UCE Birmingham Conservatoire
Encyclopedia
Birmingham Conservatoire is an international conservatoire
and a major concert venue, its main platform being the Adrian Boult Hall
. Prior to 1989, it was known as the Birmingham School of Music and was one of the faculties of Birmingham City University
, the only one out of the nine conservatoires in the United Kingdom
that was a university faculty. However, in 2008, as part of the re-organisation of faculties it became a part of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English
(PME).
and Chamberlain Square
, the conservatoire was founded in 1886 as the Birmingham School of Music, which had been a department of, and stands on the original site of, the Birmingham and Midland Institute
, since around 1859. The title 'Birmingham Conservatoire' was adopted in 1989, with its undergraduate diploma and award (GBSM and ABSM) renamed from 'Graduate / Associate of the Birmingham School of Music' to 'Graduate / Associate of the Birmingham Schools of Music', to reflect the internal structure adopted of the Schools of Creative Studies, of Orchestral Studies, of Keyboard Studies, and of Vocal Studies. In 1995 the GBSM degree-equivalent diploma was redesigned and revalidated to become a full-fledged Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree.
Around 500 students are currently enrolled in the conservatoire's undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Teaching exists in a wide range of options including solo performance, composition, chamber music, orchestral playing, music technology and jazz. Students on the four-year BMus(Hons) are encouraged to spend time studying in Europe or the USA.
An active Junior Department also takes place on Saturdays.
, Pierre Boulez
, Sakari Oramo
, Paul Spicer
and Jeffrey Skidmore
.
The Conservatoire collaborates with other schools of music, colleges, academies and conservatoires worldwide, including participating in the SOCRATES student and staff exchange programme.
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
and a major concert venue, its main platform being the Adrian Boult Hall
Adrian Boult Hall
The Adrian Boult Hall is the main concert hall of the Birmingham Conservatoire in central Birmingham, England. It is named after the conductor Adrian Boult....
. Prior to 1989, it was known as the Birmingham School of Music and was one of the faculties of Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
, the only one out of the nine conservatoires in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that was a university faculty. However, in 2008, as part of the re-organisation of faculties it became a part of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English
Faculty of Performance, Media and English
Faculty of Performance, Media and English is the newest faculty of Birmingham City University, established in 2009...
(PME).
History
Situated in Paradise Place, in the centre of Birmingham between Centenary SquareCentenary Square
Centenary Square is a public square on Broad Street in central Birmingham, England, named in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status in 1889....
and Chamberlain Square
Chamberlain Square
Chamberlain Square or Chamberlain Place is a public square in central Birmingham, England , named after Joseph Chamberlain.Its features include:*Birmingham Central Library*Paradise Forum...
, the conservatoire was founded in 1886 as the Birmingham School of Music, which had been a department of, and stands on the original site of, the Birmingham and Midland Institute
Birmingham and Midland Institute
The Birmingham and Midland Institute , now on Margaret Street in the city centre of Birmingham, England was a pioneer of adult scientific and technical education and today offers Arts and Science lectures, exhibitions and concerts. It is a registered charity...
, since around 1859. The title 'Birmingham Conservatoire' was adopted in 1989, with its undergraduate diploma and award (GBSM and ABSM) renamed from 'Graduate / Associate of the Birmingham School of Music' to 'Graduate / Associate of the Birmingham Schools of Music', to reflect the internal structure adopted of the Schools of Creative Studies, of Orchestral Studies, of Keyboard Studies, and of Vocal Studies. In 1995 the GBSM degree-equivalent diploma was redesigned and revalidated to become a full-fledged Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree.
The Conservatoire
Facilities include the 518 seat Adrian Boult Hall, the Recital Hall, six recording studios and a specialised music library with around 95,000 individual scores and parts and 10,000 sound recordings. Most tutors are active professional musicians and with nearly 200 visiting specialist tutors, there's approximately one member of staff for every two students. It is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment..Around 500 students are currently enrolled in the conservatoire's undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Teaching exists in a wide range of options including solo performance, composition, chamber music, orchestral playing, music technology and jazz. Students on the four-year BMus(Hons) are encouraged to spend time studying in Europe or the USA.
An active Junior Department also takes place on Saturdays.
Performances
Conservatoire students perform regularly in the Conservatoire's concert venues, and also nationally and internationally under such conductors as Sir Simon RattleSimon Rattle
Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE is an English conductor. He rose to international prominence as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since 2002 has been principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic ....
, Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, Sakari Oramo
Sakari Oramo
Sakari Markus Oramo OBE is a Finnish conductor.Oramo started his career as a violinist and concertmaster of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1989, he enrolled in Jorma Panula's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy...
, Paul Spicer
Paul Spicer (musician)
Paul Spicer is an English composer, conductor and organist. He has worked as a music teacher, at the Royal College of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire, as a producer for BBC Radio 3, and as artistic director of the Lichfield Festival. He conducts the Birmingham Bach Choir, the Finzi Singers...
and Jeffrey Skidmore
Jeffrey Skidmore
Jeffrey Skidmore is the conductor and artistic director of Ex Cathedra, a choir and early music ensemble based in Birmingham in the West Midlands, England...
.
The Conservatoire collaborates with other schools of music, colleges, academies and conservatoires worldwide, including participating in the SOCRATES student and staff exchange programme.
Birmingham Conservertoire
- George Caird (1993 - 2010)
- Kevin ThompsonKevin ThompsonKevin Thompson may refer to:*Kevin Thompson , Major League Baseball player*Kevin Thompson , professional basketball player*Kevin Thompson , pastor from San Leandro, California convicted of shark smuggling...
(1988 - 1993) - Roy Wales (1987 - 1988)
Courses offered
Birmingham Conservatoire offers training from pre-college level (Junior Conservatoire) to PhD.- Bachelor of MusicBachelor of MusicBachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
honours degrees- BMus(Hons)
- BMus(Hons) Jazz
- Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
honours degree- BSc(Hons) Music Technology
- Graduate DiplomaGraduate DiplomaA Graduate Diploma is generally a postgraduate qualification, although some graduate diplomas involve the study of undergraduate level courses...
in Jazz - Postgraduate CertificatePostgraduate certificateA postgraduate certificate generally is the credential awarded to an individual upon completion of a higher education postgraduate program designed to provide students with specialized knowledge that is less extensive than a postgraduate diploma or Master's degree...
- PgCert
- Postgraduate DiplomaPostgraduate diplomaA postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
- PgDip (Music)
- PgDip (Musical Theatre) - To be delivered jointly with Birmingham School of ActingBirmingham School of ActingBirmingham School of Acting is a drama school located in Birmingham, England....
.
- Advanced Postgraduate Diploma
- Advanced PgDip
- Master of MusicMaster of MusicThe Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
- MMus
- Master of PhilosophyMaster of PhilosophyThe Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
- MPhil
- Doctor of PhilosophyDoctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
- PhD
Staff
Birmingham Conservatoire has around 50 full-time members of staff that include active professional musicians, internationally renowned performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. In addition, nearly 200 highly acclaimed specialist tutors, musicians and scholars visit the Conservatoire to give master classes and guest lectures or to serve as visiting faculty members. For a full list of staff members (including support staff), see Birmingham Conservatoire Staff websiteNotable alumni
- Richard van AllanRichard Van AllanRichard Van Allan CBE was a versatile British operatic bass singer who had a lengthy career.He sang varied repertoire at Covent Garden and English National Opera, as well as at numerous important houses worldwide...
- Opera Singer - Fred Thelonius Baker - Guitarist; Bassist
- Stephen Mark BarchanStephen Mark BarchanStephen Mark Barchan is a British composer and conductor.-Career:Barchan studied composition with Richard Steinitz and Edwin Roxburgh .Organisations who have presented his music include London Sinfonietta Collective, LSO Discovery, Park Lane...
- Composer, Music Copyist, Faber MusicFaber MusicFaber Music is a British sheet music publisher best known for contemporary classical music. It also publishes music tutor books, and in 2005 acquired popular music publisher International Music Publications....
and United Music PublishersUnited Music PublishersUnited Music Publishers is a publisher of sheet music and a music distribution firm based in Waltham Abbey, Essex. They are well known for being the sole representative in the UK and Ireland for all the major French classical sheet music publishers and a selection of international catalogues.They... - Joe Broughton - Folk Fiddler
- Rosa Campos-Fernandez - Clarinettist, HalléHalleHalle is a noun that means hall in the German language. It may also refer to:-In Germany:* Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, official name Halle , also called Halle or Halle an der Saale...
- Dave CliffDave Cliff-Career:David John “Dave” Cliff was born in Hexham, Northumberland. He began his career playing rhythm and blues in the Newcastle area. In 1967, he moved to Leeds and gained a diploma in jazz studies from Leeds College of Music while studying with bassist Peter Ind and Bernie Cash.In 1971, after...
- Jazz Guitarist - Sara Colman - Jazz Singer
- Krzysztof CzerwinskiKrzysztof CzerwinskiKrzysztof Czerwinski is a Polish conductor, organist and voice teacher.Czerwinski studied at Wieniawski School of music , Eastman School of Music and Birmingham Conservatoire .He has won many national and international competitions, awards, scholarships and...
- Organist; Conductor/Artistic Director, Polish Baroque Orchestra - Henry FairsHenry FairsHenry Fairs is an English organist. He is organist to the University of Birmingham and Head of Organ Studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire; he combines this with a busy international recital career.-Biography:...
- Organist - Brian FerneyhoughBrian FerneyhoughBrian John Peter Ferneyhough is an English composer. His music is characterized by the extensive use of complex rhythmic tuplet notation which features in all his works...
- Composer - Mark GasserMark Gasser-Career:Gasser is a fellow of the Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music. He studied with John Humphreys at the Birmingham Conservatoire, and with Frank Wibaut at the Royal Academy of Music...
- Concert Pianist, Thallein EnsembleThallein EnsembleThallein Ensemble is a new music student group set up in the early 1990s with graduates from the Birmingham Conservatoire. Principal founders were Alistair Zaldua , Mark Gasser , John Webb and John Meadows...
, CBSO, SSOSSOSSO may refer to:*Statistical Society of Ottawa, the Ottawa Regional Association of the Statistical Society of Canada and the Ottawa Chapter of the American Statistical Association.*Sanitary sewer overflow...
, CSOCSOThe initialism CSO may mean:*Any of a number of government statistics organizations:**Central Statistical Office **Czech Statistical Office * other offices:... - Michael Gilfillan - Organist Peoria Cathedral, Conductor Opera Illinois
- Duncan HoneybourneDuncan HoneybourneDuncan Honeybourne is an English pianist, teacher and lecturer.Honeybourne began his studies at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, where he won the senior piano prize. He gave his first London recital at the age of fifteen and toured extensively throughout Britain as solo recitalist and...
- Pianist - Albert KetèlbeyAlbert KetèlbeyAlbert William Ketèlbey , born Ketelbey, was an English composer, conductor and pianist.-Biography:...
- Composer, Conductor - Steven LloydSteven LloydSteven Lloyd is an orchestra conductor.Lloyd studied at Birmingham Conservatoire with Andrew Mogrelia, and privately with Christopher Adey and Frank Shipway....
- Conductor, Cairo Symphony OrchestraCairo Symphony OrchestraThe Cairo Symphony Orchestra, , is an orchestra based in Cairo, Egypt. It was founded in 1959 by its first music director and conductor, Franz Litschauer... - Joanna Kirkwood - Flautist, member of woodwind group; Trio Cappricio
- Jim MorayJim MorayJim Moray is an English folk singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer.-Recording artist:While studying classical composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Moray released the home-recorded I Am Jim Moray EP. During 2002 he appeared at the Glastonbury festival and the Cambridge Folk...
- Singer, Producer - Helen O'HaraHelen O'HaraHelen O'Hara is a British musician, formerly a member of the band Dexys Midnight Runners between 1982 and 1987, including performing on songs such as "Come on Eileen" from the Too-Rye-Ay album....
- Jean RigbyJean RigbyJean Rigby , is an English opera and concert singer. A mezzo-soprano, she is a long-time principal with the English National Opera....
- Opera Singer - Rhydian RobertsRhydian RobertsRhydian James Roberts , popularly known as Rhydian, is a classically trained Welsh baritone and crossover artist. He rose to fame on The X Factor in 2007...
- Singer, runner-up in the fourth seriesThe X Factor (UK series 4)The fourth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in autumn 2007. The first show aired on 18 August 2007 and the series was won by Leon Jackson on 15 December 2007, with Rhydian Roberts the runner-up and Dannii Minogue emerging as the winning mentor...
of the British talent showTalent showA talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
The X FactorThe X Factor (TV series)The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from... - Mike SealMike SealMichael Seal is the Assistant Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He is the first person to occupy this role, being appointed in May 2005....
- Violinist; Conductor, CBSO - Mike Stevens - Musical Director (Annie LennoxAnnie LennoxAnnie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
, Take ThatTake ThatTake That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
, SugababesSugababesThe Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
, Will YoungWill YoungWilliam Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
, MikaMika (singer)Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
, James MorrisonJames Morrison (singer)James Morrison is a BRIT Award-winning English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Rugby, Warwickshire. In 2006, his debut single "You Give Me Something" became a hit in Europe, Australia, and Japan, peaking in the top five in the UK and New Zealand. His debut album, Undiscovered, debuted at the...
) Musician, Producer, Writer - Ian VenablesIan VenablesIan Venables is a British composer of songs and chamber music.-Biography:Ian Venables was born in Liverpool in 1955 and was educated at Liverpool Collegiate Grammar School. He studied music with Professor Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music, London and later with Andrew Downes, John Mayer...
- Composer - John WebbJohn Webb (composer)-Biography:He was educated in Essex where he started playing the piano and viola. He began to compose at 14, and two years later attended Colchester Institute. Here he studied piano with Frank Wibaut and composition with John Joubert at the Birmingham Conservatoire....
- Composer - Jacqueline White - Soprano
- Christopher Orton - Recorder
- Pete Robertson - Drummer, The VaccinesThe VaccinesThe Vaccines are an English indie rock band who formed in West London in 2010. The band's debut album, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?, was released through Columbia Records on 14 March 2011 and reached number 4 in the UK Album Chart. They are currently the biggest selling new band of 2011....
Notable Staff (Current & Former)
- Meyrick AlexanderMeyrick AlexanderMeyrick Alexander is a British bassoonist who currently plays with the Philharmonia Orchestra, based in London.Meyrick Alexander has been Principal Bassoon of the Philharmonia Orchestra since 1980, having previously been Principal Bassoon of the Northern Sinfonia...
- Bassoonist - Rutland BoughtonRutland BoughtonRutland Boughton was an English composer who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music....
- Composer - Gary CooperGary Cooper (musician)Gary Cooper is an English conductor and classical keyboardist He is particularly known as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Bach and Mozart, and as a conductor of historically informed performances of music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.-Career:Gary Cooper...
– Conductor, Harpsichordist - Joe CutlerJoe CutlerJoe Cutler is a British composer who studied music at the Universities of Huddersfield and Durham, before a scholarship at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw, Poland. He has taught composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire since 2000, and since 2005 he has been the Head of Composition there...
- Composer - Andrew DownesAndrew Downes (composer)Andrew Downes is a British classical composer.Downes was born in Handsworth, Birmingham. In 1969, he won a choral scholarship to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he gained an MA degree specializing in composition, and in 1974 went on to study with Herbert Howells at the Royal College of Music...
- Composer - Tony Dudley-EvansTony Dudley-EvansTony Dudley-Evans is a British linguist and expert in English for Specific Purposes. One of the most influential authors in the development of the modern notion of genre, he is usually grouped together with John Swales and Vijay Bhatia as the driving force behind recent developments in ESP...
- Byron FulcherByron FulcherByron Fulcher is Principal Trombone with the Philharmonia Orchestra, appointed in 2001. In addition he is Professor of Trombone at the Royal College of Music....
- Trombonist - Andrew Glover - Composer
- Rivka GolaniRivka GolaniRivka Golani is an Israeli viola player.She has performed as soloist with orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Hong Kong Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan,...
- Violist - Denis MatthewsDenis MatthewsDenis Matthews was an English pianist and musicologist.Denis James Matthews was born in Coventry, the son of a motor salesman. He attended Arnold Lodge School, Leamington Spa, from 1927 to 1932 and Warwick School from October 1932 to the summer of 1936, when he left to study at the Royal Academy...
- Pianist - Richard Causton - Composer
- John MayerJohn Mayer (composer)John Mayer was an Indian composer known primarily for his fusions of jazz with Indian music...
- Composer - George MilesGeorge MilesGeorge Theophilus Miles FRCO was born in Pangbourne, Berkshire on 23 February 1913 and died in Birmingham on 26 March 1988. He was an English organist and Organ Teacher based in Birmingham.-Education:...
- Organist - Andrew MogreliaAndrew MogreliaAndrew Mogrelia is a British classical conductor specializing in ballet.- Biography and career :Mogrelia is a conductor who specializes in ballet scores. He was conductor-in-residence at the Birmingham Conservatoire, United Kingdom, from 1992 to 2002, and music director of the San Francisco Ballet...
- Conductor - Daniel MoultDaniel MoultDaniel Moult is a concert organist, organ tutor and animateur, ensemble player and presenter of films about music.-Education:Daniel Moult was born in Manchester, England. He attended Manchester Grammar School and St John’s College, Oxford, where he was organ scholar...
- Organist - Frank MullingsFrank MullingsFrank Mullings was a leading English tenor with Sir Thomas Beecham's Beecham Opera Company and its successor, the British National Opera Company, during the 1910s and 1920s...
- tenor - Edwin RoxburghEdwin RoxburghEdwin Roxburgh is an English composer, conductor and oboist.After playing oboe in the National Youth Orchestra, he won a double scholarship to study composition with Herbert Howells and oboe with Terence MacDonagh at the Royal College of Music. He also studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in...
- Composer; Conductor; Oboist - Howard SkemptonHoward SkemptonHoward Skempton is a British composer and accordionist. Since the late 1960s, when he helped organize the Scratch Orchestra, he has been associated with the English school of experimental music...
- Composer; Accordionist - Jeffrey SkidmoreJeffrey SkidmoreJeffrey Skidmore is the conductor and artistic director of Ex Cathedra, a choir and early music ensemble based in Birmingham in the West Midlands, England...
- Conductor, Ex CathedraEx CathedraEx Cathedra is a British choir and early music ensemble based in Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. It performs choral music spanning the 15th to 21st centuries, and regularly commissions new works.... - Paul SpicerPaul Spicer (musician)Paul Spicer is an English composer, conductor and organist. He has worked as a music teacher, at the Royal College of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire, as a producer for BBC Radio 3, and as artistic director of the Lichfield Festival. He conducts the Birmingham Bach Choir, the Finzi Singers...
- Conductor, Birmingham Bach Choir, Finzi Singers - Simon de SouzaSimon de SouzaSimon de Souza is one of the most active and influential horn teachers in the United Kingdom. He teaches at the Birmingham Conservatoire , is horn tutor at Wells Cathedral School and the Purcell School and is also involved with the Junior departments of the Trinity College of Music and Royal...
- Hornplayer - Ross Winters - Recorder
- Annabel Knight - Recorder
- Liam NobleLiam NobleLiam Thomas Noble is an English football midfielder who plays for Carlisle United on loan from Premier League club Sunderland.-Playing career:...
- Pianist; Composer; Bandleader - Hans Koller - Pianist; Composer; Bandleader
- Ed Bennett - Composer; Leader/conductor, decibel