Music Theatre Wales’ Make an Aria workshop with
Sir Harrison Birtwistle
In 2010, acclaimed composer John Hardy was appointed to lead the
College’s training in composition, bringing together what were
previously two separate departments of Composition and Creative
Music Technology. His continuing aim is to ensure that all students
are fully tuned in to the changing needs of the music
profession.
Students with diverse backgrounds now benefit from working
closely within this tight-knit department, which delivers
specialist training covering the full range of compositional
techniques and approaches through individual lessons and classes,
tailored to individual needs. There are regular opportunities for
students to pool their experience and draw on each other’s
strengths. Each student is expected to take their own individual
journey very seriously while remaining open to discussions relating
to aesthetics and inspiration, to the exploration of outlets for
their work, and to improving the way they communicate about their
music.
Many students are attracted by the strong emphasis on
performance opportunities, which include workshops with RWCMD
orchestras, contemporary music ensembles and a wide variety of
chamber and vocal groups at the College. In addition to this, there
are opportunities to engage with professional ensembles including
the BBC National Orchestra of Wales as well as regular
collaborations with Music Theatre Wales on opera projects.
An emphasis on pursuing collaborative partnerships with
professional music bodies and organisations from other disciplines
such as dance and theatre as well as record labels, recording &
editing studios, film and TV companies, art galleries and other
curated venues creates opportunities for composers and sonic
artists to attend rehearsals and performances, recordings and film
sets to observe the processes of art taking shape, to build
valuable relationships with other practitioners, and to know how to
function in professional creative environments.