Panelists
Panelists |
Chair |
Emma Ochia | Fierce Arts
Emma is the founder of Fierce Arts in Glasgow, Scotland. Here is a brief portion of her bio from her Fierce Arts website. If you want to read more, please visit her website linked below the bio.
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"After four years at University I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in 2015 and in the same year got the lead role of Deloris in Sister Act at the Kings Theatre. Then I decided it was time to take my education further and in 2017 I graduated with a Masters Degree in Musical Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since then I’ve been performing all over Glasgow in clubs such as Swing and Wild Cabaret, I’ve performed in the Kings Theatre, SECC and in 2018 I performed at the Vow awards.
I perform every single week, so I think what a lot of people wouldn’t know about me is I actually have Performance Anxiety and a General Anxiety Disorder. For me the idea that I would ever be standing on a stage in front of hundreds of people was inconceivable, when getting my Bachelors Degree and even my Masters Degree I had to fight with myself constantly to push aside my anxiety and pursue my passion. Which in itself is a battle internally- you question how something so scary can be your purpose in life to pursue?
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Overcoming and still struggling with my own Mental Health issues is what really inspired me to create Fierce Arts. I wouldn’t change anything about my journey so far, but I realised that in my constant pursuit to be the best and fit the mould of what I thought a performer should be, I had lost my own identity, who I was, why I was singing and most importantly the kind of performer I would aspire to be. It was only when I really looked at myself and realised I had to stop apologising for not fitting the mould that I realised this was what I needed to succeed and be happy, not just personally but professionally.
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My Fierce Arts Workshops are built around helping aspiring performers, up and coming performers and existing performers find what lights them up. I’ll help them find their musical style and realise their true vocal capabilities through my expert Vocal Coaching. But more than that I’ll be teaching the main tenets of my Find Your Fierce Life Coaching Programme, to help them make positive and effective changes in their own lives, ones that will help them build long lasting self confidence that will shine through on and off stage. I’ll teach audition techniques, vocal warm ups, stage presence and commanding a room and audience.The aim of Fierce Arts isn’t just to train performers how to build a sustainable career in the performing industry, although it will do that, but to help inspire a new generation of performers who will go out into the world knowing their worth, who aren’t brought down by criticism or gigs they didn’t get, who don’t let the pressures of the real world affect their sense of self, but who know their value, embrace their raw talent and MAKE OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN!"needed to succeed and be happy, not just personally but professionally.
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Delysia Grewal | Manager
Delysia Grewal currently manages Bruno Mars’ pianist, John Fossitt.
With over 15 years experience in various parts of the music industry she can give you an insight to the life of not only an artist manager but other roles she’s played and supported.
She believes from the on-set one needs a passion for music, it’s what gets you through the knock backs and hard times this industry throws at you.
Her passion began at a very young age listening to a wide range of music at home. She would listen to reggae and motown on her father’s record player and experience live rock and indie bands with an aunt. This developed into a desire to play the piano and she started learning around the age of 8 yrs old. Studying music opened her ears to the world of classical music, and you can often find her at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in the audience mesmerised.
Delysia never had any intention to work in the music industry and she still doesn’t as such but her network has allowed her to do things she could only have dreamed of. Her network is her key to success.
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Shaun McCluskey | Promoter
Shaun McCluskey is a promoter for King Tut's Wah Wah Hut as well as also working for DF Concerts
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Sophie Wallace | Journalist
Sophie Wallace is a broadcast journalist who has worked in the radio industry for almost three years. The 21-year-old, who is based at stations in Stirling and Fife, made history when she became the youngest female news broadcaster ever at 103.1 Central FM. The model, from Falkirk, is a campaigner for unpaid Scottish carers and has raised thousands of pounds for the charity Carers Trust Scotland as a finalist in the Miss Scotland competition. She is passionate about creating equal opportunities for creatives across the country and works to promote gender diversity in the radio broadcasting industry.
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