"Music is a subject you study because you love it – which might not go for every subject. It’s an area where you can really unleash your creative streak and it allows you to work in a really cool industry."
A BTEC National Diploma in Music Practice at Lewisham Southwark College put Stephen MacLellan on the path to university and a successful career in an industry he loves.
After college, Stephen gained a place at the University of Liverpool on a ‘popular music studies’ degree course which was a mixture of performance and more academic subjects like musicology and performance technology. Now employed as Business Development Executive for Yamaha Music London, a leading supplier of musical equipment, Stephen’s daily work involves building relationships with colleges like ours as well as businesses.
Looking back to his time at the college, Stephen says, “Having done a year of sixth form studying three subjects I wasn’t interested in, coming here and studying music was a really good opportunity for me. It was two years when I could learn something I loved. I started to see life afterwards and realised there was a bigger picture. The course really served its purpose well.
“Music is a subject you study because you love it – which might not go for every subject. It’s an area where you can really unleash your creative streak and it allows you to work in a really cool industry."
Stephen is now keen to share his experiences with students aiming for a career in the music industry, and recently ran a workshop for music learners at Lewisham Southwark College.
“I guess I’ve got a reasonable amount of experience in terms of education and the world of work which might be valuable to current students. There are a lot of life skills you learn by your mid-20s which you don’t have when you’re younger – for example I don’t really go out on week nights now because I’ve got to be sharp for work. These are things you learn along the way.”
