Class of 2025 graduates get music career kickstarted with funding award from alumna
Recent graduates Luis Schmidt, Sam Alexander and Keane Baldwin have been given a helping hand in making their mark on the music industry from the Dr Jane Nolan Innovation and Enterprise Award.
8 August 2025
Newcastle alumna and academic Dr Jane Nolan MBE is supporting the next generation of graduates on campus to help get their creative careers off the ground.
The inaugural Dr Jane Nolan Innovation and Enterprise Awards have provided funding to three 2025 graduates to further develop their own music projects. Read on to meet our winners.
Increasing diversity in classical music
Music graduate Luis Schmidt founded a symphony orchestra, Capella Edina in 2024; Edinburgh’s first resident professional symphony orchestra since 1937. Capella Edina’s motto is “United by Passion for Music” which exemplifies its mission of making orchestral music more accessible and bringing people from different backgrounds together to share the joy of music. A recent concert was attended by an audience of 1500 people as part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations.
Luis commented: "Jane is the most fantastic mentor one could ask for. I am very grateful for all her support throughout founding Capella Edina and for awarding me this special prize to honour my work".
Supporting and empowering musicians through AI
Combined Honours graduate Sam Alexander is the founder of Aurella, a next-generation music ecosystem platform using AI to support and empower independent artists and managers. Developed as a response to gaps in creative infrastructure, Aurella combines tools for touring, release planning, sync licensing, and strategic growth within one artist-first system.
As well as receiving the Innovation and Enterprise Award from Dr Nolan, Sam also secured grant funding from the University’s START UP team and now leads a growing interdisciplinary team. His work explores how ethical, assistive technology can extend creative agency and reimagine artist management for the independent generation.
Sam said: "Receiving this award is an honour, especially at the formative stage of building Aurella. The past year has been about pushing creative boundaries while building something structurally sound and future-facing. This recognition affirms that vision, and I’m grateful to the judges for acknowledging the work, risk, and intent behind it".
Building a profile in original music through enterprise and innovation
Throughout his studies at Newcastle, Music graduate Keane Baldwin has developed his distinctive brand and persona as a musician, building networks, releasing music, and performing as a supporting artist in sold-out venues including the O2 City Hall Newcastle, O2 Academy Edinburgh and Barrowlands Ballroom Glasgow, alongside his own headline gigs.
Experience gained through his internship with music publicist Super Cat PR has enabled Keane to develop his Electronic Press Kit, an important element of promotion in music and for his career development.
He said: "I am proud to have received this award for Innovation and Enterprise. Building my image, persona and sound has been an extremely personal project that has been years in the making. The funds from the award will be invested in the continuation in building my image and ensuring all my live shows continue to deliver a unique experience to each and every audience".
About Dr Jane Nolan MBE
Dr Jane Nolan MBE first arrived on campus in 1970 to embark on an undergraduate degree in our School of English Language, Literature and Linguistics. Following the completion of her BA and MA at Newcastle University, Jane enjoyed a successful entrepreneurial career and was awarded the MBE for services to UK Exports in 2000.
Jane returned to Newcastle University in 2010 where she spent time working as a Visiting Entrepreneur and Curriculum Development Officer with the Careers Service and then Newcastle University Business School. She then joined Newcastle University’s International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS) in 2013 where she began as a Lecturer, and then became a Senior Lecturer in Enterprise, until her retirement last month. During her time with ICMuS she also completed her PhD (2020) and became a Fellow of the European Entrepreneurship Educators Programme (3EP).
I am delighted to have recognised the extremely impressive achievements of these highly enterprising graduates, and I congratulate them on their well-deserved success. I look forward to seeing how these excellent projects develop in the future.
Jane was awarded the Vice Chancellor's Education Excellence Award in 2024 for her contribution to the educational experience at Newcastle University, and it was with the prize money from this award that the Dr Jane Nolan Innovation and Enterprise Award was established. She said:
"I am delighted to have recognised the extremely impressive achievements of these highly enterprising graduates, and I congratulate them on their well-deserved success. I am pleased that this will help support their continuing innovation and enterprise. I look forward to seeing how these excellent projects and achievements develop in the future".
Whilst Jane retired from Newcastle University in July 2025, a further award from the Innovation and Enterprise Fund will continue to be made annually in 2026 and 2027 to support up and coming musicians on campus in their future careers.