Classical Music Business MA

Overview
This programme is designed to prepare you for a future in the classical music industry, a complex and exciting field with many interesting employment opportunities. You will examine current issues and challenges facing the industry and explore questions such as: From Spotify playlists to Super Audio CD, how is classical music consumed in the 21st century? Are stars like Lang Lang or Sheku Kanneh-Mason creating new and more diverse audiences for classical music? Is the concert hall the best place for classical music performances? From crossover to the ‘classics’ and from film music to contemporary classical works, what is understood by ‘classical music’?

The MA Classical Music Business is ideal for any graduates with a specific interest in classical music, or for those with a classical music performance, musicology or composition degree. It is also highly suitable for anybody already in employment, who wants to further progress their career in the classical music industry.

Why study MA Classical Music Business at Middlesex University?
The MA Classical Music Business at Middlesex is unique. In addition to its distinct content and specialised teaching, this programme gives you the opportunity take up placements with classical music organisations such as music publishing house Peters Edition, the National Opera Studio, the record label and promoter NonClassical, period instrument orchestra Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the English Chamber Orchestra. Work placements can also be carried out elsewhere in the UK, Europe, and other parts of the world.

As Middlesex University is based in London, the centre of classical music activity in the UK, we are perfectly placed to attract high calibre speakers as well as introduce you to a wide range of concerts and cultural activities at internationally renowned classical music institutions such as the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre and the Barbican.  You will examine contemporary issues and practices within the classical music industry and obtain a high level of understanding of how organisations are funded through commercial, public, and philanthropic income. Your work placement will also allow you to explore the practices and required skills of your chosen area within the classical music industry.

Course highlights

• The course features work placements with and insight from industry leaders including the Association of British Orchestras (ABO), Peters Edition, the National Opera Studio, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, NonClassical, the London Chamber Music Society, the English Chamber Orchestra, Sound and Music, Kings Place, NMC Recordings, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Octagon Music Society and Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts.
• You will benefit from guest talks and other contributions from classical music industry leaders
• The Classical Music Industry (Routledge, 2018), the first extensive book on the subject and a core text of the MA Classical Music Business, was edited by key staff of the programme.