The Contemporary Conservatoire

Our staff

Our academic staff are chosen from the cream of the performing arts professions. Many of them are eminent performers or practitioners in their own right, and bring a wealth of professional experience to their role.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – Photo by Robert McFadzean

We aim for a balance of seasoned wisdom and young innovative talent, so you will find among CUK staff the widest range of ages, methods and philosophies.

You will also find the widest range of nationalities. International artists and practitioners are as keen to teach in CUK conservatoires as foreign students are to learn in them.

In addition to the regular teaching staff, conservatoires also devote significant time and resources to creating a busy programme of master-classes, workshops, lectures and performances, given by the most eminent visitors. All students are agreed that these encounters with the stars of the artistic world are an invaluable part of the experience of studying at a CUK conservatoire. Here are some examples:

  • A world-famous conductor is invited to conduct a Mahler symphony with the conservatoire’s orchestra
  • A famous singer and accompanist give a joint master-class on Schubert songs
  • An eminent theatre director or actor gives a practical workshop for acting students
  • A renowned film composer ‘in residence’ for a week, teaching composition students and supervising performances of his own music
  • A leading Casting Director auditions individual students and offers career guidance
  • Eminent choreographers commissioned to be ‘in residence’ for five weeks to create innovative new work, with students working as a quasi-professional dance company, rehearsing with the rehearsal director in preparation for touring the work made
  • A renowned television and film production designer offers guidance on conceptual work produced by design course students

Sometimes these are one-off encounters. But in general the conservatoires are keen to foster long-term relationships, sometimes formalised by offering the distinguished visitor an ‘International Chair’ in their particular specialism.

All this brings a healthy diversity of perspectives and feedback and external validation, and helps to make CUK conservatoires such lively, forward-looking and stimulating places to be.