Next Up

Next Up is a dynamic, youth‑led music enrichment programme that builds confidence, creativity and real‑world skills through hands‑on music‑making and live event co‑production. 

Working with the college’s extracurricular team and industry professionals, students explore new genres, develop original music, writing or performance work, and choose their own creative pathways. 

After a series of taster sessions with practitioners including Lancashire based Poet Nathan Parker and Ruby Ann Patterson, a manchester based singer‑songwriter, participants explored new skills in producing and performing new creative content. This ranged form music to spoken word and creative writing, with a programme tailored to their interests and ambitions. 

The programme actively engaged students who might not usually access opportunities like this, offering progression routes into wider Blaze programmes, creative careers and live performance experiences. This project build towards a high‑energy Open Mic event, giving students a real platform to showcase their work and celebrate how far they’ve come.