Percussion
Under the direction of acclaimed percussionist, Simone Rebello, students will receive world-class tuition and performance opportunities in a supportive and collaborative environment.
You’ll receive tuition in timpani, tuned percussion, orchestral percussion, drum kit and world music skills delivered in a variety of individual lessons by specialist professors.
How You Will Learn
Throughout your time as a student in the percussion department, you will have three or more regular tutors. In addition, you are encouraged to take up opportunities for chamber music coaching. There are a number of department classes including orchestral studies, performance and presentation skills, practice tips and working in larger scale rhythm sections and world music ensembles. These classes are alternated between members of the percussion staff and visiting artists such as Cormac Byrne (bodhran) and Randy Max (timpani).
The department is divided into small percussion ensembles who select the repertoire they wish to play in the annual percussion ensemble concert. In addition, the larger percussion ensemble will take part in various events including the RNCM Day of Percussion where we have backed artists such as Arthur Lipner and Ney Rosauro.
Performance Opportunities
From the outset the students are put into a variety of ensembles from Brass Band, Big Band, Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and opera. These are all groups that perform public concerts either within the College or externally. We also have various wind, brass and percussion repertoire sessions throughout the year. The RNCM has many professional partners including The Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Black Dyke Brass Band and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. There are opportunities for the students to work alongside professional musicians in these organisations.
The department is run with the students in mind and it is often the students who suggest and drive various projects, such as the RNCM Salsa Band. Within the department students often take positions of responsibility from being principal of a section, to assisting with the visits of international artists. The whole department help to run the flagship RNCM Day of Percussion – as well as the new RNCM Wind, Brass and Percussion Festival – which features guest artists, workshops, concerts and lessons.
Recent Masterclasses
We have had many visiting artists over the years for masterclasses and lessons including Evelyn Glennie, Colin Currie, Keiko Abe, Joe Locke, Eric Sammut, Ash Soan, Anthony Kerr and Ney Rosauro.
Alumni
John Abendstern: Timpanist, the Hallé
Liz Gilliver: Senior Tutor in Percussion, RNCM
Ian Hood: Northern Ballet
John Melbourne: Northern Ballet
Simone Rebello: Director of Percussion, RNCM
Adrian Spillett: Principal Percussion, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Stephen Whibley: Principal Percussion No. 2, BBC Concert Orchestra
Andrea Vogler: Leading freelance percussionist; Tutor at the RNCM
Le Yu: Deputy Director of Percussion
Percussion Staff
Head of School and Director of Percussion
Simone Rebello GMusRNCM, PPRNCM
International Visiting Professor in Percussion
Kai Strobel
Visiting Professor in Snare Drum
Emil Kuyumcuyan
Professors in Percussion
Elizabeth Gilliver GMusRNCM, PPRNCM
David Hassell HonARAM
Paul Patrick LRAM, ARAM
Simone Rebello GMusRNCM, PPRNCM
Andrea Vogler BMus (Hons), PGDipRNCM
Le Yu
Professor in Timpani
Paul Turner
Contact Us
School of Wind, Brass and Percussion
E [email protected]
T 0161 907 5265
Admissions and Course Enquiries
E [email protected]
T 0161 907 5465
