Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning

The modern Guildhall School is distinctive in being the only major European conservatoire which is both a music school and a drama school, and one which is pre-eminent in technical theatre, professional development and music therapy. A thriving Junior Guildhall and a range of annual summer schools further complement the outstanding opportunities for all students. Long recognised as a centre of excellence, the School was recently twice-honoured by consecutive Queen's Anniversary Prizes; in 2005 for its unrivalled development and outreach programme, Guildhall Connect, and in 2007 in recognition of the achievements and work of the School's Opera Programme over the last two decades.

Since its founding in 1880, the Guildhall School has stood as a vibrant showcase of the City of London Corporation's commitment to education and the arts. Situated in the heart of the City, the School moved to its present premises in the Barbican in 1977 solidifying a unique link with both Europe's largest arts and conference centre, including the Barbican Hall and the Pit Theatre, and the world-class London Symphony Orchestra.

The reputation of the teaching and increasingly the research across all the disciplines is unrivalled. Students experience working in a professional context to professional standards with an exemplary pool of outstanding artists who work with us as directors, conductors, coaches and tutors. The School's graduates consistently succeed at the highest levels of their chosen profession.

The School currently numbers just over 800 students on its roll call, approximately 700 of whom are undergraduate and postgraduate music students. At the present time, 135 are studying on the Acting and Technical Theatre programmes. In any given year, about 40% of the students are from outside the UK typically representing over 40 nationalities.

The Guildhall continues to enhance its programmes and contribute to the cultural life of the City by forging even stronger ties with the Barbican Centre and the LSO, the BBC, the London Jazz Festival, the City of London Festival, the Royal Court, and the RSC.

The most significant investment in the Guildhall School's future was recently announced with unveiling of the plans for the £80 million redevelopment of the neighbouring Milton Court site. The new building will house three new performance spaces: a concert hall (609 seats), a theatre (225 seats) and a studio theatre (maximum 128 seats) in addition to drama teaching and administration spaces. By the anticipated opening in autumn of 2012, the Guildhall's facilities will at long last match the outstanding quality of its training and the success of its graduates.

This website provides a taste of the distinctive excellence at the Guildhall School in its programmes, performances and student life.