The School of Music & Fine Art has been appointed a sponsor and education partner for the 2015 Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival.
The boutique music festival, from 27-31 August, features both world-class international artistes and talent from across the south east. The festival takes place at venues in and around Rye, including Lamb House – former home to writers Henry James and E F Benson.
The impetus for the university-festival partnership came from Kyla Wight, a first-year student on Kent’s BA (Hons) Event & Experience Design programme. Kyla is creative director of a section of the festival called Chapter & Lyric – which the University is sponsoring – mixing live performances with educational music masterclasses.
Racheal Lawrence, 2015 graduate from BMus Music, is a headline performer, while three other BA (Hons) Event & Experience Design graduates are also working on the festival – Beth Tabeart as event manager and Ross Martin & Sophie Sprowell as designers.
Producer and Director of the festival, Ian Bowden commented: ‘Creativity and passion is at the heart of music which has a very tangible association with our exciting partnership with the University. We are delighted to be collaborating with the University this year and into the future.’
To mark the new partnership, Kent staff and students can obtain a 15% discount on ticket prices by quoting the code RJKU15 on the festival webpages.
To find out more, see the School of Music and Fine Art webpages.