McCartney's performing arts school celebrates 30 years

"The spirit of LIPA has always been about giving talent a chance."

The lead patron and co-founder of Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), Sir Paul McCartney, explains what is at the heart of the university-level creative arts school.

LIPA turns 30 this year and to mark the occasion it will be hosting a 30th Anniversary Gala Concert later at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Writing in the event's souvenir programme, Sir Paul said after three decades the institute had become "a big, brilliant family, full of creative energy".

The gala is set to begin at 18:00 BST, with famed alumni - including chart-topping singer Sandi Thom, Leanne Best, of This City is Ours, and Liz White, known for Call the Midwife, set to take part alongside LIPA students.

Sir Paul wrote: "What began as a dream to give young people the chance to realise their ambitions and build lasting, meaningful careers has grown into a big, brilliant family full of creative energy.

"The spirit of LIPA has always been about giving talent a chance, and seeing our students and graduates take that spirit out into the world is one of the great joys of my life.

"You inspire me with your imagination, your creativity and your heart."

LIPA's conception dates back to 1991, when Mark Featherstone-Witty was planning a performing arts school.

Around the same time Sir Paul visited his old school and had seen how it had fallen into disrepair since closing in 1985.

He vowed to save it and after being introduced to Featherstone-Witty by mutual friend and Beatles producer George Martin. The pair drew up plans for the creation of what was to become known as LIPA.

Professor Sean McNamara, LIPA principal and chief executive, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "LIPA is a huge playground for discovery, creativity and collaboration."

He maintained LIPA was "not a fame school", despite it having been the springboard for many a famous name.

"These bands and these theatre companies and film makers, find each other here," McNamara said.

"And they're across programmes, they're different ages and because they're in this creative learning environment, it begins to generate so much more than you could ever imagine."

Some of LIPA's most well-known alumni in music include the indie band The Wombats, Joe Falconer and Sam Rourke from Circa Waves and singer-songwriter Iselin Solheim - known for her vocals on Alan Walker's singles "Faded" (2015).

Other notable alumni in other fields include, Lynette Howell Taylor producer of A Star is Born (2018), Irish actress Jessica Reynolds who is known for her role in Outlander - and SG Lewis, a musician and producer known for his collaborations with Raye, Dua Lipa and Nelly Furtado.

McNamara added: "The creative industry in the UK is one of the best in the world.

"Look at Liverpool, it's the second most filmed city in the UK.

"There is so much opportunity and there's so much growth and there is still a demand for performers.

"There's a demand for music, there's a demand to be moved, to listen and to watch stories.

"It's really important - it's innate to who we are."

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