Meet Katrina

Describe your current role

Since graduating from Newcastle, I’ve been working as a Promoter’s Assistant and Event Coordinator at Notion Live Events, the umbrella organisation for music promotion platform Shin Gigs and A Stone’s Throw Festival.

As part of a small team of three, one of the most rewarding aspects of my role is having the responsibility to platform some of the hottest emerging talent in the industry, and being able to play a part in their musical journeys.

My day-to-day involves being the main point of contact between artists, agents, venues and press to ensure we curate and deliver successful gigs across the North East. We work with a range of venues of varying capacities, which keeps things dynamic and allows me to tailor marketing strategies to suit each artist’s needs. This ranges from creating engaging social media content, creating and delivering mailers to our customers, working with local/national press, working on digital ad campaigns etc.

A particular highlight for me is organising our flagship multi-venue music festival, A Stone’s Throw, a weekend that showcases up-and-coming talent alongside some of the most respected names in the industry. It’s always hectic behind the scenes, but seeing audiences enjoying incredible live music in such unique spaces makes all the hard work worthwhile.

What did you enjoy the most about studying at Newcastle?

Since beginning my studies in 2019, one of my top priorities has been building connections to strengthen my network within the North East music community. Making the most of extracurricular opportunities offered by the music department as well as throwing myself into my chosen modules was crucial for me. These experiences not only boosted my confidence, but also provided a great platform to meet fellow musicians and others aiming to enter the music industry.

I was particularly drawn to the BMus course for its opportunity to study abroad for a year. I was fortunate to be accepted by both Trinity College Dublin and the University of Sydney. Due to the impact of COVID-19, I ultimately spent the full year at Trinity College, and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences! Studying within the Irish curriculum exposed me to new modules and teaching styles, and it encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone to network and connect with a wide range of people.

What I loved most was getting to immerse myself in a new music scene, especially one as vibrant and creative as Dublin's! 

In what ways did your music degree at Newcastle prepare you for your current role?

Choosing the Creative Industries module at Newcastle was one of the best decisions I made in preparing for my current role in the music industry. As part of the module, I had the opportunity to intern with Generator, where I worked on a variety of projects and gained first-hand experience of the North East music scene.

This internship gave me valuable insight into the fast-paced nature of the industry and instilled in me a strong commitment to championing local artists, something that continues to shape my work today.

Working with the Generator team was truly invaluable. I still collaborate with them regularly on a number of projects, and being able to maintain and grow that relationship has been incredibly rewarding.

My advice to anyone studying and interested in working in the creative sector is to reach out to the organisations you admire. It’s always worth seeing if there are opportunities to shadow, intern or simply have a conversation about what it’s like to work in the North East music scene. One of the best things about this community is how supportive and open it is. Hearing real experiences from people in the field is a great way to discover what areas you might want to explore yourself.