Innovative RCS graduates in semi-finals of Converge

Published: 11/05/2021

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduates are in the semi-finals of the nation’s largest company creation programme that aims to support a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Yvonne Wyroslawska and Jonathan O’Neill and Isaac Savage join innovators from across Scotland who are through to the next stage of Converge, designed for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish universities and research institutes.

Split across four challenge categories – Converge, Creative, Impact and KickStart – all 18 of Scotland’s universities are represented in the final shortlist.

Yvonne Wyroslawska, who graduated with a Masters in Learning and Teaching, is looking to harness the power of music to address postnatal depression which affects between 10-15% of new mums in the UK.

However, no targeted maternal mental health training exists for musicians or arts practitioners working with parents and new babies. This project will create an online ‘hub’ for information and training in music and maternal mental health.

Jonathan O’Neill and Isaac Savage are co-founders of Make Your Own Musicals which provides activity packs for children at home or school to write their own musicals. Each pack contains child-friendly writing prompts, original backing tracks and interactive sound effects, with multiple storylines available. The packs also provide fun cut-outs and educational resources to develop children’s creative skills.

Jonathan and Isaac – who met during their BA Musical Theatre studies at RCS – and Adam Lenson, a London-based director, producer and creator are the trio behind Make Your Own Musicals.

Read more on Make Your Own Musicals in the RCS magazine, Review

Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo, Director of Converge, said: “I’m always amazed at the inventiveness and creativity of the projects coming through Converge and, despite the difficult times we’re experiencing, this year is no exception.

“Starting a business right now might seem counterintuitive. However, as the history books show, difficult business environments can offer rich opportunities with moments of crisis serving as a powerful impetus for innovation. We can’t wait to get started and would like to congratulate all our semi-finalists on getting through to this stage”

This year’s cohort will now attend intensive business training followed by a series of masterclasses from Converge’s network of professional advisors.