CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS OF MUSIC

ANNUAL REPORT www.lcm.ac.uk @LeedsMusic WELCOME

Old School jazz musicians placed great store in positioning We will further diversify our curriculum in the years ahead, LEEDS COLLEGE of MUSIC themselves historically within the music, best summed and our footprint in Quarry Hill is set to expand considerably, up in the expression ‘know where you come from, know with this year’s Skyline Library the first of a number ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 where you’re going, know where you’re at’. Throughout of major projects. 2015/16, Leeds College of Music did exactly that, as we celebrated our opening in 1965, embraced the challenges and These projects will bring LCoM closer to the city core at a 03 Introduction opportunities of the here and now, and plotted our future time of renewed cultural energy in Leeds, driven by the city’s direction with the launch of our strategic plan 2015-20. bid for European Capital of Culture in 2023. It is an aspiration 04 2015/16: The Year at a Glance we wholeheartedly endorse, along with new initiatives such 06 Legacy Big Band Our plan is built around three quality pillars: exceptional as the Leeds BID, with whom we collaborated fruitfully in learning, musical discovery and collaboration, supported 2015/16. As a small specialist institution, collaboration is 08 Artistic Output by a further three growth pillars of sustainability, team in our organisational DNA. As a music conservatoire, it is 10 Alumni Activity development and exemplary facilities. These pillars provide in our artistic genes too. 2015/16 was an important year LCoM with the foundation on which we’ll progress our aims for seeding new partnerships, not just in Leeds, but right 12 Community and deliver our vision to be a leading European conservatoire. across the continent, as we commenced building our own Music Symposium European community, from Rotterdam to Copenhagen. Elsewhere in this report you’ll read of the many special 14 Finances moments that punctuated our 50th anniversary year; glittering Our students are creative explorers, and it is right that 16 Marc Almond occasions with pop icons, joyful musical reunions of old we should be exploratory too. We are proud of our friends, and sharing the transformative power of music with first half century in Leeds, and the city’s contribution 18 Looking Forward: Our Estate communities throughout Leeds. More than just celebrations, to the economic, social and cultural powerhouse that these events have left a legacy, driving the conservatoire is UK music. Together, we are looking forward. 20 Members & Supporters forward to have greater artistic and social impact.

Of course, teaching and learning is our overarching focus and our quest for continuous improvement in all aspects of the student experience was at the fore in 2015/16, from innovative new microstudio environments to a bespoke Gerry Godley mentoring scheme for female students. Our commitment to Principal & Managing Director rigorous academic standards was endorsed by the QAA in March 2016 on successful completion of LCoM’s first Higher Education Review since 2007. We also made significant improvements in many areas of the National Student Survey, with an overall satisfaction rating of 80% that now places Libby Raper LCoM above the UK conservatoire average for music. Chair, Leeds College of Music Sustainable growth informs our thinking, and in 2015/16 our Board of Directors student numbers increased by 5%, to 1200. Our distinctive offer of undergraduate pathways in Jazz, Pop, Classical, Music Business and Music Production, as well as Foundation and @LeedsMusic Postgraduate Degrees, BTEC qualifications and a thriving Photography David Lindsay Saturday Music School cemented our reputation as Europe’s Tom Arber largest and most plural conservatoire. 3 4

Workshops & Masterclasses www.lcm.ac.uk % We ran over 50 workshops and 2015/16 670 masterclasses, 97 featuring artists and industry professionals THE YEAR After Graduation of the highest calibre 97% of our 2015 graduates are 50 58 in employment or further study Concerts six months after graduation We put on over 670 AT A GLANCE concerts and events

2015 Graduates % FE Progression 83 83% of our graduates 88% of our 2015 achieved a first class or FE further education upper second degree students progressed to higher education, % became employed % or took a gap year Short Courses Award for Excellence 88 We ran 58 short courses We won the Music and summer schools Student Satisfaction Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award for Excellence

% 11 Student Numbers Our student numbers5 grew by 5% Overall student satisfaction Satisfaction with was above the conservatoire the Students’ Union average for music increased by 11% % % % Times Higher 20 49 55 Education Our Virtual Learning HE Applications Postgraduate Undergraduate FE students Environment was students students nominated in the Times % Applications to our HE Higher Education Leadership BA (Hons) Music (Folk) 13 courses grew by 13% and Management Awards BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting) Financial Support We distributed additional financial support to: 20% of our postgraduate students, @LeedsMusic 49% of our undergraduate students Newly Validated Courses 55% of our further education students Two new courses were validated to start in 2017 5 6

www.lcm.ac.uk 50th Anniversary Event LEGACY BIG BAND

As part of Leeds College of Music’s 50th LCoM graduates from the past 50 years were anniversary year, a Legacy Big Band project invited to form the band, including musicians was created to bring together graduates who have forged careers across the globe, from the last half century and celebrate writing for West End shows, film and TV, the impact that the conservatoire has and working with philharmonic orchestras made on the local and national jazz and artists like Jamiroquai, Pixie Lott, Björk, scene, as well as the education sector. Eric Clapton and Bon Jovi. They were:

Music pedagogy that focused on improvisation 1st Trumpet John Thirkell and contemporary studies was undeveloped 2nd Trumpet Robbie Robson in the 1960s and 1970s and Leeds College 3rd Trumpet Kim Macari of Music became the first institution in Europe, and one of the first in the world, to 4th Trumpet Steve Titchener structure a higher educational pathway for 5th Trumpet Tom Hill non-classical music. The Jazz and Light Music 1st Trombone Pete Beachill course was developed by pioneering LCoM 2nd Trombone Rick Taylor staff and the Legacy Big Band was a way to 3rd Trombone Kevin Holbrough pay tribute to them, as well as celebrate the success of the conservatoire’s students. 4th Trombone Chris Fower 5th Trombone Danny Barley Renowned pianist, LCoM alumna and visiting 1st Alto Andy Schofield professor, Nikki Iles, was asked to direct 2nd Alto Paul Jones the ensemble and selected a programme comprising her own original music, as well 1st Tenor Tori Freestone as that from past staff and students. 2nd Tenor Riley Stone-Lonergan Bari sax Phil Meadows Keys Nikki Iles “This project will have a lasting legacy. Guitar Alex Munk The event itself brought together some of the most creative LCoM graduates Bass Robin Mullarkey and Peter Ind, world renowned Drums Caroline Boaden bassist, talking to the audience about Vibes Matt Simm his involvement in bringing early Flute Karen Gourlay teaching approaches over from New York to Leeds was profound.”

Jamil Sheriff,

Jazz Curriculum Leader @LeedsMusic

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c were all involved in the two-day, annual city centre festival. British Art Show 8 As part of the British Art Show European Collaboration 8, around 20 LCoM students collaborated with choreographer Professor Andy West (Head of Gerry Turvey and dancers from the Postgraduate Studies) and Dr. Adam Northern School of Contemporary Martin (Principal Lecturer in Popular Dance (NSCD) in October 2015 for Music) accompanied five LCoM a performance at Leeds Art Gallery. Pop and Production students to The students composed a unique Mannheim in November 2015. They piece of music from which the were taught by colleagues at the dancers would draw inspiration and Popakademie and collaborated on improvise a routine. Josie Olney Songwriting and Production projects Second year Production and with students from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Classical Music student, Josie Professor Andy West Olney, composed for BBC4’s 2016 documentary Kew’s Forgotten Queen Professor Andy West (Head of Opera Project Postgraduate Study) saw his book ‘The Art of Songwriting’ published Classical students collaborated with by Bloomsbury in July 2016. Manchester Jazz Festival the performers from the Northern LCoM brought ‘B-Side Night’ to School of Contemporary Dance in ARTISTIC the Manchester Jazz Festival with March 2016 as part of the opera Contemporary Orchestra performances from the Student project ‘Orfeo... Can you hear me?’, Union Big Band, the Contemporary staged at Northern Ballet. & Pop Choir Jazz Orchestra - directed by Richard LCoM’s Contemporary Orchestra Iles (Lecturer in Jazz Trumpet), and Roland AIRA and Pop Choir performed concerts OUTPUT various pieces from the Mintons with LCoM Fellow Marc Almond at Playhouse 5-piece staff band. In July 2016, we ran our first Roland both Leeds Town Hall and the Royal Our students and staff AIRA short course. LCoM is now one of Festival Hall in London as part of make a significant impact only three AIRA Academies in Europe. Almond’s programme ‘A Celebration The Postgraduate of 20th Century Torch Songs’. both within and outside the Student Group Fight ing C conservatoire. Highlights ara The Postgraduate Student Group va Dr Jacob Thompson Bell ns li from the last year include: travelled to the University of Hull on ve Dr Jacob Thompson Bell (Principal

@LeedsMusic 13 October 2016 for the first of three at S Lecturer in Postgraduate Studies) o collaborative research symposia with u n gave a number of guest lectures at the aim of developing links between d C Malmö Academy of Music in Sweden i LCoM and Hull. t y from February 16-18 2016.

2 0 1 6 9 10 Joshua Broughton: John Newman: Music Production, 2014 BTEC National Diploma in

www.lcm.ac.uk Josh worked as Music Editor on the Popular Music, 2010 BBC series ‘River’ as well as ITV’s ‘The Songwriter and musician John ALUMNI Frankenstein Chronicles’ as part of Newman returned to LCoM on 20 his work with film and TV composer October 2015 for a special event Harry Escott. to launch the release of his book ‘Revolve: The Book’. This was followed by a Q&A with students ACTIVITY Adam Campbell, and fans. Our alumni exemplify Adam Winch-Furness, Alice Kovacs Hawes & the success of our Where Fires Are, Fighting Charlotte Hayes: Caravans & Vitamin approach to music Music Production, 2016 education, and are Alumni bands Where Fires Are, Adam Campbell, Adam Winch- Fighting Caravans and Vitamin all some of our strongest Furness, Alice Kovacs Hawes & performed as part of Live at Leeds Charlotte Hayes all began positions 2016. advocates in the creative at BBC Yorkshire. industries – here are Laura Oakes: some highlights of their Jack McKenna: Popular, 2012 achievements over the Music Production, 2011 Laura won won the ‘UK Female past year. Jack McKenna was nominated for Vocalist of the Year’ at the British the Rising Star award at the 2016 Country Music Awards in November Pro Sound Awards following album 2015 following the release of her self- releases with Melt Yourself Down, titled EP ‘Laura Oakes’. Teeth of the Sea and Eden Royals.

Dominique Chan: Joseph Hartwell Jones: Classical, 2009 Music Production, 2009 PG Diploma Performance Joseph received a Music Producers Voice, 2011 Guild ‘Single Release of the Year’ Award for FKA twigs single Dominique Chan enrolled in the ‘Pendulum’. Joe has worked closely Jockey Club Opera Hong Kong Artist with multi-Grammy award winning Development Programme – the first producer Paul Epworth alongside ever intensive opera training project artists including Adele, Usher and complemented with a series of Lianne La Havas. outreach activities in Hong Kong.

Legacy Big Band Katriona Gilmore & Led by graduate Nikki Iles, Legacy Jamie Roberts: Big Band featured an all-star cast Music Production, 2007 of alumni spanning the five decade history of the conservatoire. Katriona and Jamie, better known as folk duo Gilmore and Roberts were nominated for ‘Best Duo’ at the BBC @LeedsMusic @LeedsMusic Radio 2 Folk Awards in April 2016 following the release of their fourth album ‘Conflict Tourism’. Laura 2012 Popular Oakes, 11 12

www.lcm.ac.uk 50th Anniversary Event COMMUNITY MUSIC SYMPOSIUM

The Community Music Project at Leeds College The event began with a keynote, delivered by Since the Symposium LCoM of Music gives students the opportunity to Prof. Nick Rowe and Chris Bartram from the has led and collaborated in a work with people of different skills and cultures NHS partnership project Converge at York outside formal performance settings, enabling St John University, highlighting the value of number of community music them to enjoy and learn from making music music education as a vehicle for mental illness strategies and projects as a with each other. The project connects them prevention and recovery. Christine Bates result of themes addressed at with their future audience/subscriber and (Module Coordinator for the Community the symposium, including: allows them to apply their musical skills within a Music Project, LCoM) then presented the context outside of education. LCoM has formed scope and impact of LCoM’s Community a number of creative relationships in order to Music Project across the City of Leeds. Recipe for Life deliver the project, which has been running successfully at LCoM for a number of years. During the afternoon session a live-streamed A collaboration between LCoM Community panel of LCoM third year undergraduates Music students and students at the Northern CM-Leeds16, a one-day symposium, was took questions from delegates and a live School of Contemporary Dance for the convened at Leeds College of Music on 15th viewing audience. They spoke of the value creation of a new piece of music and dance, March 2016 to celebrate the impact of the of placement learning in a community premiered during the West Yorkshire Community Music Project and LCoM’s position music context in shaping realistic career Playhouse Open Season in July 2016. in enriching musical learning across Leeds, as aspirations and in increasing their level part of the series of 50th anniversary events. of flexibility as practicing musicians. Head Space Delegates were invited from current An online platform for connecting LCoM placement providers in Leeds, community music practitioners and A collaboration, between LCoM Community along with significant regional agencies organisations and disseminating information Music students and young ambassadors with an interest and/or involvement in relevant to community music was from Leeds based mental health organisation community music activity, and were invited launched. Representatives of ten leading Shout Out, for the creation of two new songs to examine the benefits of community community / arts organisations in Leeds premiered at the Head Space showcase music practice in Leeds and determine have currently signed up to the platform in The Venue (LCoM) in October 2016. future developments and opportunities. and collaborative projects will feature on the platform into and throughout 2017. * Organisations represented The value of the project as a realistic and Converge Leeds at the Symposium: relevant vehicle for preparing LCoM graduates On October 20th 2016 Leeds College of LCoM is one of four education institutions LCoM, Converge York, Actionnaires, for employability was also discussed, as Music was awarded “Excellence in the (alongside Leeds Beckett, Leeds University, Leeds Probation Services, West well as LCoM’s aim to further establish itself field of creativity and mental health” by Trinity All Saints University) partnering with Yorkshire Playhouse, First Floor, as a national centre for activity, learning the Leeds based Love Arts Festival for its NHS Leeds in the launch of Converge in Leeds Lovell Park Centre, NHS Leeds, Leeds and research in Community Music. work relating to the Community Music for Spring 2017. A songwriting course will be City Council, Space 2, East Leeds Module, extra-curricular community music facilitated by LCoM Community Music Project FM/ Heads Together, Artforms, activity and the 2016 Symposium. students at LCoM in February and March 2017. YAMSEN, Music and Youth Hull/ York, Arts and Minds, Love Arts @LeedsMusic @LeedsMusic

13 14 www.lcm.ac.uk FINANCES 31 July 2016 but is derived from those accounts which can be obtained from www.lcm.ac.uk/annualfinancialstatements from obtained be can which accounts those from 201631 derived is July but ended year the for accounts statutory conservatoire’s the constitute not does above out set information financial The Reserves at end of year end at Reserves Providing bars, catering and conferences and catering bars, Providing Reserves at beginning ofyear beginning at Reserves increase reserve Endowment scheme pension benefit Provision for defined disposal capital Profiton deficit Operating Total expenditure expenditure Other INCOME Maintaining our buildings, facilities & ICT facilities buildings, our Maintaining College the Running Deficit for the year after pension costs pension after the year for Deficit Providing academic services Running academic departments EXPENDITURE income Total Fundraising & donations funding grant Capital conferences and catering Income bars, from incomeOther contracts and grants Other Student tuition fees 31 July 2016 31 July ended for year statements financial Summary 10,850 (1,036) (1,063) 10,823 6,967 8,994 2,897 2,897 2,943 2,943 2,357 2,357 8,024 1,325 1,325 1,767 1,767 £000 2016 (27) 290 209 677 110 54 50 6 -

10,050 10,076 8,024 1,495 1,495 8,094 8,512 2,681 2,681 2,271 2,271 1,775 1,775 £000 2,616 2,616 (822) (491) 2015 (26) 256 572 357 138 161 60 3 7

27% Allocation of student fee of student Allocation 2015–16 Expenditure 2015–16Income 20% 12% 15% 6% 1% 0% 16% 3% 2% 1% 0% 19% 25% 27% 83% 21% 22% Fundraising & donations funding grant Capital &conferences catering Income bars, from Capital disposal income incomeOther & contracts grants Other Student tuition fees equipment & studios Provision ofmusical &ICT facilities buildings, our Maintaining College the Running academic services Providing academic departments Running Other expenditure Other & conferences catering Providing bars, &ICT facilities buildings, our Maintaining College the Running academic services Providing academic departments Running £1 on staff costs spent income of The proportion 60 growth Income 8 year running the second £1Mwas for EBITDAHE 83 tuition fees tuition from student generated income our Of At aglance % M % % £2.9 & facilities buildings maintaining £2.9M We spent + £0.9 in year in over 600% by income fundraising We increased & facilities buildings £0.9M our in We invested 600 M M %

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www.lcm.ac.uk 50th Anniversary Event MARC ALMOND CONCERTS

In 2014, Ivor Novello award-winning singer The two concerts sold out and were rapturously Marc Almond became a Fellow of Leeds received by audiences, as well as being College of Music. In 2015 he joined us to extremely well reviewed by the press, featuring celebrate our 50th anniversary, collaborating on the BBC television programme, Inside Out. with students and alumni for three stunning Marc hailed the orchestra and choir as ‘some of performances in Leeds and London. the greatest musicians I’ve ever worked with’.

The first event, in October 2015, saw Marc collaborate with the Contemporary Pop Choir and New Music Collective, as well as alumni Martin Longhawn and Alex Munk, “More than anything this project for An Evening with Marc Almond in The embodies the spirit of innovation, Venue. Students and alumni spent a full which is so important to us at Leeds day working with the pop icon, before College of Music, and the spirit of embarking on an evening performance interdisciplinary collaboration. You showcasing songs from his back catalogue. have pop singers working alongside classical musicians, jazz musicians Students who took part in the event and all of those different disciplines gained a vast amount of professional have different ways of working so it’s insight and experience, and the success been interesting for the students to be of the evening acted as a catalyst for exposed to that.” following performances at Leeds Town Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Craig Lees, Director, Pop Choir Working on a range of Torch Songs from the second half of the 20th Century, selected by the former Soft Cell star, The Pop Choir and the New Music Collective “The whole point of a musician (temporarily renamed the ‘Leeds College studying at a conservatoire is that of Music Contemporary Orchestra’) joined you want to enter the industry and to “I’ve worked with a lot of musicians Marc for several days of rehearsals. be a professional musician, so what in my time, in the 35 odd years I’ve an amazing opportunity for {our As in the initial October concert, all the material students} to perform in one of the been making music, and this is one was arranged by New Music Collective director, country’s top performance venues in a of the best things I’ve ever done. Damien Harron, and Pop Choir director, fully professional situation.” The musicians, the singers, the Craig Lees. The songs ranged in genre from arrangements…it’s been a real treat.” electro-pop to jazz to pop ballads, allowing the student instrumentalists and singers Dr Damien Harron, Marc Almond to experience a diverse range of styles. Director, New Music Collective @LeedsMusic @LeedsMusic

17 18 www.lcm.ac.uk

Venue Extension

Scheduled to commence works in April 2017, the impressive extension to The Venue will transform the conservatoire’s main performance space into a spectacular, flexible space for creativity. The new development will enhance student experience, whilst also hosting high-profile artists and events open to music-lovers across the city.

With this new development, LCoM aims to further attract top calibre, professional musicians to perform and give educational workshops as part of its distinguished Masterclass programme. The eclectic event schedule will reflect the conservatoire’s varied approach to teaching, including classical, jazz, folk, pop and new music.

The new space will offer an in-situ bar, catering facilities and state-of-the-art technical equipment, with breakout rooms to facilitate conferences and educational events. It will also be an area for young people to study at the weekend on LCoM’s Saturday Music School and LOOKING FORWARD the Yorkshire Young Musicians provision. OUR ESTATE Leeds City College Quarry Hill Campus Work to create a bespoke space for LCoM’s new music Skyline Library library in the Quarry Hill Skyline building began in January Leeds City College is planning the development 2017. The impressive new accommodation will dramatically of a purpose built campus at Quarry Hill. This new increase the resources available to students and open up facility will include additional space for Leeds the conservatoire’s impressive facilities to the public. College of Music, alongside the college’s Digital and Creative Arts faculty, creating a bespoke The new library will house LCoM’s huge vinyl archive and space for FE Music provision, as well as housing music collection, which includes over 30,000 items of rehearsal and performance space for LCoM’s new printed music, 11,000 CDs, 700 DVDs and 9,000 LPs, as well courses in performance and dramatic arts. as around 8,000 books. The two-storey development will also contain student learning spaces, staff offices, quiet and Leeds City Council has already approved plans, meeting rooms and I.T. and communications facilities. and phase 1, which includes the dedicated space for Leeds College of Music’s expanding The space in the main campus building, created by provision, is scheduled for completion in 2019. the relocation of the library, will be repurposed into @LeedsMusic additional teaching and practice spaces for students.

19 20 Members of the LCoM Board Members of the Executive of Directors (1 August 2015 to Management Group (1 August 31 July 2016) 2015 to 31 July 2016) www.lcm.ac.uk

Colin Booth OBE (from 1 October 2015) Principal & Managing Director Cherry Fricker Gerry Godley Gerry Godley Director of Curriculum Professor Joe Wilson Dr Claire Mera-Nelson Director of Operational Services Neal Parker David Warren Libby Raper (Chair) Head of Finance Peter Roberts CBE (to 30 September 2015) Mark Hilton Benjamin Saunders

Our supporters

Trusts & Foundations Supporters of Scholarships Diocese of Leeds Music Department Core Funding: Dr. Alan Hawkshaw Medasil Surgical Limited Rodney Green Yorkshire Ladies Council of Education Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir

Supporters of Young Musicians

Capital Funding:

Supporters of Academic Prizes

David Thompson Other Generous Donors Janet Stones and family Ian Todd & Michael Rollins Mr and Mrs. Glover Martin Staniforth Production Room Mike Aspey Professor David Hoult Robert Tebb

The Rotary Club of Leeds @LeedsMusic William Atkinson William Hyde 21 Leeds College of Music 3 Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7PD

Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0113 222 3400 www.lcm.ac.uk

LeedsMusic1965 @LeedsMusic