The ATLA/ICMP Songwriting Contest, a competition between students of the ICMP here in London and our international partner, Ecole Atla in Paris, is now onto the second round.
Earlier in February, Programme Leader for our BA Songwriting degree Jonathan Whiskerd found himself in Paris, judging the songwriting efforts of some very talented ATLA students, and deciding on the five candidates that will make it to the next round.
This week, it was the ICMP students’ turn, with Atla’s John Meldrum visiting London to help select another five candidates for the final round.
Jonathan Whiskerd himself said the “session was very enjoyable and... a genuinely developmental and aspirational experience for [those] who took part.”
In the final round, both groups of students will get the chance to go to Paris and perform their songs onstage in front of an industry panel, with a winner being chosen from each institution. The prize they’re playing for is the chance to record and film their song at the FGO Centre in Paris with a full band, as well as music industry support from both the ICMP and Atla.
Last year, an ICMP student won an Atla competition and got the chance to visit Paris to see his song performed by an 11-piece band and choir.