Gower College Swansea’s campuses were full to the brim when it celebrated Welsh Language Music Day – a national day established to celebrate modern Welsh language music.

A joint project between the College, Menter Abertawe and Welsh Government meant a variety of Welsh artists Mellt, Mali Haf, Dafydd Mills, Mei Gwynedd and Parisa Fouladi took to our stages on the Tycoch, Gorseinon and Llwyn y Bryn campuses.

The aim of the day was to raise awareness amongst our students of the variety in Welsh music.

Two years of Covid restrictions have had a huge impact on the music industry. With performances either banned or heavily restricted, it has been a tough time for aspiring young musicians. Music performance students at Gower College Swansea adapted as best as they could, but closed-door live streams and socially distanced seated audiences haven’t been quite the same.

This all changed on Valentine’s Day as the learners took to the Bunkhouse in Swansea for a night of music.

Gower College Swansea’s Music Production and Performance students recently performed at their very own Swansea Fringe Festival stage. 

The Beacons x Gower College Swansea Takeover stage, at Hangar 18 on Saturday 23 October, featured music from College bands Avalanche, Konflix, Fish Tank, & Ocean View, along with a performance from alumni student and former student of the year, Olivia Kneath. The bands covered a wide span of genres, from indie to alt and hardcore. 

Seven Gower College Swansea students have medalled in the Media and Creative category of Skills Competition Wales.

Congratulations to Pariyah, a band consisting of Jasmin Eagles, Dylan Hodges, Alexa Jones-Young, Matthew Thirwell and Eleri Van Block in the Popular Music competition; Leah Jones in the Visual Merchandising competition and Wiktoria Nebka in the Fashion Design and Technology competition.

A Level Music students from Gower College Swansea are celebrating after receiving course offers from some of the top universities and conservatoires in the UK.

“We’ve had a fantastic year for student progression from Gower College Swansea to higher education and I’m delighted that so many of them have gained places at these prestigious institutions,” says Curriculum Leader Jonathan Rogers. “They have each undergone an extremely rigorous and competitive auditions process and should feel very proud of their achievements.”

A Level Music students at Gower College Swansea were treated to a recent master class with internationally renowned soprano Eiddwen Harrhy.

“Eiddwen is an amazing talent and it was our privilege to welcome her to the college, where she spent time with students who will soon be auditioning for highly competitive Conservatoire places across the UK,” says Learning Area Manager David Lloyd Jones.

Aspiring singers and musicians from Gower College Swansea were recently invited to a special acoustic competition, organised by student enterprise interns Shazia Ali, Rhys Cozens and Curtis Cana and Enterprise Officer Lucy Turtle.

Big Ideas role model and music industry expert Gill Taylor was invited to the Gorseinon campus to judge the competition.

Bands comprising Level 3 Vocational Music students from Gower College Swansea swept the board at the recent SkillsCompetition Wales Popular Music regional heat.

The students, from the Extended Diploma course at the Llwyn y Bryn campus, competed against musicians from eight other colleges across Wales, performing two original songs each before a panel of judges.

Zen Dogs took Gold and Inscape were awarded Bronze at the event at Theatr Ffwrnes in Llanelli.

Music Technology students from Gower College Swansea have attended a special workshop which allowed them to rub shoulders with industry professionals.

The ‘What’s Next in the Music Industry?’ event was hosted by NPTC Group (Neath campus).

A Level Music Technology students at Gower College Swansea got to hear from a true industry veteran recently.

Gill Taylor has 38 years experience in the music world and has worked with artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa, Blondie and Meatloaf. For the last 23 years she has managed Elvis Costello.