Music plays a special role in our lives, often influencing our mood and helping us through challenging times. Leeds is home to many talented and successful musicians, some of whom stayed to build their careers in the city, while others ventured elsewhere after receiving their education. Leeds Conservatoire, also known as the Leeds Music Centre or Leeds College of Music, is located in the Quarry Hill area and has nurtured numerous British musicians. Learn more about this institution on leeds-trend.com.
The Establishment of Leeds Conservatoire
The story of Leeds Conservatoire began in 1965 when it was founded as the Leeds Music Centre, offering extracurricular music classes at the Leeds Institute building. Six years later, it became a branch of the University of Leeds and was renamed Leeds College of Music.
The college flourished, educating talented young musicians. In 1993, it became the first institution in Europe to offer a degree in jazz. Four years later, the college moved to a new building in Quarry Hill, adjacent to Leeds Playhouse.
In 2010, the conservatoire merged with Leeds City College, becoming a subsidiary of the Leeds City College Group. This merger resulted in the institution losing its status as a higher education provider. Degrees were initially accredited by the University of Bradford and later by the University of Hull.
Development of the Conservatoire
In 2012, Leeds Conservatoire received a £2 million grant for renovations, which included updating recording studios and public spaces. As part of this refurbishment, the conservatoire acquired 54 Steinway pianos, making it the only All-Steinway school in England.
The conservatoire launched the Sounds Like THIS festival in 2017, a well-received event that secured Arts Council England funding for its 2018 edition. That same year, the conservatoire opened its concert hall, The Venue, and a new music library. Following the relocation of the library, the fifth floor of the main building was renovated with new learning and rehearsal spaces at a cost of £500,000.
In 2018, Leeds Conservatoire regained its status as a higher education provider and began collaborating with Opera North in 2019. The institution adopted the name Leeds Conservatoire in August 2020.
Notable Alumni of Leeds Conservatoire
Many distinguished musicians have graduated from Leeds Conservatoire, including:
- David Newton: A Scottish jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Newton studied piano at the conservatoire and later launched a solo career, recording three albums as a leader for Linn Records. He is now a principal lecturer in jazz piano at Leeds Conservatoire.
- Nikki Iles: A British jazz composer, pianist, and educator. Iles studied at the conservatoire from 1981 to 1984 and was a member of the group Emanon, performing her compositions. In 1996, she received the John Dankworth Special Award at a jazz festival and later taught at the conservatoire.
- Pete Wareham: A British saxophonist and composer who graduated from the conservatoire in 1997. Wareham led the bands Melt Yourself Down and Acoustic Ladyland and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. He is also known for producing albums for Melt Yourself Down since 2010.
- Alan Barnes: A saxophonist who studied saxophone, woodwind instruments, and arrangement at Leeds Conservatoire. Barnes began his career in 1980 with the Midnight Follies Orchestra and went on to tour Europe in 1983. He has played with numerous ensembles and received several awards.
- Chris Batchelor: A British jazz trumpeter and composer. Batchelor founded Loose Tubes and has performed with international stars such as Michael Brecker, Sam Rivers, Hermeto Pascoal, and Deborah Harry. In 2009, he received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for composers.
- Nicholas Webb: An English acoustic guitarist and composer, Webb was a co-founder of the contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy. He studied jazz at the conservatoire.
- Dave Bainbridge: An English guitarist and keyboardist. Bainbridge studied at Leeds Conservatoire and received the BBC Radio 2 Best Jazz Soloist Award. While at the conservatoire, he met Dave Fitzgerald, and together they formed the band Iona.
The conservatoire has educated many other talented individuals who have gone on to achieve success in various musical fields. We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the rich cultural heritage of Leeds and its contributions to the world of music.
