The Other Songs’ collaboration with The BRIT School on their recent The Other Songs Live event raised £400,000 to support the School’s work.
The Other Songs Live at the London Palladium on May 19 saw a host of songwriters and musicians take to the stage alongside current BRIT School students.
The line-up included: Nile Rodgers, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cathy Dennis, Justin Tranter, Zach Nahome, with BRIT alumni Selorm Adonu and Cush Jumbo OBE taking to the stage along with surprise performances from Rex Orange County and Sam Ryder.
As part of The Other Songs’ pledge to support arts education, the company – founded by brothers Alastair and Billy Webber – used the platform to champion The BRIT School, with funds jointly raised through ticket sales, sponsorship and donations going to The BRIT School’s work in training more than 1,400 young artists every year.
The BRIT School needs to raise £2,300 for every student every year (£3.4m in total) in addition to any government funding received.
Stuart Worden, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Josh Berger, Billy Webber
Alongside raising funds for The BRIT School, The Other Songs used this year’s event to raise awareness around concerns about arts education funding from multiple governments. MPs and government representatives attended the event.
For The BRIT School, the event showcased the diverse training on offer, from digital arts to costume and musical theatre to backstage production. Alumni in attendance included actor Archie Madekwe and radio broadcaster DJ Ace.
“I am so proud of what we achieved on this special night with The BRIT School,” said Alastair Webber, CEO of The Other Songs. “The positive impact will be felt for years but was never just about one night at The London Palladium, it was about kick-starting a national movement around free access to arts education. Every child in this country deserves the chance to discover their creative voice, regardless of their background. The Other Songs won’t stop until that is fact.”
Alastair and Billy Webber (credit Jordan Peck)
“The BRIT School is an adventurous playground where young artists can feel safe, be valued and be encouraged to make brave and innovative art,” said Stuart Worden, principal of The BRIT School. “The funds raised through this incredible event – a true collaboration between The Other Songs and The BRIT School – will help the next generation of artists train and go on to change the world with their beautiful creativity.”
This year’s The Other Songs Live was promoted in association with AEG Presents and sponsored by The Orchard, Universal Music Publishing Group, PRS For Music, Simons Muirhead Burton, Spotify and Sony Music.
MAIN PHOTO: Alastair Webber, Nile Rodgers, The BRIT School Students (photo credit: Niamh Grace)
