Brit School Stars Take Over Grammys, Proving Free Arts Education is Key to Success
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards saw a plethora of British artists taking home top honors, with many having once walked the halls of the prestigious Brit School in Croydon. Olivia Dean, Lola Young, FKA twigs, and Raye all attended the school, which has become Britain's most potent launchpad for global stardom.
Since its inception in the 1990s, the Brit School has nurtured some of the UK's most talented artists, including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, Tom Holland, Leona Lewis, and Loyle Carner. The school's focus on the performing and creative arts has proven to be a recipe for success, with its alumni boasting an impressive list of achievements.
According to Stuart Worden, a teacher at the Brit School since 1994 and its principal since 2012, this year's Grammys were "a brilliant celebration" of free arts education. He praised the three winners as role models, highlighting their dedication to writing about topics that matter to them. "They are not manufactured; they are themselves, and that's powerful," he said.
The Brit School aims to foster a sense of collaboration among its students, allowing them to find their own voice. Worden noted that there are no classes on how to be a megastar, but rather an emphasis on professional standards and values such as kindness. By creating a culture of openness and emotion, the school encourages possibilities for its students.
The three winners have already made significant impacts in the music industry, with Dean becoming the first British performer to win Best New Artist at the Grammys since Dua Lipa in 2019. Young's hit song Messy topped global charts, while Raye has won seven Brit awards and is a seven-time Grammy winner.
The school's diversity is another key factor in its success, with over 40% of students coming from global majority heritage, 50% from income-deprived backgrounds, and a third having a special educational needs diagnosis. Worden believes that giving access to arts education for these groups creates opportunities that might not otherwise exist.
As the Brit School continues to thrive, it serves as a model for free arts education in the UK. By providing students with a platform to express themselves and develop their craft, the school is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive music industry.
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards saw a plethora of British artists taking home top honors, with many having once walked the halls of the prestigious Brit School in Croydon. Olivia Dean, Lola Young, FKA twigs, and Raye all attended the school, which has become Britain's most potent launchpad for global stardom.
Since its inception in the 1990s, the Brit School has nurtured some of the UK's most talented artists, including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, Tom Holland, Leona Lewis, and Loyle Carner. The school's focus on the performing and creative arts has proven to be a recipe for success, with its alumni boasting an impressive list of achievements.
According to Stuart Worden, a teacher at the Brit School since 1994 and its principal since 2012, this year's Grammys were "a brilliant celebration" of free arts education. He praised the three winners as role models, highlighting their dedication to writing about topics that matter to them. "They are not manufactured; they are themselves, and that's powerful," he said.
The Brit School aims to foster a sense of collaboration among its students, allowing them to find their own voice. Worden noted that there are no classes on how to be a megastar, but rather an emphasis on professional standards and values such as kindness. By creating a culture of openness and emotion, the school encourages possibilities for its students.
The three winners have already made significant impacts in the music industry, with Dean becoming the first British performer to win Best New Artist at the Grammys since Dua Lipa in 2019. Young's hit song Messy topped global charts, while Raye has won seven Brit awards and is a seven-time Grammy winner.
The school's diversity is another key factor in its success, with over 40% of students coming from global majority heritage, 50% from income-deprived backgrounds, and a third having a special educational needs diagnosis. Worden believes that giving access to arts education for these groups creates opportunities that might not otherwise exist.
As the Brit School continues to thrive, it serves as a model for free arts education in the UK. By providing students with a platform to express themselves and develop their craft, the school is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive music industry.