BRIT School
The BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology (the operational name of The London School for Performing Arts & Technology) is an independent, state funded arts and technology school located in The Crescent, Selhurst in London, England. The BRIT School is the only one of its kind dedicated to education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible. The school recognises that most of its students intend to make a career in the arts, entertainment and communications industries, but the school expects all to follow full time courses to completion. It has its own professional theatre, The Obie Theatre, which can seat audiences of up to 700. There are also various dance studios, musical theatre studios and TV and radio studios. The school was founded in 1991 under the auspices of the City Technology Colleges (CTC) initiative with sponsorship from The British Record Industry Trust (BRIT). Each year the BRIT Awards Music Ceremony raises money, some of which is used to help the continuing sponsorship of the school along with other music charities.
Alumni
Former members of the school include Katie Melua, Lyndon David-Hall, Imogen Heap, Luke Pritchard (frontman of The Kooks), Joe "Jay" Cohen, Adele (singer), Dan Gillespie Sells and Richard Jones (respectively lead singer and bassist of The Feeling), Amy Winehouse, singer/songwriter Kate Nash, Dane Bowers and Wayne Williams from Another Level, Andrez Harriott from Damage (British band), Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart who make up Floetry, Kelly O'Keefe and Lisa Armstrong (singers with Deuce (band) ), singer/songwriter Jamie Woon, The Pangs, Dubstep/Breakbeat producer Reso, actress Kellie Shirley from Eastenders, Ace and Vis (DJs on BBC 1Xtra and Channel U) and Kiss 100 FM DJ Rickie. Many ex-musical theatre and Dance students are now also performing in hit West End musicals.
The 2006 winner of the UK's X Factor, Leona Lewis, attended the BRIT School.
Entry
Entry to any of the school's courses is initially by application. Applicants for courses may, if they meet the initial entry criteria, then be invited to interview in their chosen strand; either media, music, musical theatre, drama, technical theatre, dance or visual arts, plus a meeting with relevant tutors. Entry to the music course also includes some aural and music theory tests and entry to the Dance strand includes audition rounds as does entry to Drama and Musical Theatre courses.