News & Press
Posted 22/01/09 Marking Holocaust Memorial Day (27 Jan), the Conservatoire hosted an exhibition of batik paintings of Anne Frank created by British artist Greg Tricker. The exhibition accompanied the British professional premiere of I Remember, part of The Magic of the Harp on 28 January.
Praise for Jazz Grad's Album in Guardian
Posted 14/01/09 Congratulations to jazz alumnus John Randall on a recent glowing review in The Guardian of his album Insomnia, available to read online. No stranger to success, John (with his quartet) was the winner of the 2008 Dave Holland Jazz Ensemble Award.
2008 Research Assessment Exercise Success
Posted 02/01/09 Birmingham City University has taken part in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise which is a national audit measuring research quality across the UK education sector. In the results, which recognise the University's world-leading research in several areas, Birmingham Conservatoire has been named one of the top three conservatoires in the country and the best outside London for its research. For further information on our research, please visit our research pages.
Roger Reynolds Masterclass
Posted 10/11/08 One of America's most influential composers, Roger Reynolds (b. 1934), will visit the Conservatoire to give a workshop and a masterclass with our composition students on Monday 17 November. Roger will be talking to students about his music and the role of technology in the creative process showing extracts from Sanctuary, his amazing latest project. Though this event is not open to the general public, staff and students from the Conservatoire, Birmingham School of Acting, Birmingham School of Media and the School of English are welcome to attend.
PhD Students Wins Finnish Composition Competition
Posted 3/11/08 The Final Concert of the International Composition Competition "2008 Seinäjoki Chamber Prize" will be The Angel of Loneliness by Paolo Boggio, performed by the Seinäjoki Chamber Orchestra on the 8 November 2008 Seinäjoki Concert Hall - Finland. The concert along with the works of the six finalists will be broadcasted live on YLE – Radio 1 – Finnish National Radio and is supported by the Italian Institute of Culture of Helsinki.
BBC SSO Premiere for Recent Grad
Posted 3/11/08 Recent graduate Jun Lee had his new orchestral piece Marea premiered by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Aberdeen on Friday 24 October. Jun was winner of the 2007 University of Aberdeen Music Prize (in conjunction with BBC Radio 3) and, as a result of receiving the prize, was commissioned to write a new orchestral piece for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The piece was recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Success for Graduate Jazz Girls Posted16/10/08 The proliferation of ‘women in jazz’ showcases at major festivals and on the radio is a frustrating sign that female musicians still occupy a marginalised position in the jazz world. But four of our recent jazz graduates - Mary Wakelam, Lizzy Parks, Alcyona Mick and Nicole Jaques - have been busy proving that success is about talent and training, rather than testosterone. (read the press release...)
Junior Conservatoire Success Posted 10/10/08 This year, two Junior Conservatoire students have won the annual Beryl Chempin prizes for scoring the highest marks in the ABRSM piano exams in the Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield area. Protik Moulik (age 9) won the Grade 7 prize with 137 marks and Samuel Lewis (age 17) won the Grade 8 prize with 140 marks. Both scores are out of 150 points maximum. Do you know an exceptionally talented child that would benefit from Junior Conservatoire training? Find out more!
Another glowing review for Dingle's Messiaen research Posted 17/09/08 Dr Christopher Dingle's The Life of Messiaen recently received a glowing recommendation in Classical Music, the latest in a line of favourable reviews. (more...)
Staff Changes! Posted 05/09/08 and Updated 09/09/08 This summer we bid a fond farewell to our Vice-Principal Mark Racz. Taking over as V-P is Professor David Saint, our former Associate Dean (Academic) and Head of Organ & Harpsichord. Alumnus and international recitalist Henry Fairs will be stepping in as Acting Head of Organ. David was also the director for our BMus course and we're delighted that, following his promotion, Dr Janet K Halfyard (performance name Steve Halfyard) will be taking up the new post of Head of Undergraduate Studies.
Conservatoire grad wins Jazz Piano Competition Posted 31/07/08 Congratulations to piano alumnus Dan Whieldon, who recently won the 2008 Nottingham National Jazz Piano Competition. The panel of judges, which included Dave Newton and Jonathan Gee, selected Dan and three others from the preliminary round of 12 competitors to go forward to the final round in Nottingham’s Albert Hall. Dan trained as a classical pianist on the Conservatoire’s BMus (Hons) course, but jazz piano lessons from tutors Liam Noble, Hans Koller and Mike Williams sparked an interest and, after graduating, he completed a postgraduate jazz course in in Brussels. Dan’s prizes include a hand-built Blüthner upright piano worth £15,000, plus a recording session and a tour.
Junior Conservatoire student wins Staffordshire Musician of the Year Posted 21/07/08 Congratulations to Junior Conservatoire flute student Katie Miner, whose performance of Cecile Chaminade's Concertino for Flute and Orchestra in D Major with Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra resulted in her being named Staffordshire Young Musician of the Year. (more...)
Guardian gives Jazz Grad four stars Posted 07/07/08 Congratulations to jazz alumna Alcyona Mick on her recent four-star review in The Guardian, available to read online.
Dave Holland Jazz Ensemble Award Winner AnnouncedPosted 29/04/08 Congratulations to the John Randall Quartet, winners of the 2008 Dave Holland Jazz Ensemble Award, held in collaboration with Birmingham Jazz on Sunday 27 April. The John Randall Quartet will now go on to perform at Cheltenham International Jazz Festival (5 May) and Symphony Hall, Birmingham (13 June). Details to follow - watch this space!!
BMus Composer to write for LSO
Posted 20/02/08 Composition student Joshua Penduck, currently in the third year of his BMus (Hons) degree, has been accepted onto the Discovery Panufnik Young Composers Scheme, which gives six young composers per year the chance to write for the LSO. Joshua’s achievement is all the more exciting given that, in the past two years, 11 of the 12 composers who have won places on this highly competitive scheme have been postgraduates already making waves on a national level. The six composers will receive tutorials with leading composer Colin Matthews and work closely with members of the Orchestra to develop works of up to three minutes’ duration, which will be rehearsed by the LSO and François-Xavier Roth in an open workshop at LSO St Luke’s on Friday 3 October 2008.
PhD Composer selected for spnm Project
Posted 15/02/08 PhD student Stephen Mark Barchan has been selected for the spnm Score! London project, which involves creating a new piece for solo violin in collaboration with the LSO St Luke's Academy and the LSO String Experience Scheme. The first performance will take place on 5 April at LSO St Lukes in London. Stephen has also been invited to Tel Aviv as the guest of Lior Eitan (principal piccolo of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) for the world premiere of his Crying In The Distance for solo piccolo in June 2008. Lior Eitan will give the UK première of the piece at the British Flute Society International Convention at the RNCM on Sunday 24 August 2008.
A String of String Successes
Posted 05/02/08 Congratulations to Conservatoire undergraduate string students Amy Littlewood (year 2) and Leonid Nikishin (year 1), who shared joint 2nd prize, together with one other competitor, in the Kenneth Page Biennal Competition for Young Violinists. Each of the second prize winners was awarded £100 each in the final of the competition, which was held on 3 February and adjudicated by Levon Chilingirian, founder of the Chilingirian Quartet. Just a week earlier, Leonid had taken 2nd prize (worth £300) in the 2008 Chandos Young Musician of the Year. The competition, adjudicated by Michael Lloyd, Helen Goode and Jonathan Clements, was for performers under the age of 21.
Beethoven Success for Piano Student
Posted 30/01/08 Congratulations to postgraduate piano student Rebeca Omordia, who recently won First Prize at the Beethoven International Piano Competition, which took place at the Symphony Hall in Arad, Romania, as part of the Arad Viennese Music Festival. The jury, headed by Robert Lehrbaumer of the ‘Prayner’ Conservatoire in Vienna, Austria, was composed of prestigious pianists and professors from Romania, as well as from Hungary and Austria. The preliminary round included 20 contestants from around the world, each of whom prepared a Beethoven piano sonata. During the Final round, Rebeca competed against conservatoire students from Taiwan and Russia, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 with the Arad Symphony Orchestra. Rebeca was also awarded the competition's ‘Beethoven Prize’ for her performance of Beethoven Piano Sonata Op 109, in E major.
download high resolution image of Rebeca Omordia (JPG)
Lady Evelyn Barbirolli (1911-2008)
Posted 28/01/08 We regret to record the death on 25 January of Lady Evelyn Barbirolli OBE, outstanding British oboist and enthusiastic President of Birmingham Conservatoire Association for 18 years. She will be sadly missed. Her obituary can be read in the Telegraph online.
Orchestra of the Swan commission for PhD composer
Posted 11/01/08 The Orchestra of the Swan have commissioned Joanna Lee to write a new piece for soprano and orchestra. The 15-minute piece will be premièred on 19/20th February at the Town Hall and at the Civic Hall, Stratford with Jane Manning as soloist and David Curtis as conductor. Joanna studied at the Conservatoire as an Undergraduate and is now working towards a PhD in composition, studying with Edwin Roxburgh and Richard Causton. Joanna's other achievements includea a recent nomination for a British Composer Award and she is also writing a short opera for the National Opera Studio to be premièred later this year.
Free tickets to hear BBC Symphony perform PhD student Ed Bennett's Ausland
Posted 11/01/08 The BBC Symphony Orchestra will give a performance of Ed Bennett's Ausland on Friday 1 February at BBC Maida Vale Studios, London at 7:30pm. The concert will be recorded for broadcast and will also feature pieces by Knussen and Woolrich. Free tickets are available online or by calling the BBC ticket unit.
Chamber Choir CD To Music now on sale through Regent Records Posted 09/01/08
Our Chamber Choir recently released its first CD, under the direction of Paul Spicer. An anthology of 20th-century English choral music, To Music can be purchased through Regent Records.
January Short Courses in Music for Media Posted 08/01/08
The Conservatoire has recently become a DigiDesign sponsored school and is now offering accredited training in ProTools software. Our other short courses include those given as part of our Music For Media project and one- and five-day workshops in Max/MSP given by Media Interakt in partnership with Music For Media.
Junior Student wins Catherine Lambert Junior Recital Prize Posted 07/01/08
Last month, shortly before her 16th birthday, Junior Conservatoire student Harriet Eyley of Blackfordby, Derbyshire won the Catherine Lambert Junior Recital Prize, run by the Association of English Singers and Speakers, beating representatives from the Royal College of Music Junior Department into 2nd and 3rd places. She won the Frank Richards Memorial Prize at the Junior Conservatoire last summer, where she holds a government funded Music and Dance National Grant for exceptionally talented young musicians. Timothy English, Head of the Junior Conservatoire said: "Harriet is a highly talented young musician with an extraordinary voice for her age. We're very proud of her."
YBAYA Winner Posted 21/12/07
With apologies for a very belated announcement, we are delighted to confirm that this year's Yamaha Birmingham Accompanist of the Year Award was won by 26 year old English competitor Joseph Middleton. Congratulations to Joseph, who will be invited back to give a recital in the future.
Recorder Player Continues to Break New Ground
Refreshed 05/12/07. Press release now available below
In November, graduate Christopher Orton became the first recorder player to be awarded a £20,000 BBC Fame Academy Bursary. Only a week later, he became the first British recorder player to win the Moeck/SRP International Solo Recorder Competition since it became an international event.
download Press Release 4491 (PDF)
download high resolution image of Christopher Orton (JPG)
Holland in Birmingham Posted 26/11/07
In November we welcomed legendary jazz bassist Dave Holland for a week-long visit to the Conservatoire, where he is Visiting Artist in Residence. In addition to masterclasses and coaching sessions, Holland's first visit this year included a concert with Conservatoire jazz students.
Conservatoire Star to Rise Over Europe Posted 21/11/07
Chinese piano student Di Xiao has recently been named a European Rising Star, an accolade which comes with a full schedule of concert bookings in Europe’s major concert halls during 2008/9.
download Press Release 4478 (PDF)
download high resolution image of Di Xiao (JPG)
Visit Di Xiao's website
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestral Trial Posted 15/11/07
Flautist Anna Logan graduated from the BMus (Hons) course with a 1st in 2006. She then completed a one-year postgraduate course at the Royal Academy of Music in London (gaining Distinction) and is now on a staged trial for 2nd flute with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Conservatoire students in Folk Final Posted 8/11/07
Third-year students Jack McNeil and Charlotte Heys, who play regularly as a folk duo, have reached the final of BBC Radio 2's Young Folk Awards, to be held in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 7 December.
Our University is Changing Posted 03/10/07
As of 1 October, our parent university has changed its name from UCE Birmingham to Birmingham City University. You'll notice changes to our website over the next few days (and onwards) reflecting this. The name change is one of the first steps in an ambitious plan to improve every aspect of the University, from the student experience to the fabric of the buildings. To find out more, visit the University's website.