Former Pupil Joel Robertson Returns to Inspire the Next Generation

Joel’s visit, organised by our Faculty of Creative Arts, was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to hear first-hand about the many different pathways that a career in music can offer, including some they may never have considered.

It has already been a remarkable year for Joel. Earlier this year, at just 26 years old, he was named on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list, recognising his achievements and influence within the entertainment industry. If you missed our earlier article on this you can read it here.

During his visit, Joel met with our S2 pupils who are beginning to think about their subject choices for third year. His overarching message was simple: a passion for music can open the door to an incredibly diverse range of opportunities. If you have the passion, there are countless ways to turn it into a career.

Looking beyond the obvious
Joel talked pupils through his career to date, sharing experiences from his work with Universal Music Group, Songmate and The Influence Room, through to his current roles with Hal Leonard and Muse Group, the world's largest source for music publications.

Alongside his day-to-day work, Joel is also a songwriter and producer, creating music for himself, bands and film. He gave pupils an insight into what a typical day in his life looks like, and demonstrated just how varied a career in the music industry can be.

If that wasn’t enough, alongside his existing work, he is currently launching his own record label, R Records, as well as developing an AI platform designed to help independent artists with their marketing strategies.

For our pupils, one of the most valuable aspects of the session was discovering just how broad the wider music ecosystem really is. While performing and singing might be the most obvious routes into the industry, Joel highlighted the huge range of careers behind the scenes: song writing and publishing, music rights, sync and licensing, software, events, marketing and more.

His message was particularly powerful for pupils beginning to make decisions about their future. You don’t have to choose between your interests and a career, you can combine them. If you are interested in law and passionate about music for example, there are opportunities in music law and music rights. If you love technology, there are careers developing software for musicians and the wider industry. If marketing is your passion, there are countless opportunities to work with artists, labels and creative businesses.

A very special performance
Joel also gave our pupils an exclusive preview of the latest track he is currently working on, which went down a storm! He then performed one of his original songs, accompanying himself on keyboard and vocals, leaving pupils in awe and bringing his career journey to life in a very personal way.

The session was followed by a Q&A with pupils from across the school and members of staff. Joel shared stories about the people he has met, performances he has given and the experiences that have helped shape his career, while encouraging pupils to remain curious about the opportunities available to them.

Joel was also treated to an impromptu performance from one of our talented pupils, Nastya (S3), who picked up a guitar and sang as she played. It was a lovely reminder that while our pupils were there to learn from Joel’s experiences, they also had the opportunity to share their own musical talents with a professional who knows exactly what it is like to be at the beginning of that journey.

A trip down memory lane
It was also a special opportunity for Joel to reconnect with the school that played an important part in his own journey. During his visit, he caught up with some of his former teachers and took a trip down memory lane, revisiting different parts of Albyn and reflecting on his own time here as a pupil.

We were also incredibly grateful to Joel and Hal Leonard, who kindly donated a number of ukuleles, guitars, headphones and keyboards to our Music Department. These instruments and equipment will be put to excellent use by our pupils, helping to provide even more opportunities for them to explore their own creativity and develop their musical interests.

A huge thank you to Joel for taking the time to return to Albyn and share his experiences so openly and enthusiastically. We are incredibly lucky to have former pupils like him return to inspire the next generation, and it was wonderful to see him back where his own journey began.

We look forward to following everything that comes next in what is already proving to be an extraordinary career.