Cardiff University School of Music
Encyclopedia
Cardiff University School of Music is home to about 240 undergraduate and 40 postgraduate students. It was one of the first departments established when Cardiff University
was granted its Royal Charter in 1883. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 70% of the School’s research was judged to be either “internationally excellent” or “world-leading”. The department holds close links with organisations such as BBC National Orchestra of Wales
and Welsh National Opera
.
It also offers PhD PhD Research Programmes in the following areas:.
. In the most recent set of NSS results, the School was given a student satisfaction rating of 92%.
The School is ranked 14th amongst UK Music Departments, according to the 2012 Sunday Times University Guide.
Notable alumni include composer Karl Jenkins
, Andrea Haines (member of the award-winning a capella octet Voces8
), Tony Woodcock (President of the New England Conservatory), and Emmy-nominated composer Mark Thomas.
Hymn of Jesus and Bruckner Four Motets.
The School of Music also has a Chamber Choir
, conducted by John Hugh Thomas. The choir gives two concerts a year and has performed in Llandaff Cathedral
and St Davids Cathedral.
Performances are usually in collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra and recent performances have included Duruflé Requiem and Poulenc Litanies à la vierge noir.
Symphony Orchestra (CUSO) was conducted by Dr. Tim Taylor, who is now a senior lecturer. Since 2008 the orchestra has been conducted by Mark Eager
. Entry is gained on audition. The orchestra performs tri-annually, with two of these three concerts in collaboration with the University Choir. Recent performances have included Leonard Bernstein
's West Side Story Suite
, John Adams
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
and Symphony No. 3 (Brahms)
The music school also has a Chamber Orchestra. As with the symphony orchestra, entry is gained on audition. The orchestra performs usually twice a year, sometimes in collaboration with the Chamber Choir. Recent performance have included Beethoven Egmont Overture and Piano Concerto No. 23 (Mozart)
.
and Olivier Messiaen
. The ensemble also premieres works by the student composers.
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
was granted its Royal Charter in 1883. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 70% of the School’s research was judged to be either “internationally excellent” or “world-leading”. The department holds close links with organisations such as BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
and Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
.
Undergraduate degrees
Cardiff University School of Music offers the following undergraduate degree programmes:.- BMus Hons in Music
- B.A.Bachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Hons in Music - B.S.cBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics & Music - B.A.Bachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Joint HonoursJoint HonoursJoint Honours is a specific type of degree offered generally at the Honours Bachelor's degree level by certain universities in Ireland, the UK, Canada, Malta, and Australia...
Postgraduate degrees
Cardiff University School of Music offers the following postgraduate degree programmes:.- M.A.Master of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Ethnomusicology - M.A.Master of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Music, Culture and Politics - M.A.Master of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Musicology - M.A.Master of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Performance Studies - MMus in Composition
It also offers PhD PhD Research Programmes in the following areas:.
- CompositionMusical compositionMusical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
- MusicologyMusicologyMusicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
- PerformancePerformanceA performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
Reputation
Cardiff School of Music consistently performs well in the National Student SurveyNational student survey
The National Student Survey is a survey, launched in 2005, of all final year degree students at institutions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. In the most recent set of NSS results, the School was given a student satisfaction rating of 92%.
The School is ranked 14th amongst UK Music Departments, according to the 2012 Sunday Times University Guide.
People
The current Head of School is Professor David Wyn Jones.Notable alumni include composer Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
, Andrea Haines (member of the award-winning a capella octet Voces8
Voces8
VOCES8 is an international award winning a cappella octet from the United Kingdom. Formed in 2005, Voces8 has a diverse repertoire ranging from early English and European Renaissance choral works, by e.g...
), Tony Woodcock (President of the New England Conservatory), and Emmy-nominated composer Mark Thomas.
Ensembles
The music school is home to numerous ensembles, the largest of these being the University Symphony Orchestra and the University Choral Society. Smaller groups include the University Chamber Orchestra, University Chamber Choir and the Contemporary Music Group.Choirs
The University Choir is a 240-strong chorus which is conducted by David Ponsford. The choir performs tri-annually, twice with the Symphony Orchestra and once with the Chamber Orchestra. Recent performances have included HolstHolst
Holst and von Holst are surnames. In Denmark and Norway it is of Medieval age, meaning Holsatian . It may refer to:-Holst:*Alison Holst , New Zealand food writer and television chef...
Hymn of Jesus and Bruckner Four Motets.
The School of Music also has a Chamber Choir
Chamber choir
A chamber choir or group of chamber singers is the choral equivalent of a chamber ensemble, using voices instead of instruments. This prestigious choir will usually consist of 20-40 elite and dedicated singers. Several chamber choir formats exist, ranging from barbershop groups to exclusively...
, conducted by John Hugh Thomas. The choir gives two concerts a year and has performed in Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
and St Davids Cathedral.
Performances are usually in collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra and recent performances have included Duruflé Requiem and Poulenc Litanies à la vierge noir.
Orchestras
From 1987-2008 the Cardiff UniversityCardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
Symphony Orchestra (CUSO) was conducted by Dr. Tim Taylor, who is now a senior lecturer. Since 2008 the orchestra has been conducted by Mark Eager
Mark Eager
Mark Eager is an English-born conductor and former BBC National Orchestra of Wales Principal Trombone. He lives in Salisbury, United Kingdom.-Biography:...
. Entry is gained on audition. The orchestra performs tri-annually, with two of these three concerts in collaboration with the University Choir. Recent performances have included Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
's West Side Story Suite
West Side Story Suite
West Side Story Suite is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster Jerome Robbins to the 1957 music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim and extracted from the eponymous musical which he had choreographed, with scenery by Oliver Smith, costumes by Irene Sharaff and lighting...
, John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a musical piece composed by John Adams. The piece has now become one of the most frequently requested and performed encores in American concert-halls...
and Symphony No. 3 (Brahms)
Symphony No. 3 (Brahms)
The Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, is a symphony written by Johannes Brahms. The work was written in the summer of 1883 at Wiesbaden, nearly six years after he completed his Second Symphony...
The music school also has a Chamber Orchestra. As with the symphony orchestra, entry is gained on audition. The orchestra performs usually twice a year, sometimes in collaboration with the Chamber Choir. Recent performance have included Beethoven Egmont Overture and Piano Concerto No. 23 (Mozart)
Piano Concerto No. 23 (Mozart)
The Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major is a musical composition for piano and orchestra written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was finished, according to Mozart's own catalogue, on March 2, 1786, around the time of the premiere of his opera, The Marriage of Figaro...
.
Ensemble-in-Residence
The University's Ensemble-in-Residence is the Carducci String Quartet. The members of the Anglo-Irish Quartet are Matthew Denton (violin), Michelle Fleming (violin), Eoin Schmidt-Martin (viola) and Emma Denton (cello).Other ensembles
The Contemporary Music Group performs twice a year and provides the opportunity for students to explore more contemporary repertoire. Previously the ensemble has performed works by Steve ReichSteve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
and Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
. The ensemble also premieres works by the student composers.