Dr Daniel Bickerton

MMus PhD (Wales) PGD (London) AFHEA LMusTCL AMusTCL FTCL LTCL ATCL

Senior Lecturer and Director of Learning and Teaching

: bickertondi@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 0405
Fax:: +44 (0)29 2087 4379
: 0.18, 37 Corbett Rd., 33-37 Corbett Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EB

: Media commentator
: Available for postgraduate supervision

I am a Senior Lecturer in Music and currently oversee the education portfolio at the School of Music. I am passionate about teaching and inspiring students to think creatively and analytically about their music-making. I am committed in my leadership to hone our thoroughly dynamic curriculum and champion diversity and inclusivity, enabling students to make positive connections between multiple areas of the discipline.

I compose music and am particularly interested in perception of contrapuntal texture, the use of digital technology in live performance, as well as music that may be defined as intertextual. Although I grew up studying mostly classical music, I have a special interest in jazz and crossover music. I am also interested in composing music for educational purposes and music pedagogy. During my university studies at Cardiff and Trinity Laban, I was taught by Arlene Sierra, Stephen Montague and Judith Weir. In addition to writing music, I have research interests in creative leadership and collaboration in the arts.

My music has been described as 'soulful', and 'full of skittish cascades' and 'invoking a sense of period and character – and just a little (harmless) madness' in The Times. About my music, conductor Paul McClure has written 'the fingerprint of this composer's style is effective and driving ostinati; the flexibility of metre is authoritative and compelling'. My compositions have been performed at home and abroad, with particular highlights including the Royal Albert Hall, Purcell Room, St David's Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall (UK), the Koret Auditorium, San Francisco, and Paul Creative Arts Centre, New Hampshire (US), La Mortella, Reduta Jazz Club, Palais de Festivités as well as at various European jazz festivals. My music has also been played on BBC Radio Wales and ITV Wales.

Education and qualifications

2018: FTCL Composition (Trinity College London)
2014: LMusTCL in Theory and Analysis (Trinity College London)
2012: PhD (Composition) Cardiff University, UK
2012: AFHEA (Higher Education Academy)
2011: AMusTCL with Distinction (Trinity College London)
2009: LTCL: Teaching with Distinction (Trinity College London)
2008: PGD with Distinction (Composition) Trinity Laban Conservatoire, UK
2007: MMus with Distinction (Composition) Cardiff University, UK
2006: BMus (Hons) with First Class Honours, Cardiff University, UK
2004: ATCL: Recital with Distinction (Trinity College London)

Honours and awards

CUROP (July 2019)
School of the Year (November 2017)
Cardiff University Outstanding Contribution Award (October 2017)
Ede & Ravenscroft (July 2017)
CUROP (July 2016)
First Campus for Outreach and Engagement (2014-16)
CUSU for Benjamin Britten Centenary: Celebration for Composers (2013)
Cardiff University Research Studentship (2008-2012)
Joan Greenfield Fellowship (2007-08)
Welsh Livery Guild (2007)
AHRC (2006-07)
Celia Thomas Bequest (2006)

Professional memberships

Chair, Expressive Arts Committee - Widening Participation Network | Step Up Programme Development
Member, Public Engagement Professionals Network (PEP) | National Co-ordination Centre for Public Engagement
Member, National Education Strategy Forum
Composer in Residence, National Orchestras for All | Modulo (2018-present)
Fellow, Music Composition | Trinity College London
Member, First Campus Engagement and Outreach Network
Senior Examiner | AMusTCL Music Theory and Composition, Trinity College London (2015-present)
Associate Fellow | Higher Education Academy (2012-present) for professional recognition of Teaching and Scholarship

Academic positions

2020 - present: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University
2020 - present: Director of Learning and Teaching | Cardiff University School of Music (including Digital Education Lead)
2016 - 2020: Director of Undergraduate Studies | Cardiff University School of Music
2014 - 2016: Deputy Undergraduate Admissions Tutor | Cardiff University School of Music
2014 - 2020: Lecturer, Cardiff University
2013 - 2014: Lecturer in Music and Ideology | Leeds College of Music
2009 - 2014: Associate Lecturer | Cardiff University School of Music

Speaking engagements

MusicHE (2020) - Ensemble music-making: responding to the challenges of COVID-19 for performers and composers
Cardiff University Business School (2018) - Assessment and Feedback: Challenges in MUSIC, presented at 'Assessment Challenges and Challenging Assessment' (Cardiff, 24.09.18)
Cardiff University CEI Conference (2018) - Learn Plus: Advantages in formative assessments
Leeds College of Music (2014)
Trinity Laban (2013)
Cardiff University (2013)
RMA Kings College London (2010)
Trinity Laban (2009)
Keele University (2008)

Committees and reviewing

Co-Chair, Programme and Partner Standing Panel | ASQC (2021 - present)
Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee | MUSIC (2020 - present)
Member, School Management Board | MUSIC (2019 - present)
Member, Programme and Partner Standing Panel | ASQC (2019 - present)
Member, AHSS College Academic Education Network | CAEN (2019 - present)
Chair, Expressive Arts | Education and Outreach Network (2019 - 2020)
Lead Mentor | MUSIC - Guizhou Exchange Programme (2018 - present)
Member, Workload Modelling Review | AHSS (2018 - 2019)
Chair, Undergraduate Board of Studies | MUSIC (2016 - 2020)
Chair, Examination and Year Boards | MUSIC (2016 - 2020)
Senior Examiner | Trinity College London (2015 - present)
Member, Learning and Teaching Committee | MUSIC (2015 - 2020)
Assessment and Feedback Lead | MUSIC (2015 - 2019)
Examinations Convenor | MUSIC (2015 - 2018)
Personal Tutor (2014 - present)
Member, Staff Student Panel | MUSIC (2014 - present)
Member, Postgraduate Taught Board of Studies | MUSIC (2014 - present)
Member, Postgraduate Taught Examination and Year Boards | MUSIC (2014 - present)
Widening Participation Lead (formerly Widening Access Lead) | MUSIC (2013 - present)
Member of IT Committee (2013 - 2014)

2020

Bickerton, D. 2020. Yearning.
Bickerton, D. 2020. Wires Crossed.
Bickerton, D. 2020. Wild Water.
Bickerton, D. 2020. As Alive As Ever.
Bickerton, D. 2020. Breaker of Stones.
Bickerton, D. 2020. Ensemble music-making: responding to the challenges of COVID-19 for performers and composers. Presented at: MusicHE 2020, Online, 3 July 2020.

2019

Bickerton, D. 2019. By Gosh, By Golly. Daniel Bickerton.
Bickerton, D. 2019. nighTrain.
Bickerton, D. 2019. Smile.

2018

Bickerton, D. 2018. The opportunities of Panopto within the School of Music. Cardiff: Cardiff University Centre for Education Innovation. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnw6gdTKlIk
Bickerton, D. 2018. Assessment and feedback challenges in music. Presented at: Assessment Challenges and Challenging Assessment, Cardiff, UK, 24 September 2018.
Bickerton, D. 2018. Learn Plus: Advantages in formative assessments. Presented at: Cardiff University Education Innovation Week, Cardiff, UK, 23 January 2018.
Bickerton, D. and Gornall, L. 2018. Playing together: What can academics in higher education learn from musicians about creative leadership and collaboration?. In: Gornall, L., Thomas, B. and Sweetman, L. eds. Exploring Consensual Leadership in Higher Education. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 243-262.
Bickerton, D. 2018. Flypast.
Bickerton, D. 2018. Simmer down.

2017

Bickerton, D. and Allen, P. 2017. Cardiff - Capital city of Wales. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqicqIMGGpI
Bickerton, D. 2017. Sea of Stone [Tyne Cot Sketches: II]. Bickerton.
Bickerton, D. 2017. Mad About ThaT.
Bickerton, D. 2017. The pitch within.

2016

Bickerton, D. 2016. Even though it's breaking, imagine!.
Bickerton, D. 2016. #CONNECT.

2015

Bickerton, D. 2015. Textbook.
Bickerton, D. 2015. Weather By Funk.
Bickerton, D. 2015. Eclipse.
Bickerton, D. 2015. Invictus.
Bickerton, D. 2015. Two mourning angels [Tyne Cot Sketches: I].
Bickerton, D. 2015. Ballad.

2014

Bickerton, D. 2014. Let's Do It Again.
Bickerton, D. 2014. Redux Shone Through Time.
Bickerton, D. 2014. Inward Thinking.
Bickerton, D. 2014. Evening Dew.
Bickerton, D. 2014. The Cause.

2013

Bickerton, D. 2013. Stand Up.
Bickerton, D. 2013. The Panther of Lugash.
Bickerton, D. 2013. Unintentional Art of Glass.
Bickerton, D. 2013. Firmly Grounded.
Bickerton, D. 2013. Caution.

2012

Bickerton, D. 2012. Garuda.
Bickerton, D. 2012. Save Our Chariots.
Bickerton, D. 2012. Blaenwern.
Bickerton, D. 2012. Three Children's pieces.

2011

Bickerton, D. 2011. Equation.
Bickerton, D. 2011. Ecclesiastical musings.
Bickerton, D. 2011. Delivered.
Bickerton, D. 2011. This Masquerade.

2010

Bickerton, D. 2010. The meaning of Alex.
Bickerton, D. 2010. Whimsical.
Bickerton, D. 2010. When The Stakes Are High.

2009

Bickerton, D. 2009. Lunarscape.
Bickerton, D. 2009. Nocturne.
Bickerton, D. 2009. Epiphany.

2008

Bickerton, D. 2008. The Court Jester.
Bickerton, D. 2008. A Suite of Eastern Expression.

2007

Bickerton, D. 2007. On The Edge.
Bickerton, D. 2007. Phoenix.
Bickerton, D. 2007. An Oracle of Earthly and Divine Authority.
Bickerton, D. 2007. States of Mind.
Bickerton, D. 2007. Prayer.
Bickerton, D. 2007. Apokaluptein.
Bickerton, D. 2007. For a Moment.
Bickerton, D. 2007. Medusa, Vallejo.

2006

Bickerton, D. 2006. Fanfare for Gwent.
Bickerton, D. 2006. Etifeddiaeth.
Bickerton, D. 2006. Ocean Sketch.

2005

Bickerton, D. 2005. Genesis.
Bickerton, D. 2005. Woodpeckers.

2004

Bickerton, D. 2004. Foreboding.
Bickerton, D. 2004. Through Their Eyes.

2003

Bickerton, D. 2003. Dreaming.

Undergraduate Teaching:

I supervise final-year Composition portfolio projects
Challenging Tradition: Counterpoint from Bartók to Bärtsch
Orchestration

Postgraduate Teaching:

I supervise MA Composition portfolio modules and Thesis
Music Leadership and Public Engagement
I contribute to specialist classes in the Teaching Music module

Postgraduate Research:

I act as an assessor for PGR annual reviews as well as a PhD Examiner
I am currently secondary supervisor for two PhD candidates - Composition | Music Education

Composer in Focus:

I directed the 'composer in focus' series of workshops and concerts from 2013-16. Previous projects included:
- 2013: Britten Centenary Celebration (feat. The Cardon Ensemble)
- 2014: The Triumph of Time? Responses to Birtwistle at 80
- 2015: La Monte Young at 80
- 2016: Reich at 80

Current projects include composition and education initatives with UNICAMP Universidade Estadual de Campinas (São Paulo) and Jagiellonian University (Kraków), new music for US Baroque String Duo, Sophie Geneviève (vln.) and Ryan Lowe (vcl.), on a collection of pieces that celebrate the Kuhnau ‘300th anniversary’ (2022), and for the CASSGB Clarinet Convention (2023). Recent projects include a performance at the Penarth Music Festival (2021), being part of the Welsh Government working group for MusicHE, the 'lockdown' BBC NOW/Tŷ Cerdd CoDI 'one2one' scheme (2020), orchestral music for OFA Modulo (2018-2020) and a new work for the music festival Druskomanija (2019) performed by the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. During the pandemic I was invited to participate in a Music Mark conference presentation entitled 'Breaking Down Barriers to Online Music-Making' (2020). I was delighted that my piece 'Even though it's breaking, imagine' for alto saxophone and piano was performed at the Craxton Studios, London, by winner Daniel Davis at the most recent CASSGB Young Saxophone Soloist Competition.

I am interesting in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

Composition (Music)
Music Leadership

I am currently second supervisor for Jonathan Brown - a thesis that brings together concepts from Film Musicology and Music Theory to trace the genealogy of Lydian sonorities in Hollywood film music since the 1930s.

Past projects

I am an examiner for PhD in Music Composition. I mentor PGR Graduate Tutors and act as an annual reviewer for researchers on the PhD in Music Composition pathway.