BRIT Trust Diaries: Caryn Tomlinson on the 'life-changing' BRIT School
For this edition of the BRIT Trust Diaries, First Avenue Communications founder Caryn Tomlinson talks about her latest visit to the BRIT School as part of the MITS Award committee...
As a major fundraiser for The BRIT Trust, each year the committee members are invited along with the award’s recipient to tour the school and meet the students. By experiencing the breadth and depth of the BRIT Trust’s vital work up close, they see the real, life-changing impact of their generous efforts in making the MITS Award happen every year.
It’s not often we get to start the day with fireworks, but at the BRIT School no coffee is required; they’ve created a new industry standard for focused work. Finding yourself outside, watching alumni teaching the current cohort about how they use pyrotechnics in their live shows during their break from touring, is a perfect example of the unique creative environment and sense of community this school has created. It’s also a reminder of how each visit is wonderfully different, yet always sets off each year’s MITS Award with a bang!
I’ve had the privilege of being closely involved with philanthropic activities throughout my career, which started in artist management and moved through music publishing to SVP global artist relations at EMI Music, business co-ordinator for Mick Jagger, and SVP global communications at Universal Music.
It was in 2003 that David Munns OBE, then chairman of the MITS, asked me to join the committee. The camaraderie was infectious, and David’s persuasive cajoling and determined fundraising – while still delivering on his day job as vice-chairman of EMI Music – was a masterclass. I went on to use this learning for the vast amount of charitable activity we undertook at EMI and Universal Music.
I’ve therefore been lucky enough to visit the school numerous times, but last month’s impressive fireworks display marked the beginning of my first full tour in a while. Guided by principal Stuart Worden OBE, we slipped from studio to studio, taking in energetic dance rehearsals, interrupting a basketball thinking session, watching plays being rehearsed at lunchtime and rappers showcasing their rhyming skills in the halls – improvised dances included.
When we came across a band of students in a jamming session, they spontaneously performed a brilliant ’70s track for us. So much of the creativity we witnessed was ad-hoc, yet everything was of the highest standard.
Throughout the tour, students were keen to talk to us about their studies across so many disciplines, and the impact that the school’s ethos of ‘being yourself’ had on their work and creative confidence.
Their enthusiasm always revitalises our commitment to our charities, and reminds us that creatives are the soul of the industry
Caryn Tomlinson
Our annual tours include a Q&A session with our MITS recipient, which gives students an opportunity to gain invaluable insight and career advice they wouldn’t find anywhere else.
As we gathered to say goodbye at the end of day, we huddled with fellow long-term committee member Maggie Crowe OBE (of BRIT Awards’ and BPI fame) and our inspired MITS co-chairs Dan Chalmers (head of music, EMEA, YouTube) and Toby Leighton-Pope (MD, TEG Europe).
All visibly moved, we reminded ourselves that the students are why we are deeply committed to our work. I often say they’re the school’s superpower: their enthusiasm always revitalises our commitment to our charities, and reminds us that creatives are the soul of the industry.
It was wonderful too to see how the long-term funding of The BRIT School through the BRIT Trust, and the MITS Award as part of this, can make a real difference to student learning and development, helping to support them on their creative journeys. I always like to think of the music industry as their hidden champions.
This perspective gives us the focus required to create a sensational MITS Award event annually, despite the complexity of fundraising in the current climate. Every table purchased and each auction item donated helps us – the music industry – to keep this globally renowned and unique school free and accessible.
The BRIT School is an example of how the creative industries make space for everyone, and we should be proud of that. It’s why we always look forward to our visits, and leave there feeling refuelled and optimistic about the future!
For details about The Music Industry Trusts Award and this year’s event on November 3, click here. For table bookings/ticket information and general enquiries, please contact [email protected]