London College of Music (LCM) is a music school in London, England. It is one of eight separate Schools which make up the University of West London in the greater London Area.
History
In 1996 Thames Valley University created a School entitled London College of Music & Media, which encompassed LCM and a range of media-related subjects such as music technology, radio, journalism and other creative and digital arts. In 2005 LCMM was renamed the Faculty of the Arts, with music-related subjects administered by the Department of Music. Since March 2007 the music department has been operating once again under the title of London College of Music.
Former principals of London College of Music include William Lloyd Webber (the father of English composer and impresario of Musical Theatre Andrew Lloyd Webber), renowned British cellist, conductor and music educator Julian Lloyd Webber (son of William and brother of Andrew), composer and pianist John McCabe and Professor Colin Lawson (who took up the posts of Dean of LCM and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University at Ealing in 2002 continuing there until his appointment as Director of the Royal College of Music in Kensington in 2005). The current Director of LCM is Sara Raybould. LCM's Chair of Composition and Head of Research is Francis Pott, widely known in particular as a composer of sacred choral music and works for the organ. His works have been performed in some forty countries worldwide.
Past visiting professors at LCM have included Guy Woolfenden, Nick Ingman and (following his retirement from the role of Principal) John McCabe. A long-running and successful programme of weekly 'Composers' Workshops' has included guest presentations by (among others) Stephen Montague, Jonathan Dove, Judith Weir, David Sawer, Judith Bingham, Deirdre Gribbin, Augusta Read Thomas, Param Vir, Philip Grange, Jonty Harrison, Camden Reeves, Nigel Hess, Francis Pott, Andrew Poppy, Simon Holt, John Cameron, Michael Finnissy, the late Geoffrey Burgon and the late David Bedford. Piano master classes have been presented by Martino Tirimo, John Lill, Howard Shelley and several other distinguished artists.
Academics
The external examinations department of London College of Music is known as London College of Music Examinations (LCM Examinations), and is currently a department of the University affiliated to LCM itself.
The music technology department of LCM incorporates 25 recording studios, plus the Native Instruments Labs. As well as offering music technology courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, LCM is an official Native Instruments training centre and offers Apple certified Logic, Pro Tools and Ableton Live training courses. The music technology teaching staff includes Grammy Award winning record producer Pip Williams, Journal on the Art of Record Production editor Dr Simon Zagorski-Thomas, producer Paul Borg, and long-time Transglobal Underground collaborator Larry Whelan. LCM also has a Reader in Music, the Messiaen scholar and organist Dr Robert Sholl. Over the past twenty years its composition staff has included John McLeod, Martin Ellerby, Nigel Clarke, Dr Laurence Roman, Dr Paul Robinson, Dr Jeremy Arden, the Oscar-nominated film composer Simon Lambros and the current Course Leader for undergraduate Composition within the BMus degree, Dr Martin Glover.
Notable alumni
Recent Alumni include Alex da Kid (English record production/songwriter, now based in LA), Matt Tong of Bloc Party, Matthew Hodson (founder of the London Synthesis Orchestra), Ben Salter (who worked with Nile Rodgers in the United States), Paul Andrews (working as a senior field support technician for Digidesign), Daniel Roe (house engineer for Peter Gabriel), Tim Siddall (engineer at Shepperton Studios), Molly Stewart (Disney Princess for Hong Kong Disneyland), James Buttery (former engineer at the Royal College of Music now singer with Darkstar and Sunbirds), Robert Orton (worked with Trevor Horn, The Police and won 2 Grammys for mixing Lady Gaga), and Nadin Hadorn (recently signed a worldwide publishing and production contract with Warner Bros. Records), John Webber (Mastering Engineer AIR Studios Mastering/ Blue Pro Mastering, Polar Bear, Grammy winners Ian Prince & The Swingle Singers, Nerina Pallot and Mr Hudson).
References
- LCM website
- LCM Examinations website
- University of West London website