University of Manchester Teaching

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The University of Manchester has a world class music deparment, with exceptional faculty in musicology, composition and electro-acoustic composition. In common with many British universities, they also have a very active student run Music Society.

What is perhaps unique in Manchester is the very close relationship between the Faculty and the Music Society. This makes for an incredibly vibrant atmoshphere and much music-making of extremely high quality involving students, permanent and part-time faculty, and several professional ensembles in residence.

In 2009 we redefined the way many of the offical departmental ensembles and the student-led groups operate and created an unrivalled programme of high quality orchestral activity (often favourably compared to the standards of some Conservatoire orchestras) which has fantastic opoprtunities for student conductors.

Conducting at Mancheser
First year students are able to take introductory conducting classes free of charge. These provide a basic introduction, which for many is sufficient for their needs, and attempt to identify those with talent for further study. Interested students are then able to take private lessons with me in small groups, subsidised by the University.

There is then a 2nd year module which builds on those foundations and explores the craft and technique of conducting in more detail. Most students who elect to take this module have ambitions to conduct orchestras and ensembles.

Outside of the curriculum, all returning students are eligble to audition to be part of a conducting pool of 5 or 6 students. Following preparation sessions and a 2 stage audition process, the successful students then have conducting opportunities with symphony, chamber, opera and wind orchestras, new music groups and brass ensembles allocated to them by me, working in collaboration with a student Programming Manager who has responsibility for the year's activities.

There is no distinction between "University" and "Student" groups. I may conduct one major work in an orchestral concert, with 2 students each conducting a shorter work. For a concert of string orchestra and brass ensemble, 3 or 4 students may share it between them. A programme of smaller ensemble works may involve several of us. Student conductors will also take sectional rehearsals and assist with projects involving the University Chorus. Typically the students will conduct in 6 or 7 concerts over the year.

Final year undergraduates, provided that they have taken the 2nd year module and provided they are successful in gaining a place in the Conducting Class, may elect to take Conducting as their principal study in performance in their 3 year. They are then assessed on 2 separate orchestral performances.

Student Success
Recent and current students who are rapidly making their way in the conducting world are Duncan Ward, Jamie Phillips and Robert Guy.

Duncan has participated in Valery Gergiev's master class with the London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez's Luzerne Festival Academy and David Zinmann's Tonhalle masterclass. In September 2010 he was one of 24 particpants chosen from 576 applicants for the Solti Conducting Completition in Frankfurt. Earlier this year he conducted the LSO strings in concert and was appointed Trinity Laban Junior Fellow. In December 2011 he was signed by Sir Simon Rattle's agent, Askonas Holt, and has been assisting Rattle and Daniel Barenboim in Berlin. He makes his debut with the Bamberg Symphoniker in June 2012. Duncan is continuing his studies with us for the next 2 years on the RNCM Masters course.

Jamie is currently in his final year at University, and was selected as the youngest of 20 participants in the Bescancon Conducting Competition, from a field of several hundred who took the preliminary audition. He eventually reached the semi-final. He has just been awarded 2nd place in the Nestle Salzburg Festival Young Conductor Award. After a split vote from the jury, Jamie was awarded the special prize of a concert with Camerata Salzburg in the 2013 Salzburg Festival. Jamie has been taken on by leading agency, Intermusica.

Rob spent has been assistant conductor to me with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra, and was selected to assist Kirill Karabits with the Britten-Pears Orchestra in 2010. He has founded his own young professional chamber orchestra in Wales, and is forging a busy career with youth orchestras, choral societies and non-professional groups.

 

 

 

Current Manchester University conducting student, Tom Jarvis