Sony has today announced it is partnering with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, providing production equipment, integration services, consultancy and expertise that will help the development of core skills around music, video and digital production as part of its commitment to student skills and media education.

The bus is supported by Yoko Ono Lennon who will be unveiling the new initiative at today’s launch event in Liverpool, the Beatles’ home town. The event will mark the starting point of a European tour, with the bus traveling across the continent to visit schools, colleges, community centres, libraries and other locations. It will provide young people with free, hands-on opportunities to produce music, videos, photos, game apps and media projects within the bus’ mobile recording studio.

As part of Sony’s commitment to the education and development of media professionals and producers as well as its focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, Sony is providing a range of production equipment and integration services to the bus. These include: 3D and HD camera kits, field production audio kits and studio production equipment. In addition, Sony-trained specialists will be on hand to help students get to grips with the technology and discuss the skills needed to produce and broadcast digital content.

“We are extremely proud to be associated with the work of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus,” said David Bush, Marketing Director at Sony Europe. “Sony has a long-standing commitment to education and to bringing on board a new generation of audio and video production specialists. We believe this is essential to the development of the media and entertainment industries, and we are also committed to nurturing the skills of the next generation of media professionals. Just last year we launched a dedicated online education hub and CRM programme, while our partner programme for the education sector provides a range of discounts and offers to help ensure schools and colleges get access to the very best products.

Bush continued: “With our sponsorship of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, we are not only providing the very latest, high-end equipment, we are also working closely with the Lennon Bus Europe to ensure the students that visit the bus get the most out of the technology, understand the skills required to produce top quality content, and feel inspired to pursue careers in media production in the long term.”

Today’s launch follows the success of the US Lennon Bus which first hit the road 16 years ago which was nurtured and developed by Yoko Ono Lennon.

Like its original sister bus in the US, the Lennon Bus Europe will be staffed by a crew of three producer/engineers, and will include stops at local schools, colleges and festivals; providing free tours and workshops in which young people produce original songs, audio recordings, broadcast quality music videos and livestream events.

“The educational bus is a huge success in the USA, but John would have been extra thrilled that it is now launching in Europe, starting in Liverpool, his home town.” - Yoko Ono Lennon

As part of the UK leg, the Bus will also be making an appearance at the Meltdown festival on London’s Southbank in June, an event curated by Yoko Ono Lennon. For more information about the tour schedule, as well as access to other content including an interactive map and videos created by students on board the bus, please visit:  www.lennonbus.org .

The full list of Sony products being made available to the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is as follows:

• NEX-FS700 Cinematic camera kits
• Professional 3D Camera kits
• α DSLR Camera Kits
• Field Production Audio Kits
• Compact NEX Camera kits
• Studio production equipment such as TRIMASTER EL™ OLED video monitors, LCD video monitors, HD cameras, 3D televisions, PlayStation consoles and optical output cards

Sony will also provide expertise in system engineering and project management as well as installation materials and wiring services.