From a young age, Harry had a passion for music, which led him to discover his interest in live sound and laid the foundation for his career in the music and events industry.
His time at the College helped him develop confidence, independence, and technical skills, all of which guided him into into a successful career working live music events across the country. Harry is now Operations Manager at PK-UK.
Why did you pick East Surrey College and what inspired you to select your course?
I decided quite quickly that I didn’t want to do Sixth Form and A Levels. Like most people at 16, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I had an interest in the music industry. I was sold on Sound & Music Production because it covered a broad range of different roles within the music industry – one of these being what I chose to turn into a career!
How did your course help prepare you for your next steps?
The teaching I received at college was great, although we were very quickly encouraged to learn and work independently. A big part of my current role is problem-solving and trying to work things out quickly, my time at college taught me not to fold under pressure.
What did you enjoy most about your course and time at college?
The variety was great. We got an insight into so many different areas of the industry, from history, music business, live and studio sound, sound for films, and so on. We had a good mixture of theory and practical working, as well as independent study. I think what stands out the most for me is that we were treated like adults very quickly. We were trusted to do our own work and complete it in our own time!
What journey have you taken since leaving the College?
After college, I moved to Southampton to study Live Sound Technology at Solent University. Whilst completing my degree, I decided to become a freelance sound engineer, working at a variety of venues and shows around the country. I took on any job I could to learn as much as possible during my time as a student. Upon graduating, I continued freelancing before being offered a job at PK-UK. I started as a Production Technician before slowly being given more responsibilities, leading to where I am now as Operations Manager, where I am responsible for planning sound, lighting, video, power, and staging for a range of different live events up and down the country!
What are your future goals?
I have gotten to a point where I am discovering new goals, as I feel I have reached the goal I set when I decided to join this industry. I do have aspirations to do some touring at some point in my career.
What advice would you give to students considering the same path?
Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. I think the best experiences I have had have come from being thrown into the deep end. You need to make the most of every opportunity presented to you! You won’t necessarily enjoy everything you do, but every new experience is an opportunity to learn something new and develop your skills.
