What's the difference? - University of Birmingham

The Birmingham Magazine 19
Heritage and culture
The University has been culturally influential since we
welcomed Sir Edward Elgar as our first Professor of Music
in 1905. The Barber Institute opened in 1939 and has seen
performances from the classical and operatic greats.
Our status as a top-two music department in
the UK, alongside international recognition, is
richly deserved and we shall continue to attract
and inspire the next generation of performers
through outstanding new research, teaching
and performance facilities such as the
450-seat Chancellor’s Court Auditorium
and the refurbished Barber Concert Hall.
The University also provides opportunities
to engage uniquely and significantly with
culture and social heritage, and leads the way
in using technology to explain the relevance
of the past. Projects within the heritage and
culture theme include:
Chancellor’s Court Auditorium
Providing a 450-seat auditorium for music,
opera, drama and lectures as well as stateof-the-art
rehearsal and practice rooms and
recording facilities, the Chancellor’s Court
Auditorium project will also complete the
University’s central, crescent-shaped Aston
Webb building. Often described as the heart
of the Edgbaston campus, the building is also
the inspiration for all subsequent ‘red brick’
universities and a landmark of the University
and the city.
The University has one of the top music
departments in the country and the new
facilities will properly reflect its standing
and ensure Birmingham continues to attract
and develop the top musical professionals
and academics of the future
Centre for Heritage and Cultural Learning
The government’s cultural and creative
industries strategy recognises the importance
of heritage in promoting public wellbeing
and creating employment in media, leisure
and educational activities. However much
experience is hidden or isolated, making it
difficult to fully explore and enjoy. As well
as its own significant collections such as
the Barber Institute and Mingana Collections,
the University has strong links to the history
of the region – from Shakespeare and Elgar
to Cadbury’s and Ironbridge. To bring these
links together with our multidisciplinary
expertise, we are creating the Centre for
Heritage and Cultural Learning to create
new routes into our heritage for everyone.
Learn more
www.alumni.bham.ac.uk/circlesofinfluence
‘I’m excited by the
University of Birmingham’s
Chancellor’s Court project
– as a centre of excellence
for talented musicians and
as a venue which opens up
music-making to the wider
community.’
Sir Simon Rattle
Principal Conductor of the Berliner
Philharmoniker and formerly of the
CBSO (DMus Honorary Degree, 1984)
‘The Chancellor’s Court
project adds to our heritage,
brings vital rehearsal and
performance facilities for
our orchestras and choirs,
and provides purpose-built
accommodation for research
and teaching in our worldclass
music department.’
Professor John Whenham,
Donor and Head of Music
New era for music: The Chancellor’s Court Auditorium will complete the Aston Webb semi-circle