The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) and Metropolis Studios announced the inauguration of a Freddie Mercury Scholarship, endorsed by QUEEN's Roger Taylor and Brian May. The award comes in the year which will see the celebration of the singer's 70th birthday, on September 5.
The
first-ever scholarship in the iconic artist's name will be awarded to
one student studying on the 2 Year Creative Artist route of the BA
(Hons) Music Industry Practice program, the 3 Year BA (Hons) Commercial
Songwriting program or the 3 Year BA (Hons) Professional Music
Performance degree program at ACM, as delivered from the academy's London campuses. The ACM@Metropolis academy is based at the legendary Metropolis Studios in Chiswick and ACM London
(a brand new campus for September 2016) is based in Clapham. The
prestigious scholarship will fully fund a student's entire study path
and is worth up to £27,000.
The degree program includes songwriting, performance, production and business modules and is delivered in accordance with ACM's
"learning by doing" ethos. This is an entirely practical and vocational
approach whereby students develop the skills and knowledge they will
need for a sustainable career in the music industry through applied,
relevant experience with the real-world practical industry connections
necessary to find and refine their own direction in contemporary music.
The relationship between ACM and Metropolis Studios (one of Freddie's favorite recording studios and where QUEEN recorded much of their "Innuendo" album, their last in Freddie's lifetime) gives unprecedented access to ACM
students. They study parts of their courses at the studio complex,
integrating them into the facility's in-house label, publishing and
productions teams, and enabling them to make use of the world-class
facilities, giving them genuine, real time experience of the music
industry as it exists today.
QUEEN band member Roger Taylor, who is also a patron of ACM and has a drum studio named after him at the academy's Guildford campus, said, "Freddie's name endures in so many ways so it's therefore great to have this scholarship celebrating his musical genius!"
Guitarist Brian May said: "This scholarship will be a lasting tribute to Freddie and the path he blazed. He would be happy to see young talent being helped to blossom. Of course Metropolis holds a very special place in QUEEN history, and it's a pleasure to continue that link."
Bruce Dickinson, director at ACM, said: "The Freddie Mercury Scholarship
offers a fantastic opportunity for one talented student. We always seek
out musicians with the most potential and commitment to study,
regardless of background and qualifications, and this award will allow
us to fully support one student's journey into the music industry. With
original music at the core and the combination of songwriting,
performance, production and business on the course, it is very fitting
that this scholarship is being awarded in Freddie's name. As one
of the greatest examples of original talent across writing, performing
and creating a brand out of both, he is such an inspiration to our
students."
Metropolis Studios CEO Ian Brenchley is
looking forward to welcoming the successful scholar to the studio, the
world's largest independent recording facility, where over 50% of the
U.K.'s Top 40 is serviced. "We are hugely excited to be entering into
this partnership and to be able to offer the scholarship to one lucky
student," he said. "Freddie's spirit is alive and well at
Metropolis, where he wrote and recorded so much of his material and his
legacy lives on every time his Fazioli grand piano is played in our flagship studio. Aside from our work with chart-topping artists like Adele, Amy Winehouse and Sam Smith, a lot of what we do is supporting emerging talent, whether through us delivering workshops and master classes to the ACM
students who study at the studio, attend our events and take advantage
of internship placement opportunities, or the external emerging talent
discovered by our A&R teams for development deals on our in-house
label, signing them to our publishing company and providing them with a
platform at our regular industry showcase nights. So to be able to offer
even greater access via the scholarship, will allow us to honour
Freddie's legacy in the most appropriate way possible — supporting the
next generation of talent."
Applications for the ACM's
study programs beginning September 2016 are now open. All applicants to
the 2 Year Creative Artist route of the BA (Hons) Music Industry
Practice program, the 3 Year BA (Hons) Commercial Songwriting program
and the 3 Year BA (Hons) Professional Music Performance degree program
will be considered for the Freddie Mercury Scholarship.
