An 11-year-old Dorset schoolgirl so impressed a panel of judges with her DJ set at this year’s Street in the Park event in Dorchester that she has won two categories for the ‘Up & Coming DJ’ awards.
Lola Phillips, from Christchurch in Dorset, started developing her DJ set nearly eighteen months ago and has cut her teeth in battle of the band events in her school.
The Twynham School student has been practising her DJ skills whenever she can and draws inspiration from a broad genre of music and singers including Lauren Hill and Amy Winehouse.
Lola’s mother, Louise Phillips, said ‘I am so proud of Lola. She has always loved music and listening to lots of different bands. Playing music is a massive part of her life. She is also really interested in the technical aspects of being a DJ and has honed her skills brilliantly.’
The winners of the Up & Coming DJ Competition were announced at Street in the Park on the 11th May. Ten DJs battled it out with their personal mixes. When she found out that she had won a prize Lola said: ‘I’m so excited. Music for me is about feeling good. It took me three days to choose the tracks for this event. I’m so pleased with the outcome.’
Three of the winners, Lola, Champz and Bean, will be competing to become the Street in the Park 2024 champion at Gilles Peterson’s highly acclaimed festival We Out Here in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset from the 15 – 18 August.
Leading up to the event, 45 young people from Weymouth College, Weymouth Dance Studio, Stagecoach Weymouth and Dorchester, Shake Dance, Dorset Youth Dance and Activate’s inclusive performing arts group, The Remix, had worked with Isaac Farmer to create dances that were performed
throughout the day. There was also a live rap performance created and performed by Weymouth College Music Tech students, who had been inspired by recent workshops with local Rap Artist, Isaiah Dreads.
Street in the Park is an annual event at Dorchester Borough Gardens which showcases new and established DJs as part of the Up & Coming DJ Competition. Street in the Park is produced by Activate Performing Arts in partnership with Weymouth College and Dorchester Town Council and is supported by local businesses. It was funded by Arts Council England, Dorset Council and the National Lottery Community Fund. Michaela Shaw, Event Manager and Producer at Activate Performing Arts, commented on the importance of Street in the Park for local people: ‘This event is about community engagement, supporting inclusivity and creating opportunities for young people’.
This year’s judges were Isaiah Dreads (Music Artist), Andy Cleeton (Mixmag Up & Coming DJ Winner and ex-Hacienda Resident DJ), Derek Greenacre (AIR 107.2fm), Emma Scott (Anonymous Festival) and Kate Wood (Executive and Artistic Director at Activate Performing Arts).
The judges were unanimous in selecting Lola as a winner. Derek Greenacre aka DJ Gadget on AIR 107.2fm said ‘We had incredible talent this year and Lola really stood out. The other winners, Champz, Taiko, Leon A and Bean were incredible too. AIR 107.2fm have been involved in Street in
the Park for a number of years. It is always a pleasure to do this event.’
Street in the Park is made possible by the support from our partners: Dorset Council, Dorchester Town Council, Weymouth College, National Lottery Community Fund, AIR 107.2fm and Vinyl Van.
For more information please contact the Activate team on 01305 260954 or email sophie@activateperformingarts.org.uk
Image courtesy of Brent Jones.