University News Last updated 03 July
Head of Junior Conservatoire Tim English believes his department has a special role to play in helping talented young people who have not had the right opportunities to develop their skills and achieve their musical ambitions.
What are the core skills or areas of expertise that you bring to RBC?
I trained as a classical violinist and worked as a freelance musician based in London. Since then, I have focused on a career as a music educator for children of school age, leading me to my current role as Head of Junior Conservatoire within BCU.
What have been your highlights since you started at RBC?
Watching a Junior Conservatoire student winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year here in Birmingham and celebrating the success of a student who was chosen to take the role of Rusty in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s West End revival of Starlight Express following a nationwide search. We have recently been awarded £249,000 in bursary funding by the Leverhulme Trust, which will allow us to support even more young musicians to access our courses.
What have been the most challenging issues that you’ve had to discuss and take a view on so far?
Striving to achieve a more diverse student body and helping young people of all ethnicities to see Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as a place where they can explore their musical talent.
What are your ambitions for RBC?
The Junior Conservatoire has a special role to play in helping talented young people who have not had the right opportunities to develop their skills and achieve their musical ambitions.
What do you to outside of the role when you are not working?
Music is my life, so I love to make music with friends but in between I like to walk and run in the countryside with my border collie, Rufus.