World Routes Academy

Launched in 2010 the BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy aims to support and inspire young world music artists by bringing them together with an internationally renowned artist in the same field and belonging to the same tradition.
The scheme targets forms of music and musical skills that are under threat to help preserve them. BBC Radio 3 appointed self taught 19 year old Accordion player José Hernando Noguera as its 2012 World Routes Academy mentee and paired him up with mentor Egidio Cuadrado, who is based in Bogota, and is regarded as the leading Vallenato Accordionist of his generation.

Each World Routes Academy protégé...

Gets to record professionally produced music sessions

Gets to research and co-present a number of radio shows

Gets to play in front of large audiences at events such as WOMAD and the BBC Proms
Gets to collaborate with musicians both in the UK and abroad

Listeners can follow the partnership over the six months of the scheme through regular interviews, documentary material, recordings and performances in Radio 3's weekly programme World Routes.