Session Drummer is Student of the Year

RNCM drummer Joe Luckin has been chosen as the RNCM Popular Music Performance Degree Student of the Year at the 2013 British Music Students Awards.

Hosted by Access to Music and presented by BBC Radio 1’s Edith Bowman, the Awards, which took place at Birmingham’s o2 Academy on 3 July, celebrate the achievements of music students from across the UK.

Over 30 awards were presented throughout the evening to students from all Access to Music centres and their partner colleges.

Talking of his win, 20-year-old Joe said: ‘I've progressed massively in my two years at the RNCM in both my playing ability and general musicianship. This is due to the excellent one-to-one tuition I receive and also the opportunity to perform regularly with students from across the College. The skills I’ve acquired from the RNCM have also allowed me to become a regular gigging and touring musician.’

Course Director Andy Stott, who presented Joe with his award on the night, added: ‘Joe has been a consistently excellent student and performer. His work across the programme is always of a high standard and he has developed into a first-class drummer with a model professional approach to his playing.’

The event also provided a great opportunity for the RNCM Session Orchestra to showcase its talent, performing live for each award that was presented, in addition to supporting original artists in performances of their prize-winning songs.

Following its formation in 2011, the Session Orchestra has gone from strength to strength and is enjoying a great summer so far. On 10 June, to celebrate the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, it provided musical entertainment for the World Fellowship Coronation Ball, held at the Royal Courts of Justice, London. And on 6 July it returned to Birmingham for the Music For Youth National Festival; an annual event featuring over 12,000 young musicians. On this occasion, the Orchestra held an open rehearsal at the Town Hall where over 100 musicians had the opportunity to join the players on stage to perform a repertoire by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Jamiroquai and Elbow. This was followed by a studio session with two songwriters from MFY’s Artist Development Scheme.  

21 July 2013