A LEICESTERSHIRE businessman is helping talented young musicians to achieve their dreams, by giving them the opportunity to win £5,000 of prizes including the chance to record at the city’s HQ Recording studio.
Terry Forsey, is the chairman of the Travers Foundation, a volunteer run charity which provides financial support to local 13 to 30 year-olds, which helps them to realise their dreams in sport, music and arts.
Talented young musicians are invited to audition for the charity’s ‘Travers Rising Stars’ competition, which is free to enter.
The winners will win £5,000 of prizes, including the opportunity to record their first single at Leicester’s HQ Recording Studio. They will enter a professional photographic studio to create their music video and single cover artwork. And throughout this process, they will receive music industry mentoring.
“At that age when you’re trying to get into the industry, and realise your dream, you’re relying on the support of friends and family. Sometimes you can have the talent but not the financial backing, which gives others an unfair advantage,” said Mr Forsey, who set up the Travers Foundation in 2012.
“It’s something I saw when our children were growing up, and it’s this which I wanted to address through our charity,” he added.
“It’s about giving young people with talent the support they deserve and a chance to achieve their dreams.”
Travers Rising Stars is a free-to-enter competition open to any band, singing group or solo artist aged 13 and 30 who live or study in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, or Rutland.
In addition to the HQ Recording Package, winners are invited to a live recording session at Under The Apple Tree, the music brand curated by Whispering Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2 and best known for presenting the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test. Bob and his son Miles have spent the last five years building up an online audience with more than two million hits on its exclusive YouTube channel, WhisperingBobTV.
Auditions will be in the form of an unedited ten-minute video. The best entries will go forward to a live final in August 2022, on the competition Stage at Glastonblaby 2022. The winner will be invited to perform on the main festival stage.
“We’re looking for someone with raw talent and originality,” said Mr Forsey, who runs a successful sales and marketing business in Corby.
“You get to a point in your life when you want to give something back, and running the Travers Foundation brings me great joy,” he added.
“It’s wonderful when we get to see the winner perform on stage. I usually get quite emotional.”
Those keen to make their break in the local music scene can register their interest at: www.traversrisingstars.com.
The closing date is June 26.
