Conservatoires UK

Not to be confused with Conservative Party (UK).

Conservatoires UK, also known as CUK, is a group that represents eleven world-leading British conservatoires. The current Chair of CUK is Professor Linda Merrick, Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Members

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art	Sainsbury Theatre at LAMDA
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London
Leeds Conservatoire
Royal Academy of Music, London
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London
Royal College of Music, London
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London

UCAS Conservatoires

In conjunction with UCAS, Conservatoires UK runs a clearing house for undergraduate and postgraduate music courses at seven of its member institutions called UCAS Conservatoires (formally CUKAS). Only the Guildhall School of Music and Drama does not accept applications through this system. UCAS Conservatoires allows applicants to submit one online application when applying to conservatoires, rather than a separate application for each institution (as was previously the case).^[1]

CUK Board

The CUK Board is the decision-making body of CUK. Meeting regularly, the head of institution (usually titled 'principal') represents the constituent members and is led by a chair, deputy chair and lead.^[2]

Student Network

The Conservatories UK Student Network is a sub-group of CUK and a representative body in itself of students studying at all member institutions. Formed in 2013, the group is made up of the elected students’ union presidents and student representatives of the member institutions, led by an elected chair. CUKSN works with the principal's group and external professional organisations to represent the views of students on their conservatoire education and experience.^[3]

CUK Big Band

The CUK Big Band is an ensemble of young musicians from music colleges across the UK. The group has performed three times in Leeds College of Music's 'The Venue' as part of the Leeds International Jazz Conference and in 2008 performed at the annual International Association for Jazz Education Conference (IAJE) in Toronto. The band is Directed by Mark Donlon and has performed world premieres of works by leading jazz composers such as Issie Barratt, Matt Bourne, Kenny Wheeler, Mark Donlon, Julian Joseph, Bob Mintzer, Mike Gibbs and Tim Garland. Compositions are commissioned through the PRSF funded Creative Exchange project, which also funds an annual Creative Exchange Student Composer Award.^[4][5]