MUSIC POTENTIAL RETURNS WITH AMBASSADORS [@MUSICPOTENTIAL]

 MUSIC POTENTIAL RETURNS WITH AMBASSADORS

TIM WESTWOOD AND RALEIGH RITCHIE

Capital Xtra’s Music Potential is back for 2015 with ambassadors Tim Westwood, Jez Welham, Abrantee and Raleigh Ritchie playing an important role.

Now in its fourth year, the pioneering and hugely successful youth music programme, Music Potential, supported by Barclays, helps 16-25 year olds who are not in employment or education to develop the necessary skills and experience to build a career in the music industry.

Through a series of workshops, one-to-one mentoring sessions and work placements, the programme gives young people hands-on experience and training to improve their chances of getting a job. To date, more than 1,700 young people have taken part in the programme.

Music Potential Taster workshops took place throughout July with 300 young people from London and Birmingham taking modules in areas such as music production, radio production, songwriting and performance.  Out of these 300 participants, more than 100 have been invited back to take part in the Music Potential Xperience, an accredited course offering further training in their chosen discipline.

The final stage of the programme, Match My Potential, will see 50 young people paired with music industry mentors, including British singer and Game of Thrones actor Raleigh Ritchie, and Capital Xtra presenters Tim Westwood, Jez Welham and Abrantee.  Fifteen young people will then be selected for work placements in the music industry.  The placements have previously included working on Barclaycard Presents British Summertime at Hyde Park.

Tim Westwood, Capital Xtra presenter and Music Potential ambassador, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with the youngsters who are taking part in Music Potential this year.  This programme gives young people who need a helping hand the chance to get into the music industry.”

Capital Xtra presenters will host a showcase on Wednesday 16 September, at KOKO Camden, with performances from ambassadors, Music Potential participants and special guests. Last year’s showcase saw performances from Sigma, Fuse ODG and Joel Compass.

For more information, visit: www.musicpotential.co.uk or tune into Capital Xtra.