Armchair season: Denis Matsuev at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
Photo by Evgeny Razumny
© Moscow Philharmonic Society

IMZ Academy 2020: “The complete performer of the future – Embracing media skills in music education”

3 December 2020, online workshop

Supported by AEC – Association Européenne des Conservatoires and Music + Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK)

“Digital competencies are now top of the list in the tool kit of what music students require.”
– Deborah Kelleher, Director Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, April 2020.

In the course of the second edition of this IMZ Academy, leading experts explored how conservatories could integrate media skills training into their syllabi to prepare students effectively for the challenges + opportunities presented by the digital world.

What are the specific media skills beyond musical excellence that music students need to thrive in our ever-increasing digital world and how can these skills be trained by Conservatoires?

COVID-19 has had a particularly significant impact on classical musicians. Suddenly, digital has become almost the only means for artists to perform. There has been an explosion of online creativity, with individuals often taking the lead ahead of organisations. It’s certain that when “normal life” resumes, things will have changed forever and how young musicians are taught to navigate + leverage the digital world will be crucial.

While almost all music + arts tertiary institutions now recognise the need to incorporate digital as part of the creative and entrepreneurial toolkit of young artists, “what and how?” were key questions of this Academy.

The following experts – senior leaders at conservatoires as well as outstanding young musicians – examined the relevance of media skills training in higher music education from their respective angles:

Peter Maniura, IMZ Academy Director, talked about the importance of making digital part of the formation of the musicians of the future.
Miranda Harmer, Chair at Conservatoires UK Student Network, examined the students’ perspective and elaborates on technology, interdisciplinarity, online presence and employability.
Henk van der Meulen, Principal at Royal Conservatoire of the Hague, examined how conservatories can get organised and learn from their students, teachers and IT colleagues to fully leverage the phase of transformation they are in.
Matt Parkin, Former Head of Digital at the Royal College of Music London, explored the common misconceptions + barriers to embedding technology in the conservatoire and how they can take a step towards the digital age.
Yury Revich, Violinist, shed light on how creative use of digital technology is an integral part of his artistic identity and a key component in his career strategy.
Diana Salazar, Director of Programmes at the Royal College of Music London, unpacked what digital really means for musicians in training today.
Marlon Titre, Head of the Classical Department at Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, gave insights into the challenges the Conservatoire faced due to Covid-19 and what this means for the way they educate their students.

EXPERTS

Peter Maniura

Freelance Director + Digital Strategist, IMZ Academy Director

Peter Maniura is an award-winning TV producer and director with more than twenty-five years’ experience in music + arts broadcasting at the BBC and the EBU. He is also a digital media consultant and guest lecturer. His most recent role at the BBC was Project Director, Classical Archive and Orchestras Digital Strategy for BBC Music; opening up the BBC’S unique music archive to the public in new ways. Prior to this he was Head of Digital Development for BBC Arts covering festivals, events and performances across the art forms. He was also commissioner for BBC Arts Online, which he launched in May 2014. Previously he was Creative Director and Curator of the new experimental BBC/Arts Council England digital online arts service “The Space” which launched in May 2012 promoting digital innovation and creativity in the arts.

Yury Revich

Violinist

In his twenties, violinist Yury Revich is already a multi-faceted artist of incredible depth, maturity and creativity. Winner of an ECHO Klassik 2016 “Newcomer of the Year” award, “Young Artist of the Year 2015” at the International Classical Music Awards and “Young Musician of the Year” by the Beethoven Center Vienna, he is one of the most expressive and versatile musicians of his generation. At the age of 18, Yury made his debut at Carnegie Hall with Daniil Trifonov, later on in La Scala with Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and his concerts since then have included performances at the Berlin Philharmonie, Berlin Konzerthaus, Vienna Musikverein, Zurich Tonhalle, Vienna Konzerthaus, Leipzig Gewandhaus, BOZAR Brussels and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall Moscow amongst many others. His recordings to date are featured on labels such as Sony Classical as well as a recording with ARS records, for which he won his ECHO Klassik Award. He also lives out his creativity in the film medium and has studied directing, acting and has already produced two short films of his own.

Henk van der Meulen

Principal at Royal Conservatoire of The Hague + Vice-chairman at University of the Arts The Hague

Henk van der Meulen was appointed Principal at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in 2008. Prior to that, he was Head of Music + Dance at NPS – Netherlands programme Service, a public broadcaster with special responsibilities towards art + culture.

Marlon Titre

Head of the Classical Department at Royal Conservatoire of The Hague

Marlon Titre is Head of the Classical Department at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. He studied classical guitar and composition in The Hague and at the Robert Schumann Hochschule, and completed his PhD at Leiden University.

Miranda Harmer

Chair of the Student Network at the Association of European Conservatoires

Nominated at “One to Watch” in the Northern Power Women Awards 2018, Mimi is a postgraduate student at Leeds Conservatoire, studying composition and cello performance. She is the current Chair of the Student and Alumni Network for the Association of European Conservatoires, as well as a board member for the Office for Students.

Matt Parkin

Former Head of Digital at the Royal College of Music, London

Matt trained as a recording engineer and worked in radio, TV and CD production. He joined RCM in 2012, eventually managing IT, recording and digital learning. He will leave RCM in autumn 2020 to run Stagecast, a specialist live streaming company.

Diana Salazar

Director of Programmes at the Royal College of Music, London

Diana Salazar leads on learning and teaching strategy and curriculum development at the RCM, London. With a background in composition and music technology, she is an advocate for embedding technology for musical learning, innovation and creativity.