US singer Tori Kelly surprises aspiring songwriters from University’s Conservatoire

STUDENTS from the University of Chichester’s Conservatoire were left surprised after taking part in an online song-writing workshop hosted by the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California.

Chichester alumni Brady Lloyd and current Music student Jacob Woods, alongside a student from the University of Southern California and Monmouth University in New Jersey, joined the workshop by Schyler O’Neal without realising they would also be joined by a guest: multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Tori Kelly.

Ms Kelly asked the students about their musical processes, how they have managed in the pandemic, and then picked up a guitar and performed her recent release ‘25th’ live for them.

The University of Chichester is one of the Grammy Museum’s Educational Affiliate Institutions. This past semester, students from the Conservatoire took part in a series of online workshops with the Grammy Museum as part of their Structures and Politics of Rock module.

When Professor Laura Ritchie extended the invitation to Brady and Jacob to attend this extra songwriting workshop, they jumped at the chance, and it turned out to be one songwriting class these students will never forget.

The University’s Conservatoire has one of the largest and liveliest music departments in the UK with a community of more than 400 student performers.

Ben Hall, who oversees the University’s Conservatoire, said: “Anybody watching the video will see that our students are at ease talking to camera and liaising with people over zoom. These are confident young people who are at ease working in this new-way of working.”

Watch some of the class and the surprise performance from Tori Kelly at www.facebook.com/spotifyusa/videos/tori-kelly-surprises-aspiring-songwriters/389581398959584.

For more about the University of Chichester’s Conservatoire and how it is working to raise educational for its students go to www.chi.ac.uk/conservatoire.