Annual Review 2003 The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Contents About the Associated Board | 1 The year at a glance | 2 Review of the year | 4 Around the world | 9 Examiners | 10 Representatives | 14 Professional Development | 16 ABRSM Publishing | 19 Diplomas | 20 Scholarships and bursaries | 26 UK and Ireland prize winners | 27 Hedy King Robinson prize winners | 30 The year in figures | 32 ASSOCIATED BOARD ANNUAL REVIEW 2003 About the Associated Board 1 The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music is a Patron charitable company established for the benefit of music Her Majesty The Queen education by four of the Royal Schools of Music in the UK: President Royal Academy of Music His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales Royal College of Music The Governing Body John Baker CBE, Chairman Royal Northern College of Music Lord Burns GCB Isobel Fowler Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Professor Edward Gregson Principal, Royal Northern College of Music The Associated Board’s core activity is the operation of an Humphrey Norrington OBE authoritative and internationally recognised system of Professor Curtis Price exams and assessments to encourage and motivate Principal, Royal Academy of Music players and singers at all levels through the provision of Dame Janet Ritterman DBE goals and the measurement of progress. Director, Royal College of Music Neil Taylor As the world leader in its field, the Associated Board Professor John Wallace currently conducts over 600,000 music exams each year in Principal, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama more than 90 countries. Richard Morris, Chief Executive Timothy Leates, Secretary ABRSM Publishing is one of the UK’s leading music publishers, whose publications support the exams, provide Senior Executives additional repertoire and contribute to music education. Richard Morris, Chief Executive The Associated Board also provides professional Richard Crozier, Professional Development Director development services for instrumental and singing teachers Leslie East, Director of Publishing through its widely acclaimed Certificate of Teaching course Tim Leates, Director of Finance and Administration (CT ABRSM) and a range of seminars and workshops. Philip Mundey, Director of Examinations Our principal objective is to maintain and develop the Tim Arnold, Head of International Operations services and products which we provide to music teachers Eugene O’Donnell, IT Manager and students to the highest standards. We also seek to Simon Mathews, Production Director play a significant role in influencing political debate in Penelope Milsom, Head of UK and favour of music education. Ireland Exam Administration Giles Morris, Head of Corporate Marketing Caroline Perkins, Senior Music Editor Nigel Scaife, Syllabus Principal Clara Taylor, Chief Examiner ASSOCIATED BOARD ANNUAL REVIEW 2003 2 The year at a glance • UK: Grade 5 Theory seminar for teachers in London January • UK: Certificate of Teaching Tasters for prospective students • Australia: Jazz Works - four-day jazz courses for teachers • UK: High Scorers’ Concerts in Darlington and in Melbourne, Perth and Wollongong Sunbury-on-Thames • Malaysia and Singapore: jazz workshops for teachers • Singapore: Certificate of Teaching Taster for prospective students May • USA: High Scorers’ Concert in San Francisco • Greece: celebrations to mark 25 years of Associated Board exams • Indonesia: High Scorers’ Concerts in Bandung, February Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya • UK: Music for Youth Regional Festival Series begins in • UK: first concert given by Associated Board collaboration with the Associated Board Scholars at the Associated Board’s office in London • UK: High Scorers’ Concerts in Bangor, Chippenham, • UK: Certificate of Teaching Open Mornings for Paignton and Plymouth prospective students • Singapore: High Scorers’ Concert • UK: jazz syllabus launch in Birmingham • UK: High Scorers’ Concert in Doncaster • USA: ABRSM Publishing exhibits at the Retail Print March Music Dealers Association in Dallas • Germany: ABRSM Publishing exhibits at the Frankfurt Music Fair • Malaysia and Singapore: Professional Development Programme for teachers begins • New Zealand: Local Representatives’ National Conference • USA: High Scorers’ Concert in Monterey June • ABRSM Publishing launches a range of new jazz publications • Bahrain: High Scorers’ Concert • Singapore: Certificate of Teaching and Diploma Award • France: High Scorers’ Concert in Paris Ceremony for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore • Qatar: High Scorers’ Concert in Doha ASSOCIATED BOARD ANNUAL REVIEW 2003 August • Malaysia and Singapore: Professional Development Programme begins September • Ireland: High Scorers’ Concert in Dublin • Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar: Richard Morris, Chief Executive, and Tim Arnold, Head of International Operations, present seminars and teachers’ meetings • UK: seminars for flute and clarinet teachers in Cambridge, Glasgow and Liverpool • UK: High Scorers’ Concerts in Bolton, Doncaster, Southampton and Sunbury-on-Thames 3 October • ABRSM Publishing receives two Music Industries Association Awards for Selected Piano Examination Pieces 2003–2004 • Launch of the new Associated Board website: www.abrsm.org • Egypt: celebrations to mark 50 years of Associated Board exams • Hong Kong: Certificate of Teaching Award Ceremony • Malaysia and Singapore: first jazz exams • UK: seminar for flute and clarinet teachers in Bristol • UK: jazz syllabus launches in London and Cardiff • UK: first European Representatives’ Conference in London • USA: High Scorers’ Concerts in Portland and San Francisco November July • Hong Kong: Diploma Award Ceremony • Malaysia: Professional Development Conference in Penang • Hong Kong: Certificate of Teaching Taster for • Portugal: High Scorer’s Concert in Porto prospective students • UK: seminars for flute and clarinet teachers in • Malaysia and Singapore: jazz workshops for teachers London and York • UK: jazz syllabus launch in Glasgow • UK: ABRSM Publishing exhibits at the British Music Fair December in Birmingham • USA: ABRSM Publishing signs a new distribution • Malta: celebrations to mark 100 years of Associated agreement with C F Peters Corporation, New York Board exams • UK: Certificate of Teaching Award Ceremony at the Royal College of Music in London ASSOCIATED BOARD ANNUAL REVIEW 2003 4 Review of the year Introduction UK and Ireland Examinations In the early part of the year it seemed as if the Associated Entries were received for some 348,000 practical and Board’s work during 2003 might be seriously damaged by theory exams in the UK and Ireland in 2003. The practical the combined impact of the SARS epidemic, international exams were conducted by 598 examiners at 349 public terrorism and the Iraq war. It was fortunate that the major exam centres as well as at a wide range of private venues international tours to the Far East were as usual scheduled across the country. The Associated Board remains deeply for the second half of the year and, in the event, apart indebted to its team of Honorary Local Representatives from Indonesia, there were no cancellations of planned (HLRs), now numbering 280, who shoulder much of the exams. In fact exam entries overseas continued on their responsibility for local administration of exams. Their long-term upward trend, reaching a record level of around contribution was further recognised in 2003 through the 260,000. This was sufficient to counter the 1.7% downturn inauguration of a new long-service award scheme, with the in the UK and enabled us to inch above the previous year, first awards being made at the Annual Lunch held in July. setting a new global record of over 609,000 entries in the Some HLRs organised High Scorers’ Concerts in their year. The Publishing Company’s turnover, although down regions to celebrate the achievement of candidates who on the exceptional 2002 level, achieved budget despite attain the highest marks and these were again significant loss of sales in those countries most affected by enthusiastically attended during the year. SARS. 2003 was also a busy year for the Professional Development Department with the CT ABRSM course The high priority given by the Board to customer service continuing to run in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, and was also evident at our office in London with particular much else besides. attention being given to maximising notice of exam dates, flexibility with changes of appointment and issuing results In July, David Kent retired from both the Governing Body promptly. Later closing dates are now available for those and the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the entering online and an increasing proportion of applicants Associated Board. He had given valuable service since took advantage of this system. 1998 and had in particular played a significant role in the decision to relocate the Board from Bedford Square in 2000. We wish him a happy retirement and, on the International Examinations nomination of the Royal Northern College of Music, Hong Kong once again led the way in terms of international welcome Neil Taylor in his place. We also warmly growth and plans were laid during the year to offer a welcome Sir James Spooner who joined the Finance and second exam session there each spring, starting in 2004. General Purposes Committee on the nomination of the There was significant growth in entries in a number of Royal Academy of Music in March 2003. At the executive other countries as well, including Barbados, India, Mexico, level, Simon Mathews