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The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is dipping into the Austin talent pool.
The school, which was established through connections to Beatles member Paul
McCartney and Beatles producer George Martin, rarely holds auditions in the
United States, but plans to offer students throughout the country the chance
to join the school through Austin auditions April 9.
The school opened in 1996 with nearly 190 students. Now, there are 650 students
from 35 countries, about 40 of whom are from the United States. Students enroll
in a range of diploma and degree programs in audio engineering, technical theater,
theater design, popular music, arts management, acting and dance.
The college was set up after Martin introduced co-founder Mark Featherstone-Witty
to McCartney, who was seeking a way to help his hometown of Liverpool. About
the same time, the city of Liverpool was examining initiatives that could build
on the city's reputation as a music hub. Thus, the performing arts academy was
born.
Featherstone-Witty plans to be on hand for the Austin auditions.
Central Texas musician Jerry Jeff Walker and his wife, Susan Walker, have proposed
creating the Austin Consortium for Sound Development, a group dedicated to music
education, information and entertainment. It would be modeled after the Liverpool
Institute for Performing Arts. The Walkers' son, performer and songwriter Django
Walker, graduated from the Liverpool school.
