Kit Downes: piano Head of Jazz
‘ When I was at school I had a great time I live together with some of the other jazzers Gerard Presencer Hon ARAM
doing Junior Jazz at the Academy, and so I in my year, and we’re all best friends socially Trumpet soloist. In continual demand
was sure that the BMus was right for me. as well as musically. My most important on the international circuit, Gerard has
We get to learn directly from great musical relationships have been forged here. recorded and soloed with Chick Corea,
professionals — in my three years here so Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Sting and
far they’ve included Mark Turner, Larry The only frustration is that there are almost James Brown. Four-time winner of the
Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Jeff Tain Watts, Dave too many opportunities at the Academy — British Jazz Awards trumpet category.
Holland and Jason Moran. We worked with I’d have loved to study somewhere outside Head of Brass at JIB (Jazz Institute Berlin).
Joe Locke for three days, together with Britain for a year on the Erasmus scheme, New Director of the Danish Radio Big Band.
percussion students, with a concert at the but somehow other options have always
end. There’s always something new to keep taken priority.’ ‘Y ou can see the stars of tomorrow at
us enthusiastic and bright-eyed. the Royal Academy of Music today’
Jazzwise, October 2004
The Academy offers an ideal environment Graduates since 2002 include Ensembles
to learn and experiment with this extremely Adam Betts, drums | Joshua Blackmore, Tutors reflect the diversity of the jazz scene
Jazz
broad art form. There is a strong emphasis drums | John Blease, drums and percussion and have recently included Gilad Atzmon,
on performance with opportunities to play | Ben Bryant, drums and percussion | Pete Phil Donkin, Jeremy Franks, Billy Jenkins,
within the college and outside. The course Cochrane, bass | John Escreet, piano | Oren Marshall, Mike Mondesir, Jason
benefits from small numbers, enabling each Calum Gourlay, bass | George Hart, drums Rebello, Sebastian Rochford, Mark Sanders
year to form a group that will play together | Jasper Hoiby, bass | Tom Mason, bass | and Peter Wareham
extensively. The interaction between players Ivo Neame, saxophone | Gwilym Simcock,
can therefore develop to a level where piano | Richard Turner, trumpet | Trevor Composition and Supporting Studies
lifelong musical associations are formed. Walker, trumpet Pete Churchill
Some of the finest jazz performers have The Teachers Aural & Transcription
been great composers, from John Coltrane Trumpet Tom Cawley BMus
to Kenny Wheeler. We aim to continue this Gerard Presencer | John Barclay
tradition with a full and varied course in Mike Lovatt | Nick Smart Visiting Composers
composition and arranging — covering Various including Django Bates, Kenny
many aspects and forms of jazz music and Trombone Wheeler, Peter Erskine, Julian Argüelles,
possible applications within other genres. Gordon Campbell Mark Turner, Steve Gray, Tim Garland, Stan
We also bring in performers from the world Nichol Thompson Sulzman and John Warren
jazz scene, as often as possible, to play Mark Bassey
with students. World Rhythms
Tuba Barak Schmool MA, GRSM, LRAM
The course is committed to continual Oren Marshall
development in order to remain as vital as History
possible in this ever-changing art form. We Saxophone Alyn Shipton PhD, MA
aim that, by graduation, you will have found Martin Speake | Stan Sulzman Keith Nichols GGSM, Hon ARAM
your own creative voice and begun Iain Ballamy | Tim Garland Martin Speake LTCL, FTCL
to develop this.
Piano 2008–2009 Highlights
The department runs a four-year BMus Tom Cawley | Gwilym Simcock | Nikki Iles
>
Workshops with FLY, Kurt Rosenwinkel,
programme,and MA and MMus John Taylor, Ari Hoenig, Will Vinson, David
programmes of 1–2 years. Guitar Binney, Dave Samuels and Joel Frahm
John Parricelli | Phil Robson
>
Big Band performances of music by Stan
Your Audition Sulzmann, John Warren and Gill Evans
Detailed requirements are available at Drum Kit
>
Collaborative projects with brass,
www.ram.ac.uk/jazz and from the Registry. Martin France percussion and composition departments
>
‘Stars of the Apollo’ concert with Keith
Recent Student Successes Vibes Nichols
>
Winners of both the overall and MBF Anthony Kerr
>
Weekly jazz sessions in the Academy
development awards at the Peter
Whittingham Jazz Awards 2007 Voice
>
Finalists at the Montreux International Pete Churchill | Kathleen Willison
Guitar Competition, 2006
>
Winners, EBU European Jazz Competition Bass (electric and acoustic)
at North Sea Jazz Festival 2007 Jeremy Brown | Tom Herbert
>
Kit Downes: Rising Star Award, BBC Jazz Michael Janish
Awards 2008 Senior Administrator:
>
Joshua Blackmore (with Tom Cawley’s Flute Helen Wills BA, Hon ARAM
‘Curios’): Best Band Line-Up of the Year, Andy Panayi Music Support Administrator:
BBC Jazz Awards 2008 Rosie Deeks BMus
Academic Co-ordinator and large Telephone 020 7873 7479
and small ensemble tutor Email jazz@ram.ac.uk
Nick Smart BABM, PG Dip, LGSM Open Day:

check www.ram.ac.uk
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