New brass, choral and music industry courses unveiled in Olympic heartland

In a groundbreaking initiative, the University Centre Stratford campus of Newham College, at the heart of London’s Olympic regeneration project, has announced a major investment in brass studies, designed not only to bring education closer to the community, but also offering opportunities for students to work with some of the leading figures in brass music.

The resulting new bachelor degree courses, which also include choral and music industry study programmes, are being spearheaded by the Head of Music at the newly-formed International Centre for Brass and Choral Studies (ICBCS), Roger Webster, who has also engaged the services of many luminaries from the world of brass and the music industry. Among these are Rod Franks (Head of Brass), Paul Hindmarsh (Head of Music Industry Studies), Alan Edmond (Head of Corporate and Community Development), Susan Turner, Frank Renton, Philip Sparke, Jonathon Corry, Becky Smith, Russell Gray, Steven Mead, Derek Watkins and Maurice Murphy, while the University Centre has also garnered support for the initiative from Charles Allen (Chairman of EMI and Global Media – Classic FM), Besson Musical Instruments, F.H. Lambert and Band Supplies.