It was a night to remember for the Department of Music as 2022 graduate Lizzy Wood won first prize at UK Music's OMG awards, beating off stiff competition from 22 nominees across 11 Music Academic Partnership (MAP) Universities.
Graduating with a 1st class honours, Lizzy played an important role in developing the University's record label Merciful Sound. She now works as an A&R for Polydor Records.
Also making it to the final 5 was 2021 graduate Ema Gadzik who received a special mention. Graduating with a 1st class honours degree in Music & Technology with Philosophy, Ema now works with audio production company Adlib.
Both students engaged in a SOTA300 work placement that was pivotal in them ending up in their current roles.
Lizzy said:
“Thank you so much to UK Music for this award. It is incredibly humbling to have been put forward alongside such an incredible group of nominees, some of whom I have had the pleasure of working with.
“Abby and Ema trained me at Future Yard and so this award is most definitely shared with them. A special thanks also to Mat Flynn, whose support has been invaluable and for which I am ever so grateful for.
“Of course, I owe the biggest thanks to Liverpool and Birkenhead’s underground music scene which inspires me every day. There are too many examples of how amazing it really is, but I’d like the opportunity to shout out just a couple.
“Future Yard (music venue) and its team who understand and utilise music’s ability to drive social change, and Tash Evans at Queensway, who provides a thriving platform for Merseyside’s underrepresented artists in the electronic music scene. There’s so much good happening and it’s really cool!
“A huge thank you again. I am very flattered and I’m really excited to continue my work at Polydor alongside the greatest team.”
Head of Music Undergraduate Studies at the University of Liverpool, Dr Mathew Flynn said:
“Given the exceptional field of candidates, Lizzy Wood winning the 2023 OMG Award and Ema Gazdik receiving a special mention is a truly wonderful achievement.
“Like our esteemed colleagues at all the organisations in the Music Academic Partnership, the University of Liverpool’s Music Department and colleagues across our Careers and Employability teams work hard every year to equip and enable our students to fulfil their professional ambitions.
“Both Lizzy and Ema were beneficiaries of our degree’s numerous career development activities, and the work placement opportunities we offer across the Liverpool City Region’s vibrant music sector.
“On behalf of all of my colleagues, we are delighted to see Lizzy and Ema’s achievements recognised by UK Music, proud to have played a small part in their career journeys, and wish them, and all the other brilliant OMG nominees, many more successes in the future.”