Station to provide work opportunities for students .
Free Radio has announced an exclusive partnership with Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) in the lead up to its biggest music event of the year, Free Radio Live 2013.
The top creative, digital and performing arts academy, which is the only free-to-attend specialist institution of its kind outside of London, will assist with several aspects of the concert, which takes place at Birmingham’s LG Arena to an anticipated audience of 15,000 on Saturday 30th November.
The partnership, which was announced at a launch event hosted at the academy and presented by Free Radio DJs and former Pop Idol contestants Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes, will see students working alongside the backstage crew, assisting with marketing, event management and social media, and even performing.
Gaynor Cheshire, principal at Digbeth-based BOA, commented: “At BOA, we pride ourselves on providing industry standard equipment and facilities but in order for our students to really succeed they need to gain experience in a real work setting.
“Not only will those studying performing arts, music and dance have the chance to showcase their talents, our production and broadcast students will also be working alongside the backstage crew to make sure everything runs smoothly and that every moment of their journey is captured on film.”
Students interested in performing or working behind the scenes at Free Radio Live will go through an audition process with judges including Gaynor Cheshire and bosses at Free Radio.
Phil Riley, CEO at Free Radio, said: “Over the last four years Free Radio Live has seen some of the UK’s top artists come and perform in Birmingham. This year we wanted to give something back to the region and this partnership creates a unique opportunity for talented young people round here to get their first taste of taking part in a high profile music event.
“BOA already has a great reputation for producing students with the knowledge and desire to succeed in their chosen fields, this opportunity to get involved with an event such as Free Radio Live can only be beneficial to the students who are looking to forge a career in these industries, and the reaction at the launch event suggests the students can’t wait to get involved.”
Free Radio Live 2013 will be taking place at Birmingham’s LG Arena on Saturday 30th November. For more information please visit www.freeradio.co.uk/live2013 , or for more information about the academy please visit www.boa-academy.co.uk/.
