Professor George Caird
Following study in London and Cambridge, George Caird pursued a freelance career as an oboist which included orchestral playing, chamber music and solo engagements. He has worked with many of London’s major orchestras including the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and City of London Sinfonia and particularly as a member of The Academy of St Martin in the Fields from 1984 to 1991. He has also been a member of a number of leading ensembles, notably as a founder-member of the Albion Ensemble and the George Caird Oboe Quartet.
George has toured for the British Council in China, the Far East, India, Egypt, Tunisia and Canada as well as performing in concerts and broadcasts in most European countries. He has recorded for Chandos, Nimbus, Hyperion, Meridian and Proudsound labels with solo and chamber music repertoire. He has commissioned or given first performances of works by composers including Judith Weir, Hans Werner Henze, Elizabeth Maconchy, Robert Saxton, James Dillon, Dominic Muldowney, Paul Patterson and John Gardner.
George has been involved in many areas of music education: teaching, devising educational programmes, coaching chamber ensembles, conducting and coaching youth orchestras and teaching. He was appointed a professor of oboe at the Royal Academy of Music in 1984 where he became Head of Woodwind in 1987 and Head of Orchestral Studies in 1991. From 1993 to 2010, George was Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire. He is currently Artistic Director of the Classical Music Academy, Codarts in Rotterdam.
George has sat on adjudication panels for BBC Young Musician of the Year, the Audi Junior Musician, the Shell-LSO Competition, the YCAT awards and the Chamber Music Competition for Schools. He has given masterclasses and taught at music summer schools around the world.
Amongst his many other professional commitments, George chaired the Learning and Skills Council Music Review for Birmingham and Solihull 2003/4 and was the President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians for 2004/5. George is also a founding member of the British Double Reed Society and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Double Reed Society, whose 2009 Conference was hosted by the Conservatoire.