South Thames Stars Excel at World Skills UK

If you thought the X Factor had already claimed the UK’s rising stars, think again

On 22 April South Thames College hosted regional heats for the World Skills UK Popular Music Competition. World Skills UK are quality assured skills competitions aiming to encourage people across the UK to excel in their vocational profession.

This year the London heats attracted over 50 students from across the region. South Thames entered two bands called Livewire and The Mixture both earning a place in joint 2nd giving them a strong chance of reaching the finals in May.

South Thames has hosted the regional heat for the past three years, and college band Livewire has jointly won the national competition for the last two years. The students faced stiff competition from 7 bands across Greater London, but did exceptionally well to have both bands finish in second place, only beaten marginally by Lewisham College.  

The Mixture star Marie said “The World Skills competition is an opportunity for students to put in to practice what they have learnt in class. Let’s hope the hard work pays off and we get to the finals.”

Competition judge James Bateman, Head of Music at Birmingham Metropolitan College commended the World Skills competition saying “What a great opportunity for young musicians in the UK to compete in a spirited and fun environment”. Fellow judge Leon Jean Marie, an artist signed to prestigious record label Island, said “South Thames students won second place because they were well above average, consistent, and performed to a high standard”.

Livewire and The Mixture will have to wait for the results of the other regional heats to see if they have made the final, but with their track record, they are the ones to beat.

April 28, 2010