RCM Community Music Research Partnership Awarded AHRC Grant

Friday 3 February 2017

A research partnership between the Royal College of Music and York St John University has been awarded £45,000 by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

‘Excellence, Inclusion and Intervention in Music’ will establish a global network of scholars and music educators who, through debate, dialogue and research practices, will critique the meaning of ‘inclusive’ and ‘excellent’ in the field of community music. The partnership is led by the RCM’s Area Leader for Music Education, Dr Jennie Henley (pictured), and Professor Lee Higgins, Director of the International Centre of Community Music at York St John University.

Dr Henley says: ‘Many of our students are building their experience of working as a musician in a variety of different educational, health and community settings, with a view to developing a sustainable portfolio career. By exploring the concepts of excellence, inclusion and intervention in educational, community, health and rehabilitative settings, this grant will place RCM at the centre of scholarly debate on the ways musicians work in contemporary society’.

The project will bring together a wide range of practitioners and researchers, culminating in a major open conference that will launch the Music and Social Intervention Network into the wider research community.