Annual Review 2008-2009 Contents
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Annual Review 2008-2009 Contents About ABRSM n 3 Who’s Who n 3 Chairman’s Statement n 4 Chief Executive’s Review n 5 Exams and Assessments n 8 Online Resources n 12 Publications n 14 Professional Development n 17 Giving n 19 Financial Summary n 20 New Diploma Holders n 21 Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards n 25 New CT ABRSM Holders n 26 Prize Winners n 26 Examiners n 30 CT ABRSM Course Leaders and Mentors n 32 Representatives n 32 The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Annual Review for the year ended 31 January 2009 2 n • ABRSM AnnualReview08-09.36PP 22/4/09 14:23 Page 2 About ABRSM Who’s Who Music is at the heart of our work. We are here to support Patron and encourage music learning throughout the world so Her Majesty The Queen everyone can share in its power. President We motivate musical achievement through our His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales authoritative assessment of students, the professional development of their teachers and a wide range of Governing Body published resources. We also actively support music Lord Sutherland of Houndwood KT, Chairman education through funding and advocacy. Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of RAM ABRSM is the leading authority on musical assessment. Professor Colin Lawson, Director of RCM By setting and delivering our exams rigorously and Philip Ramsbottom consistently we set the worldwide gold standard, with over Alan Smith 600,000 people, in over 90 countries, choosing to take Professor Jonty Stockdale, Principal of RNCM them every year. Tony Travis Professor John Wallace OBE, Principal of RSAMD As part of our commitment to excellence in music Nicholas Ward education, we provide a rich resource of materials, from albums of repertoire for the earliest stages of learning to Richard Morris, Chief Executive scholarly editions of the great composers. Our online Timothy Leates, Secretary presence includes SoundJunction, our award-winning site for young people. Executive Directorate Richard Morris, Chief Executive We know that good teachers endeavour to enhance their professional skills. We support their continuing Leslie East, Executive Director: Syllabus & Publishing professional development through our innovative Timothy Leates, Executive Director: Finance & Administration courses and online learning. Tim Arnold, International Operations Director To build on 120 years of inspiring generations of Richard Crozier, Professional Development Director musicians, we provide charitable donations, scholarships Penny Milsom, UK Operations Director and sponsorship, as well as acting as an advocate for Eugene O’Donnell, IT Director music education. We do all we can to give music a voice Nigel Scaife, Syllabus Director in public life because we believe it has the power to Ben Selby, Marketing Director change people’s lives. Clara Taylor, Chief Examiner n 3 • ABRSM AnnualReview08-09.36PP 22/4/09 14:23 Page 3 Chairman’s Statement ABRSM is distinctive and indeed unique. It is very difficult to identify any other institution which is quite like it. The whole organisation and those who work in it declare a set of values which inform and structure all that happens within it. These values start with a commitment to the importance of music in our culture. That leads inevitably to giving high priority to excellence in music performance. The primary responsibility of ABRSM is in evaluating or examining the level of performance, but as a thoughtful organisation, we also provide support to teachers and pupils through our immensely successful publications, innovations such as SoundJunction and various forms of training packages. The values represented by dedication to music and especially to musical performance must therefore be complemented by those which underwrite an organisation which depends upon the shared vision and professionalism of a very wide range of colleagues – both in ‘head office’, in local representative capacities, in publishing, and in the core business of examining and teaching. I think that I am justified in claiming that there is here a unique blend of value, skill and professionalism! To go further, I believe it appropriate and realistic in the light of performance, for ABRSM to continue to aspire to set international gold standards in its core activities. That this is realistic is to be seen in the current success of its overseas al College of Music al College as well as its UK-based examining portfolio. y Other sectors involved in public examining have shown how delicate is the balance in maintaining consistency of standards against volume of activity, and sadly how small the margin is between success and failure. I have spent part esy of the Ro ourt of the year reviewing the difficulties experienced by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in delivering c national SATS results to schools. It has brought home to me very forcibly how easy it is to lose control of a process which involves assessment of large numbers of pupils to a common high standard. It is never wise to be complacent, ograph but I reflect with admiration on the continuing success of ABRSM to maintain standards and consistency in Phot examining on a world-wide basis. Those who examine and those who administer the process are to be warmly congratulated. The point here is that the excellences within the organisation, and the values on which they are based can never be taken for granted. Vision must always be allied to attention to detail, and thorough professionalism. Happily, this has been the continuing experience to date, and I admire the (often hidden) efforts which colleagues make to ensure that we continue in this vein. Stewart Sutherland Chairman 4 n • ABRSM AnnualReview08-09.36PP 22/4/09 14:23 Page 4 Chief Executive’s Review al College of Music al College y esy of the Ro ourt c ograph Phot Performance over the past year volumes. In addition, new syllabuses and publications The past year was one in which we focussed strongly on were issued for both Guitar and Singing. Entries for our our core examination activities, while laying firm Singing exams have grown consistently over 20 years and foundations for the future. we anticipate that the superb new series of ABRSM Songbooks will give yet further impetus to this excellent The central feature was the issue of a new Piano syllabus, trend. The launch of these syllabuses was supported which included a broader approach to repertoire and during 2008 by a full set of seminars and professional substantial revisions to supporting tests. This new syllabus development programmes, both in the UK and overseas, was complemented by an extensive range of new designed to introduce teachers to the changes and to the publications, which generated exceptionally high sales new materials. n 5 • ABRSM AnnualReview08-09.36PP 22/4/09 14:23 Page 5 It was especially gratifying that, during 2008, the albums to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for their music education needs. of pieces for violin, flute and clarinet, published in the As a direct response, we have taken action to achieve the previous year, continued to sell extremely well. Attention maximum integration of our operations. Following on was also given to Theory exams with the launch of revised from the earlier co-ordination of syllabus and publishing and re-presented versions of Music Theory in Practice for planning, we have now established a single Marketing Grades 1 to 5. Department to manage our relations with all those who use our diverse services and products. We are ABRSM examiners maintained our reputation for the communicating this new approach by adopting the single highest levels of professionalism and consistency name ABRSM, in place of the multiple names by which throughout the year. This was enhanced by online we have been known in different parts of our operations developments, which provided new professional and in different parts of the world. This is encapsulated development opportunities for examiners, including in our new logo, which symbolises both our musical marking exercises and a series of presentations on mission and royal connections. specific instruments. It was also pleasing that the level of appeals against examiners’ decisions was at a record low. Over 50% of our income is now derived from overseas “The past year was one in activities. In 2008 exams were held for the first time in which we focussed strongly Vietnam, and we are planning to offer exams in Shanghai in the current year. In contrast, I was delighted to attend on our core examination celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of ABRSM activities, while laying firm exams in Jamaica. We will maintain our policy of offering to conduct exams anywhere in the world where there is foundations for the future.” viable demand. During 2008 we provided many professional development opportunities for teachers, through both formal courses This strategy was also reflected in infrastructure and presentations by examiners and mentors. 2008 also developments in 2008. ABRSM websites now provide a saw the launch of our renowned Certificate of Teaching wealth of resources for our online audiences around the course in Indonesia. We are planning in the current year world, including specialist areas within www.abrsm.org for to further extend our professional development work in individual countries in which we operate. Furthermore, the UK and overseas via new interactive online courses in 2008 we entered the world of podcasts creating for teachers. programmes to support the new 2009 syllabuses. At a more technical level, we conducted a successful pilot for Building for the future the online marking of theory papers, which will be taken Over the past year we concluded our lengthy market forward in 2009. There have also been significant research and brand review, which has created a blueprint improvements to communications through an upgraded for ABRSM strategy over coming years.