2 October 2008

The 2008 Bermuda Music Festival moved to CedarBridge Academy today to teach students about careers in the entertainment industry.

Premier Dr. Ewart F. Brown, Minister of Tourism and Transport, opened the Bermuda Music Festival Education Summit which brought comedian Bill Bellamy along with young entrepreneurs Angela and Vanessa Simmons of the television program “Run’s House”.

Premier Brown said: “My hat’s off to the Education Ministry and Yoshi Productions for working with the Tourism Department and stepping up the festival’s education component. The energy in the auditorium was electric and I think the students really got a feel for all sorts of opportunities available to them in the entertainment industry.

“I also wanted the students to know that the Tourism industry right here in Bermuda is a great way to break into the global entertainment business.”

About 300 students from Bermuda’s middle and high schools were bussed in to participate in the event alongside students from CedarBridge Academy. It is designed to inform school students in Bermuda about career opportunities in the entertainment industry – particularly opportunities beyond the role of talent.

Angela and Vanessa Simmons are the driving forces behind an apparel company called Pastry Footwear. They talked with students about entrepreneurship. Vanessa Simmons said: “You have to love what you’re doing. There are times I feet like giving up but I keep going because I know there’s a prize, a reward at the end of the hard work.”

Bill Bellamy and Angela and Vanessa Simmons got rock star welcomes from the cheering audience at Ruth Seaton James Auditorium. After giving brief talks the celebrities held a questions and answer session.

The Premier presented about 10 lucky students tickets to the Bermuda Music Festival after they were selected as winners in a writing competition put on by the Department of Tourism and Youth News.