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Composition and Contemporary Music (Continued)

Composition and Contemporary Music Open Day - Please check www.ram.ac.uk

Prof. Simon Bainbridge FRCM, Hon RAM

(Picture: Photo of Prof. Simon Bainbridge)

Large-scale pieces include works for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and London Sinfonietta. In 1997 he was awarded the Grawemeyer Prize for his orchestral work Ad Ora Incerta. Most other works are for mixed ensembles, with or without voice, and include pieces written for the Nash Ensemble, Fretwork and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Diptych was premièred by the BBC
Symphony Orchestra in February 2007. Current projects include a work specially created for buildings designed by Daniel Libeskind. Head of Composition since 1999.

The Courses

Composition at the Academy has an international reputation centred on intensive project-based undergraduate (four-year BMus) and postgraduate (two-year MMus) programmes.

All work is rehearsed and recorded in regular workshops with instrumental and vocal students. Many opportunities arise for student compositions to be played by ensembles from chamber groups to orchestras, and commissions are offered to write for various events both within and outside the Academy.

Undergraduate BMus

The Academy’s four-year undergraduate composition curriculum was redesigned in 2005 to reflect the broad vistas and challenges faced by today’s music creator. See p.45 for more details. It uniquely integrates the traditionally distinct areas of ‘media’ and ‘concert’ composition. Students receive a rigorous and comprehensive technical training whilst learning to apply their skills in a variety of contexts. From Year 3, students, in consultation with their professor, select from a series of course options includingWriting to Picture.

A seminar series underpins all studies, featuring guest composers such as Michael Nyman and Simon Holt. The curriculum includes individual tutorials, workshops, weekly composition and analysis seminars, orchestration classes, Media Music Ensemble and Recording Workshop sessions, electronic techniques, business skills, Writing to Picture and a variety of electives, including conducting.

Postgraduate MMus

The MMus in composition is one of the Academy’s most demanding programmes. See p.51 for details.

Annual composer festivals incorporate student works within all concerts and have recently featured Pärt, Kagel, Kurtág, Berio and Maxwell Davies. Since 2002, the festivals have been presented in collaboration with the South Bank Centre.

YourAudition (see p.56 for general details)

Your must send your portfolio to the Registry by 1st October 2007.

Undergraduates (BMus)
You must send several examples of original work, including at least one large scale orchestral/ensemble piece. Please supply recordings wherever possible.

Postgraduates (MMus)
You must send at least three pieces, including an orchestral work and another including solo voice(s) and/or chorus. Please supply recordings wherever possible. You should also submit two examples of your written work (analysis or musicological critique, in English).

TheTeachers

Staff are all professional composers with a great variety of experience and skills. Other distinguished composers visit regularly.

Christopher Austin BA
Professor Simon Bainbridge FRCM, Hon RAM
Timothy Bowers DPhil, BMus, ARAM
James Brett BMus, LRAM
Christopher Brown MA, FRAM
Diana Burrell BA, FTCL (AHRC Creative Research Fellow)
Ruth Byrchmore MMus, BMus, ARAM
(Associate Head of Composition)
Gary Carpenter LRAM, ARCM
Philip Cashian DMus, BMus
Brian Elias
Ian MacPherson ARAM
Stephen Montague MM, DMA
Dominic Muldowney
Milton Mermikides BSc, BMus, OC
Antony Pitts BA
MatthewTaylor BA
PaulWestwood Hon ARAM

Visiting Professors
Craig Armstrong FRAM
Tod Machover
Professor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies

Manson Chair of Composition
Paul Patterson FRAM, FRSA

Recording Engineer
Kirsten Cowie BMus, Hon ARAM

2006–2007 Highlights

Workshops or performances of all music composed over the year, a total of more than 80 works. Performances of student works at the Spitalfields Festival in London and Sounds New Festival in Canterbury.
Continuation of ‘Hyperbow’ project with Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Undergraduate media showcase concert involving musical theatre and jazz performers.
Undergraduate student commissions in the British Music Information Centre’s ‘Cutting Edge’ concert series.
Concerts and discussions featuring the music of David Sawer and Diana Burrell.
Undergraduate recording sessions with a Studio Orchestra, Syphonic Wind Ensemble and Manson Ensemble.
Workshops with the Academy’s Symphony Orchestra and Manson Ensemble.
Collaborations with the London Sinfonietta, Royal National Theatre, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Philharmonia Orchestra and Yale School of Music.
Animation projects with Royal College of Art, Bristol School of Animation and Leeds Metropolitan University.
Regular workshops with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

Illustrious Past Students
Craig Armstrong; Sir Richard Rodney Bennett; Sir Harrison Birtwistle; Ruth Byrchmore; Cornelius Cardew; Brian Ferneyhough; Nicholas Maw; Michael Nyman; Paul Patterson; Sir John Tavener; Augusta Read Thomas; and many more recent graduates, including Luke Bedford, Nimrod Borenstein, James Brett, Joe Duddell, Adam Gorb, Alwynne Pritchard, James Radford, Luis Tinoco and Philip Venables.