Clare Edwards recently became the first representative of the training and recruitment sector to scoop the prestigious title of Birmingham Young Professional of the Year.
Clare, who is music co-ordinator with the West Midlands Learning and Skills Council, saw off other high flyers from the city's business community to pick up the award in May, along with the recruitment and training sector award.
After joining the LSC two years ago, she has developed a reputation as a dedicated and imaginative operator on the regional arts scene. Central to the accolade was her founding of the Gigbeth music festival in Birmingham which will celebrate its second year in November. Gigbeth - established as an independent charity - is a free music festival featuring bands from across the West Midlands.
A 33-year-old mother of two and a Brummie born and bred, Clare studied music at Sheffield University, but her bassoon-playing talents soon took second place to booking acts and promoting events.
It was the start of a career in arts administration which saw her serve as director of community arts initiative ArtSites Birmingham for six years. In that time she turned the project from a Birmingham City Council initiative with a £40,000 budget to a charitable company with a £500,000 budget and six staff.
She is a passionate advocate for arts education and art is the community, is a music director of a choir, and is studying for a Master of Philosophy in Music Education. She is also a governor of her local school.
Gigbeth 2007 will run from November 1-3, coinciding with Music Live at the NEC. Performers range from pop, rock, jazz, R&B and hip-hop to choral, gospel and Bhangra. There is also a special showcase for young artists aged between 15 and 19
