Article by Alexandra McLoughlin

Georgia Train is an accomplished singer and songwriter who has used her proactive approach to self-start her career in the music world. Now she has been awarded the runner-up prize for the Foundation Degree Learner of the Year Award (sponsored by Sussex Learning Network).

Georgia is currently on her second year studying a Foundation Degree in Music at the Brighton Institution of Modern Music. She is hoping to continue her studies at the college by doing an extra one year which will give her a full degree.

She is also in her own band called ‘Bitter Ruin’. They have recently been described as ‘Amazing noir indie-folk’ by Latest7, Brighton’s weekly lifestyle magazine. Her band are a theatrical acoustic duo from two different ends of the country. You can find out more about it by visiting their myspace page on http://www.myspace.com/bitterruin

The band has been together for one year; however they have been touring for around eight months. Being in a band links in very well with Georgia’s course. She is able to apply some of the learning in her course to help her plan the tour and manage the band’s finances.

“We set up professional projects,” says Georgia. She was told her latest project was to self-release a CD which she felt would be great as it was doing something worthwhile for the band. “As long as I wrote about it and documented it along the way, that was fine to do… I’m really glad it can be combined like that.”

Georgia applied for Foundation Degree Learner of the Year because of an e-mail sent to her by her teachers. “I was sent an email via the teachers at BIMM.- they had chosen a few students to apply.” She felt there was nothing to lose by applying. “I definitely think students should be encouraged to apply for awards like these.”

Her friends knew she was applying for it and one of her closest friends was actually applying as well. So in a way, it became a bit of a competition for her! Georgia believes that getting the runner-up spot has given a real boost to what she is planning to do in the future. She hopes it will help her career prospects and enable her to continue her studies by doing the extra one year degree.

Georgia is pleased that people are appreciating all the hard work she has been doing. With her perseverance and incredible talent in music she will definitely shine.

Well done Georgia!