Conservatoire staff perspectives on the role of alumni in higher music education: who benefits?

Shaw, Luan (2025) Conservatoire staff perspectives on the role of alumni in higher music education: who benefits? Music Education Research, 27 (2). pp. 176-190. ISSN 1461-3808

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Abstract

The forging and maintenance of alumni relations is critical to the sustainability of Higher Music Education Institutions worldwide. In contrast to university-based career mentoring programmes, research about the role of alumni in conservatoire students’ professional development is scarce. Alumni profiles are often used to support conservatoires’ marketing campaigns, featuring graduates perceived as having the most ‘successful’ careers. Yet, alumni can contribute significantly to conservatoire education by being honest about their lived experiences as graduates and breaking down perceived barriers relating to what constitutes success in music. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature by involving conservatoire staff as participants. Firstly, perspectives on alumni involvement in a UK conservatoire’s day-to-day activity were gathered from 64 staff via an online questionnaire. Subsequently, researcher observations of a series of career seminars led by ten alumni provided context for semi-structured interviews with two academic staff who organised the series. The findings, which are developed into a model for ‘alumni in conservatoire education’, show that whilst conservatoire staff were committed to supporting students’ professional development through alumni activities, the benefits of alumni contributions for the professional development of staff could be more widely recognised, to further develop institutional approaches to supporting student-professional transition.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1080/14613808.2025.2465235
Dates:	Date Event 4 February 2025 Accepted 12 February 2025 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	higher music education, conservatoire alumni, conservatoire staff, conservatoire students, alumni in conservatoire education
Subjects:	CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-02 - performing arts > CAH25-02-02 - music
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > Royal Birmingham Conservatoire > Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Music
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	07 Jul 2025 15:14
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2025 15:14
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16483

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