The BBC has launched Open Music, a new training scheme for creatives and musicians of all genres, styles and backgrounds from across the UK. It is part of the BBC’s continued investment in creative diversity and builds on its commitment to ensuring that the creative teams making BBC content reflect all audiences it serves.
Successful applicants will participate in a tailor-made programme, designed to develop new collaborations, exciting ideas and reflect today’s audiences for live orchestral music.
Open Music will offer paid training and development opportunities to participants across four areas: making music, presenting, radio & event production, and sound recording & engineering. Participants will be provided with training sessions, hands-on experience, masterclasses and mentoring to develop their skills and ideas.
The scheme gives candidates the opportunity to work with the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Proms in building, shaping, delivering (and possibly performing in) a concert at the world’s greatest classical music festival, the BBC Proms, in 2022.
Applicants do not need to have any qualifications or experience of working with orchestras or orchestral music but must have a desire to learn and collaborate, with an interest in the creative industries. The scheme is open to all and the BBC is particularly interested to hear from those from Black, Asian or ethnically diverse communities.
Each participant will receive bespoke opportunities to cater towards their area of interest, as well as a minimum 12 paid days spread across 12 months (plus travel expenses for those outside of London). They will also be given a mentor from across the four areas, who is already working with the BBC, with access to the unique skillsets across BBC Radio and Music.
Alan Davey, Controller BBC Radio 3, says:
“Open Music is an important way to engage people of all classes and backgrounds and to help them to develop their talents. It’s not just a good thing to do, it is a real investment in the future of music and radio. At BBC Radio 3, the Orchestras and Choirs and the BBC Proms, we want to broaden and deepen the music we play, the people who play it, the audiences we play it for and the creative culture that underpins all of our work. Creativity – from people with different backgrounds, who bring different ideas through such initiatives – can help us with this. The end result will be even better content for our audiences.”
Trevor Nelson, Open Music ambassador says:
“Open music sounds like a great initiative for aspiring radio talent. It's an opportunity that the younger me would've jumped at. The chance to get mentored or crucial tips at an early stage in your radio career is priceless.”
Jaguar Bingham, Open Music ambassador says:
“Open Music is a fantastic scheme that I hope inspires people to follow their dreams! I started out at BBC Radio 1 as an intern, and 6 years later I started presenting my very own show. If you have big dreams and ambitions then I'd recommend you go for it. I can't wait to see who gets involved and the careers it launches.”
Mary Anne Hobbs, Open Music ambassador says:
“It’s always exciting to imagine a BBC Prom in a different way. It’s what I did with Nils Frahm and A Winged Victory For The Sullen in 2015. This time, we'll be collaborating with a diverse group of participants who will bring their own creative agenda, and form part of the whole eco-system of performers, technicians and broadcasters that come together to deliver a Prom.”
Nitin Sawhney, Open Music ambassador says:
“I’m very excited to be involved in a programme that will bring more diversity and inclusion to radio and music, hopefully creating an unforgettable experience for all involved. I still recall my own Prom at the Royal Albert Hall back in August 2007, when I was proud to bring a huge range of performers to the stage, including artists as influential and gifted as Anoushka Shankar and Imogen Heap. I am pleased to see the Proms continuing to embrace an open and outward-looking view with this refreshing new scheme. The Proms at its best is life affirming and fires up creative imagination like no other musical series.”
Applications open from Tuesday 8 June on the BBC Careers website, and the deadline is 8 July.
