David Csontos – BA (Hons) Creative and Commercial Music

Double award winning student’s career set to fly after speaking to Top Gun composer as part of his dissertation

“I was delighted to have received a first-class honours degree on my BA (Hons) Creative and Commercial Music course, whilst studying at the University of Studies at West Suffolk College. I worked hard for it. I also won two awards. One for being ‘student of the year’ for Creative Technologies and the other for ‘Outstanding Achievement’ from JAMES’, an industry accreditation body.

“The degree was a lot of work, but as part of my dissertation that explored the scores for horror media within the past 40 years, I had the chance to interview several of the worlds’ biggest film and game composers, including Lorne Balfe for my Thesis, composer for Mission Impossible: Fallout and Top Gun: Maverick.

“The highlight for me was those interviews and working with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as part of their 90th anniversary proms, during an event at the Ipswich Regent.

“I’d say to others thinking about studying here that you do get opportunities outside of the classroom if you have drive and initiative. For example, during Covid, much of the world came to a standstill, but I didn’t. I studied different genres, reached out to people, learnt new techniques, and went out of my way to expand my knowledge.

“Currently, I’ve got a few things in the cooker and I’m building my portfolio. Long term I’m interested in creating a group of likeminded people to work on musical projects that people are moved by.

“In terms of the graduation, my family will be with me, and I can’t wait to have the award and the degree in my hands.”