Ellie Cowan: BMus

Ellie graduated in 2009. She is now the Open Academy Administrator & Project Manger.

What does your job involve?

Open Academy is the Royal Academy of Music’s outreach programme.  Students can elect to take Open Academy modules as part of their course and I am the person who coordinates the projects alongside the Head of Open Academy.  Day to day my job is quite varied where I take on all aspects of project management from setting up workshops and training to attending sessions myself.  I love the range of outreach work at the Academy – from early years work through to working with people living with dementia and just about every stage in between. I really enjoy working at the Academy as I work with phenomenally talented students at the beginning of the career.

How did your course prepare you for your job?

My course gave me a grounding in music and music history and affirmed my interest in the arts.  I took on co-managing the Symphony Orchestra in my final year and that was really my introduction to the world of arts management.  From there I moved to London and have worked in various arts organisations including the Philharomia Orchestra, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.  My jobs haven’t always been in outreach but they have always been in music and involve a healthy balance of desk time and time away from the desk doing exciting and interesting projects!

What are your top tips for students wanting to work in your field?

I would say to take as many opportunities as you can while you are studying to take on internships and to gain experience in professional arts organisations.  It is all about making connections and networking.

What was your best experience of studying at Liverpool?

I loved the city and I loved the opportunities at the university – I was involved in L.U.S.T. which has led to a collaboration that continues to this day; I am a member of the band Felix Hagan and the Family (Felix and I met doing musical theatre at Liverpool).