Media Interest - Tuesday 5th September

BBC Baby Yeah!

I had an email about a week ago from BBC Radio Devon inviting me to be a studio guest to talk about the Counterpoint of Tolerance project -yey!!!

I had to clear it through work first - as I work for one of BBC Radio Devon's competitors...but my lovely boss Stuart said that I could go ahead and do it because he knew it would help with my MA project - which was very kind of him as technically this is a conflict of interest within my contract with Gemini FM.

The show I've just been on is The Late Show, which gets broadcast across not just all of Devon, but Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and all the way up to Gloucester and Bristol inclusive (roughly!) So, basically the entire South West quarter of the country!

I was on for about half an hour - partly because we had to fill because their phones had broken in the Exeter studio (it's reassuring to know BBC has the same problems as every one else!)

I managed to get a good plug for my MA project, and obviously the Counterpoint of Tolerance project - and also got hailed as Devon's youngest professional conductor (at least employed by Devon County Council).

It was great and I really enjoyed it. I'm going to be so tired tomorrow at work , as the show didn't start until 10pm and I was there until about 11 anyway and then had another hour's drive home - but it's worth it definitely!

I did have an idea to try and get some of the others involved in the CpOT project on air via the phone - but then obviously with the fact that the phones weren't working - and also the fact that it would be quite complicated, that didn't happen - which is a shame, but keeping it simple usually works best anyway.

The interview came off the back of a press release which Devon County Council sent out about me winning a place on the project, and also getting more publicity for them about having a young female conductor.

Other things which have happened since the press release was sent out, which I have completely forgotten to tell you about is that various local papers and organisations have been in contact with me to interview and make features about me (so fun - but really unexpected and slightly embarrassing with the feeling that I'm blowing my own trumpet seemingly!)

In addition of course, we also had the Idyllwild journalists in when we were over in America (which I think I did manage to mention) and the New York Times and LA Times will be interviewing us at some point too.

So media attention is picking up on this project - which I'm pretty pleased about just as that stands regarding the America project - but also it is making the whole concept of the fact that I'm doing my MA project on it seem even more exciting.

I wonder if this really is something I could get commissioned/published..? Hmmm me thinks.

I'm feeling as if I've picked a rather good topic - now I just have to do it really well...which I was going to try and do anyway!