MEET ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ANDREW MOORE

Find out more about the new Artistic Director of the Royal College of Music, Andrew Moore, in Upbeat‘s Q&A.

What’s your earliest musical memory?

I recall as a toddler being fascinated by the upright piano that my parents had in their living room and wanting to sit at it and try to play it. It wasn‘t until I started at primary school that I began piano lessons, though a couple of years later when I was offered the chance to learn the cello my piano practice took a back seat...

When did you realise music would be a central part of your life?

My interest in and love of music was encouraged by my parents and grandparents from an early age, and it was a very important part of growing up. As a teenager I knew that I wanted to be involved in music somehow – either as an enthusiastic amateur or professionally – but was fortunate to be able to postpone making a final decision until I was 17 and had to decide between going to university to study economics or to music college! I opted for music college, studying double bass.

If you had to choose your top three pieces of music, what would they be?

I’d pick Dvořák’s Symphony no 9 From the New World – the first recording I owned and one of the first pieces I played with a professional orchestra (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) when I was a student. Then JS Bach’s Orchestral Suite no 4 – another childhood memory, this piece was featured in a story magazine for children that came with a tape recording of the piece. I loved the grandeur of the trumpets and drums. And finally, Kern’s Showboat. I love musicals, and Showboat is the one that I return to above all others – the first really iconic piece of that genre in my opinion.

We are really fortunate at the RCM to have the ability to make connections between the artistic and academic programmes and to have so much fascinating research happening here.

What attracted you to the Royal College of Music?

After 20 years working for orchestras and festivals, I was looking for a role that would give me the chance to play a more active part in shaping the next generations of musicians, which the role of Artistic Director here at the RCM so wonderfully does.

In three words, how would you describe your early impressions of the Royal College of Music?

Inspiring, curious, fun!

What excites you about developing the RCM artistic programme?

We are really fortunate at the RCM to have the ability to make connections between the artistic and academic programmes and to have so much fascinating research happening here. I’m particularly looking forward to working with colleagues to showcase that through the performance programme, to support the learning experience that our students have, encouraging risk-taking and innovation along the way. I’m excited to put together projects that only an institution like the RCM can – watch this space!