Introducing our recent Diploma Successes
Thanks to a faculty of expert lecturers and valuable music industry connections, BIMM is renowned for producing top tier music producers, high calibre original artists and the next generation of music business professionals.
Many of our esteemed alumni members began their journey to success by studying a Diploma course at one of our eight campuses. Here’s a shortlist featuring some of our more recent Diploma success stories.
Marius Bear
Having studied a Diploma in Music Production at BIMM London, Swiss singer-songwriter Marius Bear has since notched up some incredible achievements, such as releasing his brilliant ‘Sanity’ EP and walking away with SRF3’s “Best Talent” award at the Swiss Music Awards, 2019.
Website // Facebook // Instagram
Ben Aspey
Since completing a Diploma in Live Sound, Ben has started working as Head Engineer at Retro (formerly-Hive) in Manchester; a venue that’s welcomed the likes of Bang Bang Romeo and Hands Off Gretel and hosts regular showcase events and club nights.
“I really enjoyed my time at BIMM.”, says Ben. “The facilities were good and the teaching was fantastic, providing me with more than enough knowledge to go out into the industry with confidence. The course provided me with industry links that helped my career progress far quicker. I’m confident that without my course, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
KStewart
KStewart (AKA Kate Stewart) is a Diploma in Popular Music Performance graduate from BIMM London. Since completing her course, she has been a featured vocalist on tracks by Yungen, Oliver Heldens, Bondax and Sean Paul, as well as releasing her own original material. She’s definitely an artist to keep an ear out for within the mainstream charts.
Spotify // Facebook // Instagram
Pete Caulfield
Pete Caulfield has been living the touring life since completing a Diploma in Live Sound at BIMM Manchester. Most recently, he formed part of the tour crew with singer-songwriter and Kerrang Award-winner Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls as part of their UK tour.
“The live sound and tour management course provided me with a wide range of knowledge, preparing me for work experience or continue in education. The lecturers such as Emlyn have real life experience which helped. Even small conversations unrelated to the course helped me in getting that step up into the industry.”
IORA
For her latest single ‘Human Touch’, performance Diploma graduate and electronic folk artist IORA collaborated with BAFTA nominated actress Maxine Peake and the homeless charity Lifeshare. Proceeds from single sales are being donated to the charity in order to help the homeless on the streets of her native Manchester.
In late 2018, IORA was also one of a handful of artists to receive the Emerging Artists Fund from music charities the PRS Foundation and PledgeMusic.
Soundcloud // Twitter // Instagram
Tobias Bodman
Live Sound Diploma graduate Tobias Bodman took a six-week work placement with TruCru – a PA and lighting company – to perform sound tech duties during the Eden Project’s Winter Show in 2018. He impressed the team so much that he’s since been taken on by the company full time.
“BIMM is great.”, says Tobias. “Every day I find myself drawing on knowledge and experience I acquired at the college. I enjoyed learning from lecturers with years of practical experience in the industry. They also encouraged me to push myself into local opportunities throughout the course.”
Julia Bardo
Italian-born retro indie artist Julia Bardo has been making waves in all the right places with her debut single release, ‘Desire’. With support from the likes of Line Of Best Fit, and performances at new music festivals Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape 2019, the Artist Development Diploma in Songwriting graduate is creating quite the industry buzz – all whilst playing guitar for fellow BIMM Manchester band, Working Men’s Club.
Working Men’s Club
BIMM Manchester graduates Working Men’s Club have been drumming up a lot of industry interest since meeting on the Artist Development Diploma in Songwriting in late 2017. The post-punk new-wave trio released their debut single via Melodic Records, which was play-listed on BBC 6 Music, the Amazing Chart Show and Apple Music. Having signed to the Coda (one of the largest booking agencies in Europe), the band have already supported the Brian Jonestown Massacre and were recently confirmed to support Domino signees ‘Fat White Family’ on their UK tour.
Zach Ellam
I started at BIMM as a complete novice in the Live Sound field but with a big passion for Live Music. Having a tutor like Emlyn Spiers to break down the basics and then expand on them really helped me to understand the subject. I now work for a production company as a technician. Having also been introduced to managing tours and events by Mal Campbell, I have a good understanding of how an event takes shape and that has also helped me in my new career.”
Our Diploma course options cover almost every area of the music industry, from live performance (vocals, guitar, bass, drums and songwriting) to Music Production, Live Sound and Tour Management.
With the recent option to study Music Production and Live Sound as a 1 year, fast track course at our Manchester and Brighton campuses, Diploma students now have even more flexibility in choosing their own route into the music industry.
Interested in coming to study on one of our Diploma courses? Why not Apply Now? Alternatively, come along to one of our Diploma Open Days/Evenings and see our world class facilities for yourself.
