The Conservatoire
Encyclopedia
The Conservatoire is an educational charity in Blackheath
, on the border of the London
boroughs of Greenwich
and Lewisham
. The Conservatoire of Music and the Arts took on its current structure in 1991 with the merger of the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Blackheath School of Art, which until that point had operated separately on the adjoining sites, but under the same board.
The Conservatoire is so called as it was a generic term for a music school
at the time of its establishment, but it is not one in the present sense of a higher education establishment dedicated to music, and does not award its own qualifications. It does, however, offer GCSEs
and A-levels
, along with graded music exams.
In addition to music and both fine and applied art, it has expanded to offer courses in drama, modern languages, literature and wine appreciation.
during World War II
, and remained in government hands as office accommodation. In 1985, it was reopened as an art school, but proved financially unsustainable and was absorbed into the Conservatoire of Music.
, Christ the King Sixth Form College
and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
.
& Edward Gabriel. Both buildings are now Grade II-listed.
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
, on the border of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
boroughs of Greenwich
London Borough of Greenwich
The London Borough of Greenwich is an Inner London borough in south-east London, England. Taking its name from the historic town of Greenwich, the present borough was formed in 1965 by the amalgamation of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich with part of the Metropolitan...
and Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
. The Conservatoire of Music and the Arts took on its current structure in 1991 with the merger of the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Blackheath School of Art, which until that point had operated separately on the adjoining sites, but under the same board.
The Conservatoire is so called as it was a generic term for a music school
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
at the time of its establishment, but it is not one in the present sense of a higher education establishment dedicated to music, and does not award its own qualifications. It does, however, offer GCSEs
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
and A-levels
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
, along with graded music exams.
In addition to music and both fine and applied art, it has expanded to offer courses in drama, modern languages, literature and wine appreciation.
Blackheath Conservatoire of Music (1881-1991)
The Conservatoire of Music was founded by a local group led by William Webster in 1881, and operated out of temporary premises on nearby Bennett Park until the completion of its building in 1896. Unlike the School of Art, it has taught continuously since its founding.Blackheath School of Art (1896-1991)
The School of Art was taken over by the ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and remained in government hands as office accommodation. In 1985, it was reopened as an art school, but proved financially unsustainable and was absorbed into the Conservatoire of Music.
Post-merger: The Conservatoire (1991-present)
The combined organisation expanded beyond music and art to include drama and cultural courses. More recently, the organisation has also expanded beyond the site to engage in partnerships with other bodies, such as the University of GreenwichUniversity of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
, Christ the King Sixth Form College
Christ the King Sixth Form College
Christ the King Sixth Form College is a sixth form college in the South London borough of Lewisham. Founded in 1992 by the Catholic Church on a site site owned by the Diocese of Southwark, it welcomes students from all religions and backgrounds...
and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS Foundation Trust providing mental health and learning disability services primarily to the London Boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich and Bexley...
.
Buildings
Both the Conservatoire of Music building and School of Art building were completed in 1896. The architects were James EdmestonJames Edmeston
James Edmeston was an English architect and surveyor; he was also known as a prolific writer of church hymns.He was born in Wapping, Middlesex, England...
& Edward Gabriel. Both buildings are now Grade II-listed.
Notable students and teachers
- Douglas Percy BlissDouglas Percy BlissDouglas Percy Bliss Urdu: ڈگلس پرسی بلیس was a Scottish painter and art conservationist.Bliss's family was of Northamptonshire, England. His grandfather moved to Morayshire, Scotland. Bliss himself was born in Karachi, India . Bliss was raised in Edinburgh and educated at George Watson's College...
- York BowenYork BowenEdwin York Bowen was an English composer and pianist. Bowen’s musical career spanned more than fifty years during which time he wrote over 160 works. As well as being a pianist and composer, Bowen was a talented conductor, organist, violist and horn player...
- George Bertram CarterGeorge Bertram CarterGeorge Bertram Carter was an English architect.George Bertram Carter attended Blackheath School of Art between 1911 and 1915 and then the Royal College of Art under William Lethaby and Arthur Beresford Pite between 1915 and 1917. He was a pupil in the office of Edwin Lutyens between 1919 and...
- Stephen CoombsStephen CoombsStephen Coombs is one of Britain's best known pianists and currently works with some of the world's foremost orchestras and conductors, as well as performing as a solo artist.-Earlier life:...
- Harry FarjeonHarry FarjeonHarry Farjeon was a British composer.He was born in Hohokus, New Jersey, USA, the eldest son of Jewish author Benjamin Farjeon, and Margaret, the daughter of American actor Joseph Jefferson. His parents returned to Britain when he was a baby and he lived in Hampstead in London for the rest of his...
- Eric GillEric GillArthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
- James LaverJames LaverJames Laver CBE FRSA was an author, art historian, and museum curator who acted as Keeper of Prints, Drawings and Paintings for the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1938 and 1959...
- Decima MooreDecima MooreLilian Decima, Lady Moore-Guggisberg, CBE , better known by her stage name Decima Moore, was an English singer and actress, known for her performances in soprano roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in musical comedies. She was the youngest of ten siblings...
- Margaret SeatonMargaret SeatonMargaret Seaton was a British landscape artist and teacher, who trained at the Blackheath School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools. She was related to the Carline family of artists which included Stanley Spencer...
- Norman SillmanNorman SillmanNorman Henry Sillman, ARCA, FRBS is a designer of coins, including one pound coins for the Royal Mint.-Biography:...
- John SkeapingJohn SkeapingJohn Rattenbury Skeaping, RA was an English sculptor and equine painter.Born in South Woodford, Essex, Skeaping studied at Goldsmith's College, London, and later at the Royal Academy. He was the first husband of the sculptor Barbara Hepworth, with whom he exhibited during the 1920s...
- Sidney TorchSidney TorchSidney Torch MBE was a British pianist, cinema organist, conductor, orchestral arranger and a composer of light music.Born Sidney Torchinsky of a Ukrainian Father and an Estonian Mother in London, Torch learned the rudiments of music very quickly from his father, an orchestral trombonist...
- Harold TruscottHarold TruscottHarold Truscott was a British composer, pianist, broadcaster and writer on music. Largely neglected as a composer in his lifetime, he made an important contribution to the British piano repertoire and was influential in spreading knowledge of a wide range of mainly unfashionable music.- Life :Born...
- Fatimah TuggarFatimah TuggarFatimah Tuggar is a Nigerian visual artist.-Activity:Born in Nigeria and now based in New York City, Fatimah Tuggar completed her MFA at Yale University in 1996...