![Ed Sheeran, patron of access to music, the Institute's academic partner](https://www.icmp.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/news_details/public/ed_sheeran_pub1_credit_ben_watts_0.jpg?itok=_0Yf9aw5)
Singer-songwriter and international superstar Ed Sheeran has become a patron of our academic partner Access to Music. Since studying with Access to Music on an Artist Development course in 2008, Sheeran has become one of the most popular and recognizable musicians in the world, winning Brit and Ivor Novello awards, headlining tours around the world and releasing platinum-selling albums. Of Access to Music, Sheeran said “It gave me the first push and I loved the freedom. They understood that half of the learning you need for the industry was outside the classroom with gigs and studio time.”
Our level 3 Music Performance Diploma is run in partnership with Access to Music here at the Institute, providing a practical course that gives musicians the chance to take their performance skills to the next level. For more information on our Music Performance Diploma, click here.