Leeds Conservatoire has a global outlook and, as part of this, expanded its partnership with China Conservatory of Music (CCM) during a recent visit.
Photo credit throughout: China Conservatory of Music
Principal Professor Joe Wilson and Head of International Recruitment Victoria Barber were amongst the invitees to CCM’s 60th anniversary celebrations. A host of activities took place including speeches and performances from notable musicians and teachers at CCM, alumni and senior staff, plus a campus tour and an exhibition showing the history of the conservatory.
Professor Wilson also gave a lecture on the mediatisation of music and the role of the contemporary conservatoire. This considered how we might understand the increased consumption of performance online and what that might mean for conservatoires who produce musicians and performers who contribute to both traditional and contemporary music.
Discussions with Li Xincao, accomplished conductor and President of CCM, led to co-signing a new agreement expanding the institutions’ existing partnership to include knowledge and good practice sharing, staff exchanges, workshops and masterclasses.
Exchanges will help to provide different experiences, cultures and learning for our students. For example, CCM has a wealth of knowledge around traditional folk music and teaches students traditional Chinese instruments.
Professor Joe Wilson, Principal at Leeds Conservatoire, shared the following:
“We welcomed the opportunity to attend China Conservatory of Music’s 60th anniversary celebrations, with Leeds Conservatoire due to mark the same milestone in 2025, and to expand our existing partnership.
“International partnerships like the one with CCM are vital to enhance the student experience, providing new opportunities and sharing musical skills and knowledge. We are keen to attract students from around the world and hope that this paves the way for new partnerships. Not only does it enrich our culture and learning but it provides different artistic perspectives, plus a chance to make contacts globally for our home students too.”
