ROYAL
BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE ASSOCIATION 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Christopher
Morley
Who would have thought that the proposal to create an
organisation devoted to the well-being of music students could go through so
many travails? Yet reading through John Smith’s meticulously-assembled history
of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association it becomes abundantly clear that such
altruistic aims had to jump through so many hoops before achieving reality.
It all began when staff and alumni of the then Birmingham
School of Music thought it would be a good and noble idea to establish a kind
of old boys’ club to assist the current students of their alma mater with
support both financial and moral. But years of correspondence between the then
Principal of the BSM, Louis Carus, and authorities at the then City of
Birmingham Polytechnic faltered at stumbling-block upon stumbling-block (not
much has changed in recent years, during the BSM’s renaming through Birmingham
Conservatoire until at last today the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and the
City of Birmingham Polytechnic now firmly established as Birmingham City
University).
There were similar difficulties with the Charities’
Commission, but virtue transcended bureaucracy
and now the RBCA is currently celebrating the (slightly
lockdown-delayed) 40th anniversary of its founding.
Among the many facets of the Association’s work over those
40 years has been the annual Freshers’ Welcome evening, hosted by the popular
Jeremy Patterson, now Emeritus Chair of the RBCA, the providing of an ever-open door to
students in need of help and advice, and, spectacularly, the highly successful
campaign spearheaded by the late Pamela Hobson, to find sponsors to name seats
in the splendid Adrian Boult Hall, the jewel of an auditorium within the busy
and welcoming Paradise Circus Conservatoire building, now sadly gone to that
great demolition yard in the sky.
Tony Bridgewater, Chair of the RBCA, tells me more about the
make-up of the organisation and its activities.
“RBCA
currently has just over 400 active members, made up of Annual members, Life members
and a small number of Honorary members. They come from all walks of life, and
are not just Alumni. All are motivated by a love of music and the pleasure of
supporting students at the Conservatoire who are in financial need. Most
members are 40 years old and above, but there are a few younger members,
including some undergraduates who are offered free membership for a year.
“We have developed the work of the RBCA in a number of ways. In
partnership with RBC we now offer ‘RBCA Awards’ to the most financially
vulnerable students. RBCA pays £2,000, and this is match funded by RBC. The
award is made in year 1 and continues through the 4 years of the undergraduate
course, a total of £16,000 support per student. We aimed to have one Award
winner in each year, but due to the current increase in financial pressures on
students we have made two awards this year. In addition, an alumnus has donated
the money to create a 3rd bursary, the Jane Anne Smith RBCA
Award.
“We have also given £1,000 to an Audition Fee Waiver Scheme, which
removes the barrier of audition fees for students from low income families
wishing to apply to RBC.
“In addition, we consider requests for one -ff support for
students, including £1,000 to a young composer from Brazil with sight impairment,
and we are currently making a similar contribution to a young pianist from
Kenya.”
During the pandemic lockdown, development staff in the RBC administration worked heroically to
host a monthly series of Zoom meetings, RBCA Together, so that members could
keep in touch, sharing in a fascinating variety of online presentations from
staff members, alumni and others. There were many tributes and grateful accolades.
“What an interesting and informative session. Truly
inspirational”, was one. Another emailed “Thank you and your team for bringing
some Christmas cheer into our home today.” And yet another, “The details of how
RBCA Together are supporting students was a very welcome reminder of why we are
so keen to see RBCA thrive.”
Past Principals of Birmingham Conservatoire pay tribute to
the work of the Association. Professor Kevin Thompson, now based in the Far
East, even draws on Robert Browning.
“"Living
overseas one is truly thankful of being able to remain in touch. Browning’s,
‘Home Thoughts from Abroad’, becomes more pertinent with passing years. RBCA Together online events enable musicians,
alumni, friends and supporters to continue interactive engagement with Royal
Birmingham Conservatoire; its high quality endeavours, work in progress and in
performance. That one is able to keep
up-to-date, wherever in the world one lives will remain an enduring source of
pleasure. Heart speaks to heart, cor ad cor loquitur - more idiomatically, what
comes from the heart goes to the heart." In his ending Kevin
subconsciously quotes from the inscription Beethoven scribbled on the
title-page of his Missa Solemnis.
Professor
David Saint praises the recently-instigated RBCA Awards scheme, created to
assist deserving young musicians as they progress in their work.
"As
a recent President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and former RBC
Principal I have seen the challenges facing new and aspiring professional
musicians, and I am delighted to support the RBCA Award campaign to help and
encourage them in their studies."
And
world-famous cellist and conductor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of Birmingham
Conservatoire when it was awarded the “Royal” accolade (and which delayed publication
of my own history of the institution while all titlings were amended by the
brilliant publishers) declares,
“I have
always believed that every young person in the UK should have access to high
quality music education. The RBCA helps to give a wide range of students the
support and confidence they need to succeed at our outstanding Royal Birmingham
Conservatoire.”
*The
RBCA 40th celebration concert and AGM will be held at the Royal
Birmingham Conservatoire on Sunday October 30 (2pm). Interim Principal Shirley
Thompson will be present, along with Past Principals Kevin Thompson, David
Saint and Julian Lloyd Webber OBE. There will be performances from current RBC
students.
ends