The Abbey Road Institute at the famous recording studios in North London has launched a scholarship programme to fund two black British students on their Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering course.
The scholarships include full funding for the course, worth over £15,000, plus a contribution towards living expenses based on need. The course covers all aspects of music production from programming and mixing to engineering a full symphony orchestra. There is also a strong emphasis on working with musicians and many of the students are musicians themselves.
Polydor Records singer-songwriter Raye will be part of the selection committee for the two winning applicants. She will also provide on-going mentorship throughout the students’ time at the studios.
At the announcement of the scholarships, Raye commented, ‘I’m so proud to be part of this brilliant initiative to encourage more black students down the path of music production and audio engineering. Black producers and engineers are under-represented in the professional recording environment and we need to address that. During my time at The BRIT School, I learned how important music education is and it’s been instrumental in helping me get further in life.’
Since the world’s first purpose-built recording studio opened almost 90 years ago, Abbey Road Studios has been a centre for learning excellence. Many of the world’s greatest engineers, technicians and producers began as apprentices there.
But the institute is a more recent development, borne out of a partnership between the studios and the Universal Music Group. The 48-week course is currently taught at the studios and at six other campuses around the world. For London students, the institute has its own teaching spaces and studios but students also have the opportunity to work with the professionals in the main studios.
Isabel Garvey, Managing Director, Abbey Road Studios, announced the scholarships. She said, ‘I’m thrilled that this programme will create new opportunities for aspiring young engineers by giving them not just the educational foundation, but also the benefit of practical experience working with the best artists, composers and engineers in the industry. Abbey Road has always been about training the best studio talent, so it’s brilliant that the scholarship will help diversify the next generation of engineering professionals from the ground up.’
Applications
Applicants need to apply to both the Diploma and Scholarship programme by 19 February 2021 and those who meet the criteria for both the course and the scholarship will be shortlisted and interviewed.
The contribution towards living costs will be assessed by need to ensure that students have the required assistance if they are relocating from another part of the UK.
Visit the Abbey Road Institute website to find out more.
