Alumni profiles
Creative and talented, our graduates can be found in all areas of the music profession, as well as in many other fields.
We would love to hear from more of our graduates. If you have memories to share or a career tale to tell, please contact KellyJA@cardiff.ac.uk.
"The content of the Music, Culture and Politics Masters course was very diverse and always challenging, and there were always opportunities to share ideas and reactions. ..."
Claire is currently Administrator for Crash Ensemble, Ireland's leading contemporary music group
"I loved being part of the orchestras, and especially the Contemporary Music Group, which was so much fun and challenged greatly my technical ability on the cello..."
Eloise has been building a career as a composer and has been awarded the 2011 LSO Panufnik 5’ commission
"I was given piano tuition by Richard Ormrod, one of the finest musicians I have ever met, and one of the deepest influences in my own music-making..."
Carlos is Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)
"Cardiff is an exciting, thriving city and the three years I spent there were among the happiest of my life..."
Susan has been working extensively as a professional actress and has also turned her hand to scriptwriting
"It was a great opportunity to collaborate with friends on performance – and get points for it – practicing never felt like hard work..."
Ceri works as Projects Director for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
"The School of Music becomes like a family not only including your peers but students from all years, staff and even the porters...."
Jon is a Senior Interface Developer at digital marketing agency LBi
"Probably the biggest highlight from my time would be the friends I have made. We have all gone on to do very different, exciting things but we still remain in close contact..."
Annie is Project Manager for Children and Young People at Birmingham’s Town Hall Symphony Hall
"My time in Uganda really opened my eyes to what life is like for some of the young people there and how much KMS does to nurture these talents..."
Gemma tells us about her experience volunteering at Kampala Music School
"It was a great music department, really cool to be part of. All the tutors and staff were friendly and it was a happy environment to be in..."
Mark is an Emmy-nominated film and television composer
"Cardiff provided me with a great number of performance opportunities to further develop my technique and confidence on stage and in front of a critical audience..."
Andrea is a member of Voces8, the foremost young British a cappella group
"I would recommend the School as a friendly place to study with excellent, knowledgeable professors and lecturers..."
Alys is Assistant Orchestra Manager for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and is currently on secondment as Event Co-ordinator for the BBC Proms & Radio 3.
"The performance standards John Hugh insisted upon inspired me to raise my game; I am indebted to him for pointing me in the right direction..."
Katie is a member of the world-famous Monteverdi Choir
"I took for granted the excellent facilities we enjoyed in the purpose built School of Music building at Cardiff as a student"
Andrew is a concert accompanist and vocal coach. He also teaches piano at Trinity College of Music.
"Cardiff’s recognised expertise in twentieth-century and French music made it an ideal place to undertake research in this area."
Laura is Lecturer in Music at Liverpool Hope University
"Cardiff University School of Music does have exceptionally good workshop provision for student composers... After all, it's hearing what we compose 'in practice' that is our greatest teacher."
Max is a composer, arranger, teacher & freelance musician
Soprano Giselle has gone on to a critically acclaimed stage career and was recently described by The Sunday Times as "a singing actress of the first order."
"It was the ideal place for me. Though smaller than it is today, it was nevertheless one of the largest music departments in the country and there were some very exciting events happening."
Robert is Associate Lecturer at the School of Music
Ben Curry
"As an undergraduate, I specialised in composition and had three of my pieces performed. However, as much as I enjoyed composing, I also developed a real love for writing and thinking about music."
Ben is a Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University
Considered one of today's brightest young conducting talents, Michael is currently Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra
"I’d always thought of the Cardiff School of Music as one of the top places in the UK to study music..."
Adrian is a composer, conductor, Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts at the University of the West of England and Director of Arcomis (Arts Commissioning)
Karl Jenkins
"I pursued the very academic course for which I’m eternally grateful, studying many musical disciplines that proved invaluable in later life... "
Karl is one of the most successful, prolific and performed composers working today
" I wanted to make and experience as much music as possible whilst also getting a degree! "
Emyr is School Improvement Officer for Carmarthenshire
Peter Linnitt
"I chose to study music at Cardiff because it was (and still is!) one of the best music departments in the country..."
Peter is head Librarian at the Royal College of Music
Graeme Lodge
"...amiable tutorials with Tim Taylor, impromptu opera sing-throughs with fellow undergraduates...so many happy memories!"
Graeme is Director of Music at Epsom College
"Cardiff was far and away my first choice of University and I was so excited when I got my place. The course gave me everything I wanted – a chance to play, to challenge myself intellectually..."
Eluned is the Welsh Assembly Member for South Wales Central
"For me, the balance between practical and academia is important, and the department is so well placed in Cardiff..."
Janice is Head of Performing Arts/Music at Stanwell School
Christian Siddell
"I wanted to go to a credible, academic school where I could gain a diverse and multifaceted degree in order to develop as many skills as possible..."
Christian is the founder of a London-based music consultancy
Charlotte Yuen
"It is always a privilege to see artists at work, and sometimes I feel spoilt that I get to see world-class performances and get to know the people behind the artistry..."
Charlotte is Assistant Artist Manager at Askonas Holt