BIMM Berlin: Fritz Scholarship Winner Announced
2015 has been the inaugural year for the Fritz Scholarship competition at BIMM Berlin. In association with our friends at Fritz Radio, the competition is open to all songwriters who are German citizens and who wish to apply for a BA (Hons) Songwriting degree.
To take part, musicians had to submit an original song of their own for consideration. A shortlist of five songs was then selected, with the final winner chosen by a panel of judges consisting of Lisa Wadham, our Events and Guests Liaison Officer at BIMM Berlin (and also a former BIMM Brighton student), and two of our newly-announced Songwriting lecturers , Shon Abram and Toni Kater.
The 2015 finalists displayed a terrific range of styles and skill. On Sunday 26th July, the musicians were interviewed live on Fritz Radio and each of their songs was broadcast by DJ Christoph Shragg before the judges made their difficult decision.
The 2015 Fritz Scholarship Award went to… Celine Newkirk who wins a scholarship for the BA (Hons) Songwriting degree at BIMM Berlin.
Shon Abram described Celine’s winning composition as ‘easy on the ears and ready to be used in multiple styles, from folk to hip hop’, while Toni Kater called it ‘a very catchy song that works with just guitar and voice, while the subject of the lyrics is unusual too.’
Celine was thrilled to have been chosen:
“I am very happy and thankful to have gotten this chance and couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome! I have been performing my own songs regularly since I was 14. My parents are both professional musicians so they play a big part in me being able to grow as an artist. I think being around people who have the same passion as me and having lecturers to help and support me will be an amazing experience and I am very excited to start the course.”
Anthony Giles (BIMM Berlin’s Head of Promotional Events and Admissions) was in admiration of the high competition standard:
“With music ranging from folk, acoustic, RnB, synth and pop, the five tracks were all of an excellent standard, submitted by applicants who have all auditioned for the course and met BIMM’s entry criteria. The winning track ‘Bones’ by Celine Newkirk was an acoustic song mixing a range of styles, excellent melodies and great hooks.”
Fritz Radio shares with BIMM a love of new music, and the Fritz Unsigned radio show broadcasts unsigned talent every week, keeping its finger on the pulse and helping new talent to gain exposure.
Interested in studying our BA (Hons) Songwriting degree? Find out more
