MAP institutions had the opportunity to nominate one graduate each for their outstanding contribution to music. This could have been in (but not limited to) any of the following areas: research, recording, performance, general musical life of the institution, wider musical life of the city / area, business success or their community work. The nominations were judged by UK Music’s Skills Programme Board and looked at their university career, their career following graduation and potential to make an impact in the future. This will be an annual award to identify and recognise some of the most dynamic and successful individuals to come through MAP institutions.
The award aims to celebrate the outstanding contribution of MAP graduates and also MAP institutions to music. A certificate of achievement recognising the individual’s nomination along with cash prizes and gig tickets will be won.
2016 is the inaugural year and the quality of the nominees this year bodes very well for the future of both the competition and the music industry.
The winner was announced on 1st September.
The following individuals were nominated for the Award in 2016.
1. Katie Tarrant – LIPA – WINNER
Katie is a 21-year-old composer who has recently graduated from Sir Paul McCartney’s prestigious Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. A lover of music from a young age, Katie is also a guitarist and bassist and has played in a wealth of bands throughout her music career.
As a composer, Katie scored the music for award-winning independent film Deep Breaths, alongside several other student media projects. She also composed music for her university graduation ceremony, attended by Sir Paul McCartney. She is currently working on several upcoming indie games whilst she is developing her portfolio.
With a rounded knowledge of music creation, production, performance and business, Katie endeavours to work as a freelance composer, however also exerts her musical creativity as a music tutor and game audio journalist.
LIPA said:
“Throughout her time at LIPA Katie was an outstanding student in all areas of the programme: Performance, Music Creation, Production, Professional Practice and also, her academic work was first class. An injury which left her unable to play guitar could have been an obstacle to Katie but she used it as a spur to engage more fully with composition. Katie is hard working and dedicated and has been succeeding in a number areas that female students do not offer engage with, including composition for media and games, production as well as excelling as a guitar player. She is enterprising and also generous with her time as evidenced by her voluntary work.”
The Judges said: “I really like that even as a teenager (pre-LIPA) she was working at Kerrang. And she’s cleverly moved into a less obvious but extremely interesting area (film and media composition) and that should be admired. She has strong potential.”
2. Rachel Coomber – ACM – SPECIAL MENTION
Rachel graduated from ACM with a BA (Hons) in Music Business Management in 2010. Even during her studies with ACM, she became the full time Assistant Artist Manager to Jamie Cullum and fellow ACM’er Newton Faulkner (work for which she received a Gold Disk award) at Air MTM before moving on to Quest as an Artist Manager and starting working with numerous acts including the Ruen Brothers who she helped sign to Universal Republic Records in July 2013, Sundara Karma who have now gone onto sign to Chess Club Records at Sony and also worked as co-manager to Marina & the Diamonds. Rachel joined the BBC as Live Events Co-ordinator in 2014, and then in 2015 got the prestigious job of Producer at BBC Introducing. She was awarded a Music Week 30 under 30 award earlier this year and has recently been promoted to Production Manager of BBC Introducing. You can read more about the superb work that Rachel is doing to ensure that the country’s BEST new music is heard at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/introducing/authors/577fdcef-e209-478d-86ae-d90e89902cf4
ACM said: “Rachel Coomber is a shining example of how ACM graduates are contributing to the ongoing development of the music industry with broad knowledge, a great grasp of technology and a native understanding of the habits and desires of the new consumer. We are incredibly proud of Rachel and of her peers; hundreds of whom are out there in decision making roles, helping to shape the music industry of today.”
The Judges said: “Rachel’s been awarded a Music Week 30 Under 30 award and will definitely continue to build an outstanding CV. She’s so involved in all areas of BBC Introducing, the network, events and her organisation and passion make her a great case study for the ACM’s music business delivery.”
3. Chelsea Rixson – BIMM Brighton
Chelsea moved to Brighton in October 2014 to study Music Business at BIMM Brighton, deciding to pursue a career in the music industry, after living in London for 6 years working in Hammersmith as a Project Manager. Chelsea has always had a passion for live music, attending gigs from the age of 14. With this passion for live music she has worked at numerous festivals including 2000 Trees and ArcTanGent as well as setting up her own company, RIXSONMUSIC which focuses on Artist Management and Concert Promotions.
BIMM said: “Chelsea has proven herself more than capable of working with a wide range of collaborators – from young and enthusiastic members of our huge local student community, to high level experienced professional practitioners across the region. Her considerable output spans many key sectors of the industry, including both digital music ventures and live gig promotions. Going forward we are sure that Chelsea is ideally placed to become one of our superstar alumni in the business world — someone who could mirror the achievements of renowned performance graduates from BIMM Brighton such as James Bay and Tom Odell.”
The Judges said: “Clearly working successfully in many areas and is one to watch. Her experience so far is in more than one area and looking at her site, she’s clearly passionate about industry trends so will stay ahead of the game!”
4. Rob Delmonte – University of Herts
After graduating with a 1st class honours in Music and Entertainment Industry Management at the University of Hertfordshire, Rob joined AudienceNet in early 2014. At AudienceNet, Rob administers the collection, investigation and analysis of music, entertainment and lifestyle consumer research data, from both domestic and global territories, in order to build a succinct understanding of consumer wants and needs, market conditions and current and future trends driving the creative industries. Aside from managing bespoke projects (for clients such as SoundCloud, Warner Music and will.i.am), Rob is at the forefront of AudienceNet’s Artist Management Project (AMP) and is the author of Audiomonitor, the first statistically and demographically representative measure of all audio, across all formats, genres and devices.
University of Herts said: “What distinguished him from his contemporaries and his predecessors was his intuitive grasp of the importance of understanding and interpreting data as part of the research culture we have always instilled in our students. After achieving the highest ever score in our Economics exam, I introduced him to our research partners Audiencenet, who offered him a 6-month internship during his final year at UH. It speaks volumes of the impression he made that at the end of his internship rather than lose this very talented young person they offered him a full time role with them. His career since has been inspiring for us as educators as it is a template for graduate success and he is currently the lead on music industry research at Audiencenet.”
The Judges said: “It’s excellent to have someone nominated working in data (a dynamic and growing part of the industry), and he’s clearly impressed enough to get a full time job, plus is heavily involved in groundbreaking studies.”
5. Lewis Nolan – Leeds Beckett University
Lewis has made an outstanding contribution to the music scene in Leeds and other parts of the UK, through his work in studio production and live sound as well as other areas like lighting and video production. He has worked with established artists such as Tom Williams, in the production of singles, EP’s and albums and has been involved in live events all around the country including arena tours and festivals. After graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a first class degree in Music Production, Lewis is currently working as an Audiovisual Technician in Liverpool.
Leeds Beckett said: “What has impressed most about Lewis is his flexibility and the professionalism he brings to every project. He is ambitious but sensible enough to know that to succeed in today’s music industry you need to have experience across the industry. That is why he has jumped on every opportunity the University has offered and excelled at every one. From working at festivals such as Leeds Festival and Live at Leeds, to working in the studio with professional artists such as Tom Williams, working on music our promotions company as well as video production. He has engaged with all of these extra-curricular activities, developed himself through a successful placement year and then produced a First Class Honours Degree. He has made a significant contribution to the music industry already and will go on to have a much bigger impact throughout his career and has done all of this with an unfaltering smile.”
The Judges said: “A strong candidate and both technically and academically gifted. He’s making an important contribution to the music scene in Leeds and throughout the UK across multiple media.”
6. Matthew Brombley – Southampton Solent University
Matt is a graduate of Popular Music Production at Southampton Solent University with First Class Honours. He teaches drums and percussion with Southampton Music Service where he is also leading Southampton Music Hub’s multimedia and technology provision. In 2016 he secured a £30,000 grant from Youth Music to fund the M-Tech Project, delivering music and mobile technology projects with disadvantaged young people in Southampton and the Isle of Wight. As a songwriter, drummer, producer, djay and musician he has performed alongside Jessie J, Foxes, Ellie Goulding and The 1975. His recent projects include working with Pyra (Emma Panas, ex. Paper Crows) as well as the collaborative project, The Long Summers.
Links:
www.mattbrombley.com
Southampton Solent said: “Through Matt’s BA course at Solent, he worked with Southampton Music Hub in addition to his studies and helped Southampton Music Hub secure a £30,000 grant from Youth Music to launch his innovative project entitled ‘M-Tech’. The project will give disadvantaged young people in Southampton and on the Isle of Wight the opportunity to create music and express themselves using technology.
Matt has great enthusiasm and experience using technology to make learning accessible and engaging. He has been passionate in leading the project, applying for funding, and driving forward with delivering on Southampton Music Hub’s commitment to making musical opportunities available to all our city’s young people regardless of their background.”
The Judges said: “Amazing to see someone fresh from Uni setting up a business, receiving a grant and running an innovative project which benefits young musicians.”