Performance graduate Tom is the producer and presenter of BBC Music Introducing… in Cumbria.
The course helped us to prepare for, and be mindful of, going into industry after graduation.
Right after joining the course, we went straight into a TV presenting module which I loved, using the University’s TV studios to produce our shows.
I enjoyed the course because I got to experience many different areas of performance throughout the three years. It gave us a chance to focus on the long term and what I wanted to do.
During one of our modules, a casting director was brought into the class to hold one-to-one mock auditions. It really helped us gain an idea of what real-life audition would be like.
One of the best things about the course was the variety. We touched on a lot of different aspects of performance and production – writing, comedy, acting, presenting, editing, stage and screen production. The course helped us to prepare for, and be mindful of, going into industry after graduation.
A module during second and third year which required us to create a professional online presence such as a website, showreel or photo gallery. This really helped when reaching out to potential employers at the end of our studies.
In second and third year, I was a member of the student radio station, Click Teesside. This was where I first discovered my interest in radio presenting and producing. I co-presented The Salmon and Ridley Show. After that I went on to present a new music show called The Sound of Salmon. I got a lot of support from the team and learnt a lot about radio over those two years.
I gained a huge amount of presenting experience at Teesside University. From presenting on student radio and in the Students’ Union, to using TV studios and building a professional online presence with the course. All of this played a huge part in helping me to achieve my goals.
I thought the Students’ Union was amazing. There always seemed to be something on. I’d also spend time in music cafés and bars in Middlesbrough.
I moved back to Cumbria after finishing my course in 2015. I started attending radio courses held by the Bauer Academy while working for the events and promotions team at CFM Radio. I was also presenting at Eden FM, a community radio station in Penrith.
That was when applied to be a BBC Introducing team assistant. I started at BBC Radio Cumbria in 2016 and worked as a team assistant for BBC Music Introducing... in Cumbria for 12 months. Then in 2017 I started producing and presenting the show.