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Two Sheffield College student-run music and performing arts projects have been shortlisted for a regional award.

The Ofsted ‘good’ school is a finalist in the music and performing arts category of the 2023 Educate North Awards.

The awards celebrate excellence and good practice in Northern colleges, sixth grades and universities.

Angela Foulkes, CEO and Principal, The Sheffield College, saying:

“It’s great to see our music and performing arts students and staff achieve recognition at this year’s Educate North Awards.”

She added: “Through their creative projects, they ensure that everyone studying performing arts or music at university has the opportunity to benefit from relevant industry experiences to advance their careers.”

The college has been selected as a finalist for its pioneering music and performing arts projects that aim to equip students with industry knowledge and skills.

The performing arts and music industries are competitive to enter and a significant percentage of the workforce is self-employed.

In these two areas of the curriculum, students can gain work-related skills through The Sheffield College Theater and the college’s recently launched FiveBySeven record label. Both initiatives are based at the Hillsborough Campus on Livesey Street.

Performing arts students present plays and musicals throughout the year that are open to the public in the professional-level university theater.

All aspects of the performances are managed by the students, including marketing, set and prop design, sound and lighting, and budgeting.

A recent Dick Whittington pantomime show in December 2022 involved 124 students performing to over 1,000 people.

The theater is also a community asset with local elementary schools and Cub and Scout groups attending performances, introducing youth to the arts.

Student Dec Santiago, 18, studying Performing and Production Arts at Level 3saying:

“I think it’s fantastic that the College has been shortlisted for this award. It is well deserved.

December added: “I chose to study at the Hillsborough campus because it is one of the few places to offer a production arts course and has an industry standard black box theater with attached workshop.

“I have been involved in all of the Level 3 productions. I have built sets and props and learned about all the job roles needed to create theatre.

“I have focused more on the set design and construction work roles because that is what interests me the most, but my colleagues, who enjoy costumes, lights, sound, props or stage direction, have become focused more on that.

“The flexibility of the course allows you to try all the jobs if you wish. My career ambition is to become a stage builder working in the West End.”

FiveBySeven is the university’s new record label recently launched by music staff and students at the iconic Leadmill venue in October 2022.

As a student company, the multi-genre label gives students the opportunity to develop their music production and promotion skills. The students also participated in the creation of the brand.

Students have the opportunity to record, release, and distribute music in industry-standard facilities and are able to participate in live performances, plan, promote, and organize events, and work with producers during recording sessions.

University facilities include a professional recording studio and live performance suite with mixing facilities and stage-ready PA and lighting equipment, analog synthesizers, DJ equipment, drums, drum machines, guitars and pianos .

The winners of this year’s Educate North Awards will be announced at a ceremony at Manchester’s Midland Hotel on 27 April 2023.

Visit www.sheffcol.ac.uk. Follow @SheffCol #educatenorth #ENA2023

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