A former journalist is forging a new future as a musician – and his work has already featured on radio.
Ronnie Parry, 42, from Ruthin, has just completed the one-year residential Music Technology course at Coleg Harlech and was invited to play guitar and sing at the annual awards presentation day.
Former journalist Ronnie, who started on the course last September, was also asked to say a few words from the stage about the value of the course and what it had meant for himself and fellow students.
His impassioned speech drew loud applause from students, staff and guests assembled for the awards in the college’s own theatre overlooking Tremadog Bay.
He said: “It’s that safe and secure environment which we the students have appreciated.
“The months have flown by – there have been lots of experiences, happy times, challenges and uncertainties.
”We’re hearing constantly about the economic and market slow-downs in the world and in Britain we’re bombarded with cutbacks and savings.
“I don’t know if it’s a purely British thing about knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing but institutions like Coleg Harlech remind us of the true value, not just the price, of education.
“Knowledge is the greatest currency.
“We’re told that there’s no money out there but certain individuals can still afford to pay £50 million for a football player.
“Imagine if such an investment were made in places like Coleg Harlech – an investment to unlock the talents of the many not just the few.
“I am sure we all wish Coleg Harlech will carry on as a beacon of light and hope and will tell the people out there.
”I congratulate all my fellow students, wish them all the best and hope they experience many more successes.”
After leaving school Ronnie did a range of jobs, including spells as a reporter on the Flintshire Chronicle and the Southport Visitor, and has also worked in places as diverse as local government and industry.
His ambition is to become a teacher, ideally of music, so when he saw what the music technology course at Coleg Harlech offered he knew it was just what he was looking for to enable him to take the first step on the ladder to achieving his dream.
He said: “I started on the course last September and we have since covered all aspects of music from studio recording to music theory, which was what I found particularly interesting.
“There were also essential skills such as video and radio production as well as instruction on promoting your own work.
“I now have a place at Glyndwr University in Wrexham where I will start a teacher training part-time course in September.
“Hopefully, I will then be able to go on to have a career in teaching music, perhaps at the elementary level, which is what I really want to do.”
While at Coleg Harlech Robbie, who started the course direct from a three-year Welsh learners’ course, has recorded his own 17-song demo CD – including 14 of his own compositions and one in Welsh – which is now on sale through the college priced at £7.50 with part of the proceeds being donated to its designated charity this year, the Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospice in Conwy.
Ronnie also recently had one of his songs played on BBC Radio Wales, which he described as “a real thrill”.
Coleg Harlech WEA are currently accepting applications for September. For more information go to the website www.harlech.ac.uk or ring Coleg Harlech on 01766 781900.
