladium’s pantomime.

“Performing for an audience is magical and rewarding – there’s no other feeling like it.”

For Amonik, a passion like music is a superpower that connects him with others. Music has helped him bond with people in the industry and make close friends. He can’t imagine a world without it.

“It makes me feel every sort of emotion. I listen to sad music when I’m down, knowing others are going through the same things.”

Looking to the future, Amonik hopes to write and perform his own pop music. Having often played characters in musicals, he now wants to make music as his authentic self.

“I’ve come a long way from that first singing lesson, and now I have the confidence to explore other areas, like film acting,” he says. “I know I’ll always be a performer in one way or another.”