Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Round-up #1
There's been a lot going on at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire this month, from award wins to new social events. Join us in celebrating these successes!
1. Students wins BBC Young Musician of the Year
Jordan Ashman, a first year RBC student and percussionist won the BBC Young Musician of the Year award. The announcement was made during the broadcast of the competitions grand final. Jordan won the award following his performance of composer Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto. He was accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Mark Wigglesworth.
He is set to take the stage again, performing as part of a programme of three brass bands to mark Remembrance Sunday and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
2. Stephen Maddock OBE announced as new Principal
CBSO Chief Exec Stephen Maddock OBE has been appointed as the new Principal as Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Stephen, internationally known as an ambassador for the city of Birmingham and its music output, will take up the position after spending the last 23 years as Chief Executive of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) - one of the world’s leading symphony orchestras.
3. Acting Alumnus becomes the face of Apple
VonDexter Montegut II, an MA Acting graduate, has become the face of major tech company Apple thanks to his leading role in a series of videos.
He said: “I was very fortunate to be selected by Apple to represent them in multiple videos. My journey with the company has been proof positive that luck truly is when preparation meets opportunity.
“Working with Apple was so special, and it’s been cool to see how we align so much of the process. I feel empowered to show up on set and offer multiple takes on certain scenes. We have crafted a synergy between us where we can construct multiple viable takes on a scene. I feel like a collaborator on the work and not a tool of the work.”
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4. Ivor Novello nomination for RBC Professor
In the annual Ivor Novello Composer Awards, Professor of Composition Joe Cutler, alumni Liz Dilnot-Johnson and Benjamin Graves have been nominated in the Large Ensemble category for 'Concerto Grosso', in the Community and Participation category for 'When a Child is a Witness - Requiem for Refugees', and Small Chamber category for 'Corale' for viola and piano respectively. The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 15 November.
5. Students and alumna join LMTO scheme
BMus (Woodwind) students Benjamin Adams and Elly Barlow, and alumna Eve Abram have the West End within their reach since being selected for the London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s development scheme for young musical theatre players.
The London Musical Theatre Orchestra (LMTO) is the only professional orchestra in the world that is dedicated to musical theatre, and through its development scheme, aims to support ‘the next generation of musical theatre players’.