The winner of The White Room’s unique ‘App School’ is announced
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Classically-trained musician goes digital with ‘Hurdy Gurdy’ iPhone app
The App School, Manchester’s groundbreaking scheme aimed at helping young people get into the creative and digital industries, has been won by Didsbury-based musician.
A panel of industry experts judged ideas from ‘App School’ participants on Thursday 13th May, and chose a musical iPhone application (‘app’) by Abigail Sanders as the winning concept. When launched, the app allow iPhone users to re-create the sounds of the Hurdy Gurdy – a long-forgotten medieval instrument.
To gather support for her pitch Abigail, who studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, attended the annual ‘Hurdy Gurdy Festival’ in early May. At the festival she approached some of the UK’s leading Hurdy Gurdy players, who gave their full backing her proposal – one player liked the concept so much he travelled to Manchester to perform at the pitch event.
On the judging panel were representatives from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), alongside Manchester-based app development companies. In addition the panel were joined by Rob Shoesmith – renowned in the digital industry as the Coventry binman who has launched a number of successful iPhone apps with MEDL Mobile, a major US software company. The panel applauded Abigail on the work she had done in developing the unique and marketable concept, concluding that the app had all it took to ‘go viral’.
Recently featured on BBC North West Tonight, The App School was designed to help young creatives increase their chances of getting a career in the fast-growing creative and digital industries. It was funded through Manchester City Council and developed by The White Room, in partnership with MMU and Cornerhouse. Alongside developing their app ideas, the participants have received training throughout the course on essential skills such as Project Management, Financial Planning, Team-working and Pitching, with sessions co-designed by leading lights in the industry.
The White Room’s Project Director, Phil Birchenall led the design of the App School course. He says, “We are delighted with how the course has helped the participants. I’ve noticed a complete transformation in their approach, and I can confidently say we’ve helped shaped some of tomorrow’s creative stars through this project.”
A prototype of the app will now be built by a team of staff and students at MMU, who will be working with Abigail as Project Manager. She will be supported through its development by staff at The White Room and the companies represented on the pitch panel. Other App School participants have been offered internships by companies involved in the scheme.
- Posted 14/05/10