Since opening its doors almost 35 years ago, the Brit School, in Croydon, south London, has been a powerhouse for grassroots talent. Rarely is the performing and creative arts school mentioned without a namecheck for its far-reaching alumni, who have collectively amassed more than 280m album sales, billions of streams and countless awards, including Oscars and Grammys. Following in the footsteps of every Adele, Tom Holland and FKA Twigs – all former Brit School students – a new wave of young talent is unleashed each year, looking to make its mark on the creative industries. From screen to stage, design to digital media, who are this year’s ones to watch?
Aaron Dominguez Dola, music producer
‘I want to be one of the greats’
Aaron Dominguez Dola realised at the age of four that he had an ear for a melody. The 17-year-old recalls the time his mum was practising piano scales and later, as she was cooking dinner, she overheard him replicate the tune note-perfect. “I had piano lessons but stopped aged seven to focus on maths and English because I had learning difficulties,” says Aaron, who studies music technology at the Brit School.
“I felt stuck in my old secondary school, but Brit gave me the chance to focus on something I love and to learn the reality of the industry from professionals and alumni. A job in music tech is not just about touring with a big artist, it could equally be about playing in a small venue.”
Aaron plays drums and piano, and wants to learn guitar and bass, but producing is his first passion, and has been ever since he started playing around with software such as FL Studio Mobile as a young teen. Since then he’s moved on to FL Studio and Logic Pro and is always looking to expand his knowledge.
This year, along with eight other Brit students, Aaron was selected to appear in idents and posters for Mastercard’s sponsorship of the Brit Awards, talking about his career aspirations and his future. “To be in a room of professional crew and have access to that technology is an experience I’ll always remember,” he says.
The biggest thing he has gained from Brit School, he adds, is confidence. “I’d like to keep it humble, but I want to be one of the greats. I’d love to produce an album or tour with somebody like Drake, Travis Scott or British rapper Meekz.”
Sofia Young-Santamaria, musical theatre
‘I’m excited to get out into the world’
“I have always been a musical theatre girl,” says Sofia Young-Santamaria, 17, who says watching the Sound of Music as a child kickstarted her passion. Hearing from alumni who now tread the boards professionally offered an insight to life after Brit School: “One mentor went to university six years after leaving Brit and now helps local communities to access theatre. It showed me there are many different avenues.”
Sofia is a keen singer, songwriter, actor and dancer. She is also visually impaired and has found the support of Brit School teachers invaluable. “They are really onboard with the difference I bring to the team. I work in a completely different way to the ways they have worked previously, and they took that on as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Lots of people I collaborate with have never met a blind person let alone worked with them on the stage. I’m learning from them but they’re also learning from me.”
Sofia’s involvement in the filming for Mastercard was her first experience of a professional shoot. “We shot stills and idents that will appear across social media, TV and billboards during this year’s Brit Awards. Collaborating with professional camera crew and directing teams enlightened me to the dedication and effort involved and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”
The connections Sofia is making at Brit is something she says you can’t find at other schools. “You are part of this wide creative community and you will cross paths with alumni for years to come throughout your career.”
D’Andra-May James, film-maker
‘I have learned not to limit myself’
Inspired by watching creators make YouTube videos when she was younger, 17-year-old D’Andra-May James, who is studying film and media production, lived in Lambeth, south London, when she first heard about Brit School from her cousins. “My cousin studied musical theatre at Brit and he told me, show your passion. They’re looking for people who are going to do something with what they have. I wanted to show it’s not just that I can hold a camera but I can make something amazing.”
A Marvel superfan, it was D’Andra-May’s love of cinematography and storytelling that led her to study film and media production. “My friends are from similar backgrounds to me and we all share this space together with people who don’t look like us. That’s important for representation in the industry.”
Developing a skillset that covers editing, animation, motion graphics and storyboarding, D’Andra-May has been inspired by in-school talks from industry professionals. She was particularly inspired by a talk from Passion Pictures (the company that worked on Gorillaz). “My final project is a combination of live action and animation. I have learned not to limit myself.”
This includes a coveted spot with Mastercard, now in its 27th year sponsoring the Brit Awards, one of the year’s biggest nights for the UK music industry: “I remember watching the awards two years ago and seeing the work of students from Brit and thinking ‘I really hope one day I could be one of them’. Little did I know only two years later I would also be able to be a part of the campaign.”
Arwen De Mello, digital artist
‘I want to tell stories through comic book art’
The first graphic novel Arwen De Mello, 18, picked up as a child was by DC Comics’ Jim Lee, who inspired her love of comic books. But it wasn’t until her dad bought her a tablet in year 10 that Arwen fell in love with digital art and decided to study interactive digital design at Brit School, a 30-minute bus ride from where she lived in south-east London.
“Once you’re an animator or illustrator, it opens so many doors, especially when you have access to advice from professional concept and VFX artists.” She credits the technology available at Brit School and its unique network of professionals with enabling her to pursue her career goal. “You feel like you’re in a professional setting from the get-go. The teachers have already done that creative journey, so you know you’re getting the best feedback.”
For her final project, Arwen is producing a comic book with a coming-of-age story centred in her own original mythology with new entities and gods. “I wanted to be an author when I was a kid but I also loved drawing and creating characters. Here I’m able to merge the two.”
Arwen has thrived as one of the nine students chosen to collaborate on the Mastercard idents and posters for this year’s Brit Awards, talking about their hopes for the future. She says: “I spoke about how I would love to work for DC Comics one day. I feel so honoured to be a part of it and I can’t wait for other people to see it, especially future employers. It’ll look great on my CV.”
Aidan Brown, actor and director
‘I’d like to direct in the West End and Broadway’
A passionate theatre student, Aidan Brown, 18, is feeling reflective having recently completed his final school performance, as the monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. “I joined at 14 and remember feeling so nervous on my first day that I barely spoke, but the school transformed my confidence.”
Mentoring from Brit alumni has proved to be a huge driver. “You watch people who have passed through the school and you can see what’s possible for yourself. One former theatre student is now a director and she came back to do a workshop with us. Where else would you get access to somebody like that?”
Aidan keeps a notes page on his phone of the things he wants to achieve in the next 10 years. “I want to direct in the West End and Broadway, host a TV show, hopefully win an Oscar, a Bafta and a Brit Award.” But equally, he’s excited to pass on the Brit baton to the next generation of talent. “I can’t wait to come back and tell my story, to show students what you can become after leaving Brit.”
Mastercard is proud to sponsor The BRIT Awards and support The BRIT School. Discover more at mastercard.co.uk/BRITs
