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20
jack McNeill
“Der kleiner Harlekin is a piece that’s
not often performed because it’s
complicated to put on and needs a lot of
rehearsal but it is a real challenge and
I’ve always been a big fan of theatre as
well as music so I’m really looking
forward to getting involved in this type
of performance.”
a Varied
MUSiCal
Career
Jack McNeill
in today’s constantly-evolving music
industry, a musician is likely to pursue
a ‘portfolio career’, working in several
areas simultaneously. Birmingham
Conservatoire graduate jack McNeill
plays clarinet for various groups and
orchestras on a freelance basis; he
has released three albums as part of
a folk duo where he plays guitar; and
works as a music teacher for students
of various ages and abilities.
ProGress 2012
Performance
Already an accomplished musician after
undertaking a degree at the Conservatoire,
Jack nonetheless felt he would benefit from
further experience and tuition, moving on to
complete a Master’s and then the Advanced
Postgraduate Diploma (APD) in Music
(Professional Performance) with us.
He said: “I’d reached a point when I’d
finally got a clear idea of what I wanted to do,
but I still felt I had a lot to learn. The courses
were fantastic – they all had just what I
wanted, particularly the APD which is really
about gearing you up for a career as a
professional performer.”
As Jack built his reputation as a musician
both during and after his time at the
Conservatoire, the contacts he made proved
invaluable, as he worked with fellow students
and tutors on a variety of projects.
He added: “I formed my folk duo with
Charlie Heys, who was also a student at the
Conservatoire, and we sometimes play with
other musicians from our course as well.
I have my own chamber music group, The
Wernberg Trio, which again was formed with
two other former Conservatoire students.
“I’ve also begun the process of putting
my name forward for orchestral and solo
performances. It’s something I’m just starting
out at and hope to develop further, and it’s just
a matter of getting your name out there and
making contacts.”
This summer, he will be performing
in a London 2012 Festival event,
‘Stockhausen – a Festival of Light’; a
celebration of the work of pioneering and
controversial German composer Karlheinz
Stockhausen. Jack’s performance of Der
kleiner Harlekin, will involve him playing
solo, in costume, dancing as he plays.
Jack is relishing the challenge of doing
something different.
www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire
ProGress 2012
Performance 21
TakiNg firST
STePS ON
THe STage
Math Sams
Our intensive postgraduate acting
programme is designed for students
who already have some theatrical or
higher education experience, and want
to gain the rehearsal and performance
techniques they need for a career
as a professional actor.
For PgDip Acting graduate Math Sams, the
technical and artistic expertise he gained
during his time at Birmingham School of
Acting (BSA) has provided the springboard
for securing his first stage roles.
Since graduating, he has toured with
children’s theatre throughout Ireland, and in
A Christmas Carol around England. He played
Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at
National Trust sites, and has also secured
roles in London fringe theatre. He has taken
part in a number of small-scale films, to get
footage for a showreel, to help him secure
more roles in future. In each case, Math
says he has benefited from the confidence
instilled at BSA, as well as the intensive
training he received.
He said: “BSA is a bright, exciting place to
be and study. The teachers are passionate and
inspiring. I left with a real confidence in my
ability to pursue a career in acting and to
excel in that career.
“I was very lucky in the roles I was cast
in throughout the year. I’m very proud of what
I and my fellow cast members were able to
achieve. Make use of every moment you
have there. Listen to the tutors, and really
throw yourself into those areas that may seem
peripheral, but are not: movement, fitness,
breathing and voice – they’re bedrock.”
www.bcu.ac.uk/bsa
fUNdiNg SUCCeSS
fOr OUTSTaNdiNg
CONSerVaTOire
STUdeNTS
Five postgraduate students at Birmingham
Conservatoire have been awarded funding
to assist with their studies after impressing
a panel of eminent musicians with their
outstanding talent at the 2012 Postgraduate
Performance Awards.
The Musicians Benevolent Fund works in
close collaboration with conservatoires across
the UK on the Postgraduate Performance
Awards, recognising talented young artists.
Following an audition, excelling students
are offered funding to help with maintenance
costs while studying, with individual awards
ranging from £1,000 to £5,000. The Fund
also works with students to build ongoing
relationships and provide professional
development opportunities.
The Conservatoire nominated seven
postgraduate students to audition for awards,
with five students being successful. A further
two Conservatoire students going on to study
elsewhere were nominated by their new
institution and were also successful, resulting
in an impressive 77 per cent success rate.
Postgraduate students receiving awards
included Ben Murray (trumpet) and Hetti
Price (cello) who both received £1,500, and
Martyn Sanderson (sackbut) who received
an award of £4,000.
Martyn said “I ensured I was well prepared
for my audition and wanted to show the
versatility of the sackbut by playing juxtaposing
pieces. I was delighted to hear that I had
received an award and it will help a great deal
towards my next year of study.”
CONdUCTOr leadS
SPeCTaCUlar
OUTdOOr SHOw
Postgraduate conducting student
Dan Watson recently took centre stage
when he led an ambitious performance in
Birmingham City Centre as part of the UK’s
Olympics preparations.
The Voyage marked the opening of the
London 2012 Festival in the West Midlands on
Friday 22 June, after the original launch date
a day earlier was rained off.
The show explored themes such as
departures, arrivals, hopes and fears, using
a 50ft replica ship as its centrepiece. The
production was played out on the ship, which
was built to look as if it was “moored”
alongside the Town Hall, with a skyline
projected onto the side of the building, as
acrobats swung through the air, through the
ship’s rigging and actors in costume moved
among the audience.
The story was set in the period from
1940 to 1960, which represented the last
great age of sea travel and the start of
mass emigration.
The show also included contributions
from the Conservatoire’s brass band and two
undergraduate vocal students.
The Friday night show attracted over
10,000 revellers, and was one of 70 arts
events during the Cultural Olympiad.
www.bcu.ac.uk/postgraduate www.bcu.ac.uk/postgraduate