Tony Wadsworth and Seymour Stein to take part in Q&A at the first ‘BIMM Student Sessions at The Great Escape

02 May 2014 - Press release

The Great Escape and BIMM Group are delighted to announce a brand new partnership for 2014, to present ‘The BIMM Student Sessions at The Great Escape’ on Friday 9^th May, 3-6pm at the Paganini Ballroom (Old Ship Hotel)

This exciting new addition to The Great Escape convention programme will feature student led panels with industry guests and talks from the BPI and the Association of Independent Music (AIM), as well as Tony Wadsworth, Chairman of the BPI, in conversation with the legendary Seymour Stein. 

The BIMM Student Sessions will be a friendly and informal exchange of knowledge, with students in dialogue with industry guests. Focusing on the key skills required to forge a successful career in today’s music and creative industries, it aims to inform and inspire the industry executives, festival promoters and digital entrepreneurs of the future

Vaseema Hamilton, Principal of BIMM Brighton, Manchester and Bristol said “We look forward to welcoming not only students and alumni from BIMM but also students from other colleges and schools across the South East. We all share a common goal - to promote opportunities in music, encourage entrepreneurship and to motivate young people to think big and believe that everything is possible!”

An industry panel featuring Glenn Cooper (Director of Digital, Island Records) Goc O’Callaghan  (Director of ArcTangent Festival) Mike Ajayi (A&R Manager, Infectious Music)  Simon Drake, (Naim Label / BPI Young Exec Board) and Andrea de Leon (RockCorps /The Young Guns Network) will take questions directly from the audience, whilst students from across the UK will be able to tweet questions in advance to the group, by tagging #TGE14.

BIMM are delighted that this panel will be hosted by Andy Ellis, PRS for Music’s Education and Outreach Manager. PRS have been long time industry partners of the BIMM Group, providing scholarships, internships and graduate employment opportunities.

Also taking place at the BIMM Student Sessions is The Big Music Project, which will be presented by Lynne McDowell, Head of Public Relations at BPI.Claire McNeil, Education & Training Co-ordinator at The Association of Independent Music (AIM) will also appear, giving a talk on AIM’s Start Up Schemefor entrepreneurs. Both will be networking and making connections with guests throughout the sessions.

The BIMM Student Sessions will be followed by Networking Drinks at The Heineken® Green Room at the brand new TGE Festival Hub at Old Steine Gardens, with BIMM students and alumni performing throughout the evening. TGE delegates are warmly invited to both the Student Sessions and Networking Drinks.

The BIMM Student Sessions are part of The Great Escape's expanded education programme for the grass roots music community and future music industry talent. It precedes TGE:DIY, a day of talks and panels for young music people on Saturday 10 May. Standalone tickets are available for TGE:DIY, which is also open to Great Escape delegates. More info at http://greatescapefestival.com/tgediy/

Delegate passes, in limited quantity, are still available to purchase from www.greatescapefestival.com

For guest list and more information on the BIMM event please contact:

Mel Thornton, Head of Music Industry and Careers. BIMM Brighton.

melthornton@bimm.co.uk. 08442 646666.