College Musicians collaborate with CCCU undergraduates

Musicians from EKC Canterbury College and Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) have recently completed an exciting two-week collaboration, combining their talents in performance and production.  

The project brought together second-year students from the College’s Music Performance and Music Production courses, as well as second-year undergraduates from CCCU’s Music degree programmes. Over the course of the fortnight, the project involved multiple sessions, including rehearsals at both institutions and culminated in a performance at CCCU’s theatre. Students worked together in mixed groups, composing and rehearsing material under the guidance of College and university staff.  

Lucy Fulford, who studies Level 3 Music at the College was one of the students who has benefited in a range of ways. During a stage rehearsal at CCCU, Lucy shared her excitement about being part of the project, saying: “It’s been an amazing experience performing in their theatre and getting to know the environment.” 

“It’s given me confidence, personal growth, and skills I never thought I’d gain before. This is going to prepare me for what’s to come when I go to university, and it has given me the experience of performing in a local theatre outside of the College.” 

The collaboration began with joint planning by Aaron Davies, Programme Director of Music at EKC Canterbury College, and James Dean, Suite Lead for Music at CCCU. The goal was to create a meaningful project that offered College students insight into university-level work while also providing university students the chance to take leadership roles. 

Aaron Davies, reflecting on the project’s focus on student progression, said: “About 70% of our current students choose to go to university, so this project offered them a real taste of what’s ahead.  

“The reason we’ve done this now before Christmas is so that they get a really good insight into what it’s like to work at a university before the UCAS deadline in January of next year.”  

“I’ve been really impressed by the students’ growth over the two weeks, and they’ve formed positive relationships, gained confidence, and showcased their abilities.” 

James shared similar views on the project, saying: “It’s been great to see students engage enthusiastically and bring their creative ideas to life. I think it’s given College students a valuable glimpse into university life and helped our degree students develop leadership skills.” 

Some of the students at CCCU who worked with the College students were former EKC Canterbury College alumni, giving them a chance to mentor the next generation and give them feedback and insights from their College days.  

Freya Rogers, who studied Level 3 Music before progressing to CCCU in Commercial Music, found the experience both nostalgic and inspiring. She said: “It was really nice to go back to College and inspire a new generation of students.” 

“Seeing them grow and knowing I was in their shoes not long ago was incredible. This project reminded me of how much I’ve learned and how much potential these students have.” 

To round off the project, a concert took place at CCCU’s theatre on Wednesday 11 December, where friends, family, and staff members gathered to celebrate the students’ hard work.  

The concert was a chance to showcase the hard work and creativity of the students involved. The performance featured a mix of Christmas classics and contemporary tracks. Among the standout songs included ‘Complicated’ by Avril Lavinge, and ‘Smooth Operator’ by Sade, with Lucy and Freya on vocals, joined by Level 3 College students Ruby, Liz and Olivia. Caleb and Finn, who also study at the College supported performances with their guitar skills.  

For Ruby, the concert was a way for her to reflect on the skills she developed during the collaboration. “I’ve personally gained leadership skills, such as taking charge in a band. I’ve also developed greater confidence and become more adaptable, learning to adjust to my surroundings. I’ve become more resilient when making mistakes and I’m better at dealing with them professionally.” 

This initiative has offered invaluable experiences for everyone involved, and both Aaron and James expressed hopes to continue the collaboration in the years to come. They hope to make this an annual project, building on its success to inspire the next generation of musical talent. 

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in music or collaborating on projects like this, applications for EKC Canterbury College’s Music courses are now open.