1st June 2009
Brass in the Real World
A profile of the Brass Department at the RWCMD
The brass department of the Royal Welsh College of Music
and Drama occupies the magnificently converted stable buildings
nestled within the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The surrounding
parkland reflects the open and relaxed nature of the school itself.
With only 60 students in the brass department, a close relationship
between teaching staff and students exists, ensuring a caring,
nurturing environment.
The BMus Brass Studies programme concentrates on practical and
professional experience, chamber music providing an essential link
between performance and academic studies. Brass students at the
RWCMD take part in a structured programme of brass quintet, brass
band ensemble and woodwind chamber music which begins in their
first year of study. Each ensemble develops an educational concert
programme which is performed in local schools. In the second and
third years of study brass students participate in teaching skills
classes which focus upon the realities of brass teaching in
individual and group situations.
Classes are linked to existing chamber groups who in turn
develop working relationships with local music authorities, using
their outreach programmes to support and enhance the outstanding
peripatetic work that takes place in Wales. This outreach and
educational work is formally assessed in year three and is linked
to auditions for Live Music Now, the largest provider of live music
to the UK's welfare, educational, justice and health sectors. In
order to fully support this initiative, recitals and master classes
from visiting ensembles regularly take place and close partnerships
with Onyx Brass and Fine Arts Brass have been developed.
The department offers opportunities to play in a wide range of
ensembles, encouraging students to explore every possible career
option during their four year stay. Strong collaborations with the
departments of historical performance, jazz, music technology and
composition are complimented by a diverse selection of master
classes throughout the year. Future artists will include Wycliffe
Gordon, Marvin Stamm, Katy Jones, Richard Marshall, Tim Jackson,
David Thornton and Chris Houlding.
Key to the success of the department are the teaching staff who
are drawn from such orchestras as BBC National Orchestra of Wales
and Welsh National Opera, Cory Band and are leading freelance
players and teachers. The character and warmth of the department is
a result of the dedication and enthusiasm of these outstanding
musicians who regularly devote their personal time to ensure that
the placement schemes with BBC NOW, WNO and Cory Band are truly
working relationships. Placements are allocated by formal audition
and successful candidates participate in a balanced schedule of
rehearsals and performances with these professional ensembles. In
many cases this leads to professional bookings, enabling graduating
students to leave with a CV which already boasts professional
work.
The practical nature of the BMus programme has proved invaluable
and contributed directly to the professional successes of its
graduating students. Bute Brass is a prime example of this. The
senior RWCMD quintet won the 2008 Conservatoire Brass Quintet
competition at the Royal Northern College of Music and, as a
result, were given a one week educational residency and informal
recital at Aldeburgh where they worked with Simon Lenton of Fine
Arts Brass, enabling the ensemble to raise their profile and to
establish a business plan to follow their impending
graduations.
The RWCMD Symphonic Brass Ensemble has also developed its own
professional role, establishing itself as the ensemble in residence
at Llandaff Cathedral where they work with young choristers and
perform regularly. In addition to this, the ensemble tours within
the UK to collaborate with choirs such as the Royal Holloway
University of London and the Sitwell Singers in Derby Cathedral.
This provides the students with essential touring and
administrative experience.
Kevin Price, Head of Brass, says “It is such a pleasure to
be able to tour regularly with a large brass ensemble and to see
our students develop musically and personally as they learn how to
cope with the rigours of professional life”.
Kevin Price joined the RWCMD nearly four years ago to become
Head of Brass after leaving his position as Principal Trombone with
the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Kevin runs the brass
programme in collaboration with Dr Robert Childs who is the
Director of Brass Band Studies. The four year BMus programme
includes optional modules in bandsmanship, arranging, conducting
and adjudicating and incorporates weekly rehearsals with brass
band, repertoire band and chamber music. Cory Band is fundamental
to the success of this programme and the teaching and performances
which they provide are world class.
In addition to the outstanding success of the brass department,
these are exciting times for RWCMD. A new £22.5 million development
is underway to build a new concert hall, theatre, drama rehearsal
spaces and exhibition gallery to complement and enhance its
existing high quality performance facilities. In March 2009 RWCMD
took delivery of 62 Steinway pianos. This historic occasion, at the
start of the College's 60th Anniversary year, makes the
College the first all-Steinway Conservatoire in the UK.