Talented Music Students Receive Youth Achievement Awards
2009 sounded like it could be a great year for HCT's Music Technology department when John Bateman O.B.E Chief Executive for UK Youth contacted course tutor Rob Parrett. He asked if BTEC National Diploma Music Technology students would submit compositions for UK Youth’s centenary promotional video.
Tutor, Rob Parrett, who is also a Music Consultant for UK Youth, presented a selection of the students work to the organisation. In the final, two of the students were selected to receive a prestigious Achievement Award.
The Youth Achievement Awards are an activity-based approach to peer education. The Awards are designed to help develop more effective participative practice by encouraging young people to progressively take more responsibility in selecting, planning and leading activities that are based on their interests. The peer group model encourages the development of a wide range of life skills through a flexible and informal approach.
Award winning students Rikki Adje and Richard Clarke, composed two excellent pieces of music taking in to consideration a set time limit, minimum brief and basic film sequence. In context to the film subject ‘school bullying’ and the overall message depicted by the film, their music greatly enhanced the overall concept.
UK Youth exists to develop and promote innovative non-formal education programmes for and with young people - working with them to develop their potential. The network supports more than 750,000 young people, 7000 youth groups, clubs and projects and more than 40,000 volunteer and part-time youth workers throughout the UK. High profile ambassadors include HRH The Princess Royal (Patron), Nigel Mansell (President) and Guy Ritchie, who actively involves young people in the art of filmmaking.
John Bateman made a special trip to the College to personally present the awards to Rikki Adje and Richard Clarke plus gave help and advice to all the Music Technology students during the visit.
Tutor and Music Consultant for UK Youth Rob Parrett stated “I would like to thank all the students for the hard work they put in to the task and to UK Youth for giving the students the opportunity to be involved in such a prestigious nationwide project”.
