School news
School news
Thank you for Playing Your Part in our appeals
Research News The Guildhall School has launched a new doctoral research studentship in partnership with the Barbican Centre. As part of the ongoing development of the research degree programme at Guildhall, this unique, fully-funded studentship offers the opportunity to work full-time for three years on a research project at the Barbican. The initiative complements the School’s existing doctoral studentship in association with the Royal Opera House, and builds on the longstanding partnership between the Barbican and the Guildhall School. The recipient of this year’s studentship is Stefania Donini. Her project will focus on understanding audiences, with Donini’s research addressing the changing role of arts centres against the backdrop of current social and political dynamics. It will investigate how ‘audience experience’ and ‘cultural branding’ models are produced through public programming and engagement strategies, using the Barbican Centre as a case study to outline challenges and opportunities for institutional change. The project will be supervised by a team of senior staff from both partners and supported by training, and the outcomes of this doctoral research will help inform future strategies and policies at both the Barbican and Guildhall. In addition, a new research project led by Research Fellow Dr Karen Wise called ‘Finding A Voice’ began this spring with the aim of understanding the journey of learning to sing in adulthood. It is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council with a grant of over £230,000, one of the largest grants Guildhall has ever received for a research project. The 33-month project will focus on people who are not singing, engaging them in specially designed programmes. It combines psychological, educational and artistic research to give an integrated understanding of the journeys adult non-singers take in learning to sing, and the ways in which they can be supported. The project will investigate the best ways of helping non-singers engage in meaningful participation in singing and improve their skills, and to show what their developmental journeys look like. 8
In April, 17 students studying a variety of disciplines phoned alumni around the globe to share Guildhall experiences and to raise funds for the School. Our team of student callers spoke to more the 600 alumni over two weeks. They had some incredible conversations, learning all about the things our alumni have been doing since graduating and gaining some valuable careers advice in the process.
This was followed later in the academic year by a separate appeal – Playing Your Part – which told alumni and friends of the School how support from the Scholarships Fund had played a significant part in three particular scholars’ training for life in their respective professions. We were thrilled to receive overwhelmingly positive responses to these appeals and are delighted that collectively our alumni and friends have pledged £75,000 to support Guildhall students over the next five years. This money will make a real difference to students who need it.
School news
School news
Guildhall School’s teaching recognised as world-leading Guildhall has recently received three ranking accolades that demonstrate the School’s status as a world-renowned institution for higher learning. This summer, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) judged the teaching at Guildhall to be ‘world-leading’. The School also excelled in two industry league tables. Guildhall was named in the Top 10 performing arts institutions worldwide by QS World University Rankings, and the top placed conservatoire in the 2017 Guardian University Guide table for Music. The Higher Education Funding Council
for England (HEFCE) institution-specific review recognised the Guildhall School’s world-leading teaching outputs based on five key criteria. These included specialised teaching and learning across and between music and drama, internationallyrecognised innovations in pedagogy and professional development, collaborations with international practitioners, ensembles and institutions, socially-engaged practice beyond the conservatoire, and graduates who excel at all levels across a range of styles, disciplines and sectors. Professor Barry Ife said, ‘This is an excellent outcome for Guildhall and a richly deserved accolade that reflects a sustained effort across the institution for many years. World-leading teaching would not be possible without dedicated staff who put students first at all times. They should be very proud of this achievement.’
School news
New Guildhall online shop We have recently launched our first ever Guildhall online shop. The shop opened this autumn to offer branded gifts and merchandise particularly aimed at current students and alumni. At launch, we will be offering Guildhall hoodies, and in time the shop will expand to feature other Guildhall-branded gifts. We invite alumni and friends to suggest future products. If you have a request to suggest, please contact us on enterprise@gsmd.ac.uk Visit the online shop at gsmd.ac.uk/shop
CYM expands with new centres in Bristol and Peterborough
As part of the Guildhall School’s ongoing national expansion of provision for musicians under 18 years of age, Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) – a division of the Guildhall School – has opened two new branches in Peterborough and Bristol. Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians is a specialist Saturday music school which will enhance progression routes in music education in the area in collaboration with Ormiston Bushfield Academy, with support from Peterborough Music Hub. It will be open to young people throughout the area and will have a bursary scheme to promote access. Weekly sessions will take place throughout the academic year. Peterborough CYM is open to applicants aged between 7-18 years old. It will offer focused professional training and an opportunity to bring the city’s talented
young musicians together and will also provide a foundation for higher education training options and future professional careers in music. The young musicians will train locally with Guildhall School graduates and professors providing expert workshop opportunities and masterclasses throughout the year. Bristol Centre for Young Musicians opened in September 2016, working in partnership with Bristol Plays Music, the Music Education Hub for Bristol. The Centre is based at Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Henbury School. It offers young musicians aged 11-17 a broad programme of activities including tuition
with music teachers from the Guildhall School, visiting music teachers from other conservatoires, and players from leading UK orchestras. Other activities will include visits from the School’s ensembles for sectional coaching, and performance rehearsal sessions. With the addition of Peterborough and Bristol Centres there are now five CYM branches outside of London including Saffron Walden, Norwich and Hestercombe (Taunton). All branches are supported collaborations and each branch mirrors the curriculum of CYM in London in terms of ensembles, choirs and musicianship groups. 9