Hundreds of Harrogate teens to compete in final of 2016 AMP Awards

Since it was first launched in 2009 by two local teachers, the AMP Awards has grown rapidly with sister contests set up across the county in Leeds, Bradford, York, Doncaster and Sheffield.

As well as its well-organised but friendly spirit, the AMPS is famed for being far more than a musical talent competition.

Now in its eighth year, the AMPS also prides itself on promoting enterprise skills with collaborations between pupils, business sponsors and mentors from the music industry in a variety of business and marketing tasks.

But the real glitz and the glamour lies with the young musicians who appear at the grand final in front of hundreds of fellow pupils at Harrogate’s glittering Royal Hall.

Taking place, as always the Harrogate Advertiser Series will be there - represented once again by Graham Chalmers as one of the event’s X Factor-style judges.

Last year saw Backyard Bisons, a young acoustic act from Ripon Grammar School, triumph in the final.

Previous winners such as Purple Mafia, Book of Job and Summer City have gone on to win indie record contracts and prestigious gigs as a result of success in the AMP Awards.

The final itself, held next Tuesday, February 10, schools taking part include St Aidan’s High School and St John Fisher High School from Harrogate, Ripon Grammar School, Outwood Academy from Ripon, Nidderdale High School from Pateley Bridge, Tadcaster Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s.

AMP Awards:Origins

The original idea arose in 2008 fromtwo teachers - Josh Hill, who was then a music teacher at Boroughbridge High School, and Marian Farrar, head of Business & Community Partnerships at St Aidan’s High School in Harrogate.

Sister Amps event now take place in Leeds, Bradford, York, Doncaster and Sheffield.