The 3rd International Reflective Conservatoire Conference Performing at the Heart of Knowledge took place on 17-20 March 2012.

The Reflective Conservatoire Conference is now an established feature of the events calendar bringing together leading researchers, professional performers and teachers in music and drama from all over the world to address key issues within music in Higher Education in papers and practical workshops.

The conference was delivered in partnership with the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC), The Culture Capital Exchange (TCCE), the Society for Education, Music & Psychology Research (SEMPRE) and the Centre for Music Performance as Creative Practice (CMPCP).

The themes of the conference were:

• Repertoire for the 21st century
• Researching performance: practice, discourse and methodologies
• Creative collaborative learning (from one-to-one partnerships to ensembles/companies)
• Artists in society: understanding audiences and life in the real world

These key issues were explored through a series of Keynotes, curated sessions, seminars, practical workshops and a festival showcasing new work. 

Keynote speakers included: 

Sir Nicholas Kenyon: Managing Director of Barbican Centre, previously the Director of the Proms 

Christian Burgess: Director of Drama at the Guildhall School. Burgess has a strong interest in collaboration across the disciplines and has led many initiatives to bring the School’s Acting, Music and Technical Theatre Arts students together, both inside and outside the curriculum. 

Professor Richard Sennett: Professor of Sociology at London School of Economics and New York University, author of The Craftsman and a new book The Performer due to be published in April 2011 

Conference Director: Dr Helena Gaunt
Conference Chair: Prof Barry Ife

Curated sessions
Prof John Rink and others leading CMPCP projects (Prof Daniel Leech-Wilkinson, Prof Eric Clarke, Prof Tina K. Ramnarine)
Dr. Aaron Williamon – Health and well-being
Prof John Sloboda  – Understanding audiences

For more information about the conference please email conference2012@gsmd.ac.uk or visit the conference website.