At the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama a vibrant public performance programme sits at the heart of the student training experience. The role of Head of Music Performance has been created to reflect the step change achieved by the National Conservatoire of Wales over recent years following the significant development of its music courses, and the opening of its state-of-the-art performance facilities.
The Head of Music Performance will support and develop the College’s widely recognised activities as a centre for performance excellence, and mediate between the industry-facing training of music students and the outward facing, diverse arts programme. It will ensure that each world-class visiting artist brings with them a significant benefit to the student experience, and play a crucial role in developing the National Conservatoire’s profile and participation within music education in Wales and music industry networks, nationally and internationally.
Kevin Price takes on this prestigious new role, leaving his previous position as RWCMD Head of Brass where over recent years he has not only built on a rich tradition of high level performance, but has also overseen the development of vocational activities in brass chamber music, historical performance, educational outreach, brass teaching methods and healthy practice.
In creating the new role, Director of Music Dr John Cranmer adds that “as well as supporting the remarkable increase in high-class performance activity at the College, Kevin will be responsible for developing and facilitating cross-disciplinary performance opportunities as well as managing further enhancements to the student experience and the conservatoire’s wider performance profile.”
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is also delighted to announce that Roger Argente has been appointed as Kevin Price’s successor as Head of Brass Performance.
Roger Argente
“Originally from Neath, Roger’s appointment at the National Conservatoire of Wales marks a moment of homecoming for this hugely experienced, versatile professional musician, teacher, publisher and entrepreneur”, says Dr John Cranmer.
“Roger’s personal and professional attributes encompass every aspect of the music profession and we are delighted to welcome him back to Wales. His appointment also signals the next phase of development for the College’s excellent brass provision, building on a strong heritage and commitment to aspiring musicians from across the globe”
Roger Argente has been Principal Bass Trombonist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for over 25 years, working with some of the finest conductors and soloists, and in some of the most prestigious concert halls and festivals across the world.
He has also appeared as a guest performer with many leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and the Super World Orchestra at the Tokyo International Music Festival. In addition to his work on the concert platform, Roger has also worked extensively as a session musician, recording scores for leading film composers such as Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Danny Elfman.
In January 2005, Roger started Superbrass, a collective of some of the finest brass and percussion players working on the London music scene, recently described by the International Trombone Association as ‘… absolutely one of the finest and most creative brass ensembles in the world.’
The College is delighted to welcome Roger to its full-time staff team from February 2018 and looks forward to working with this outstanding musician in the further development of brass performance at the highest level.
Editors notes
Roger Argente has been Principal Bass Trombonist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for over 25 years. In this capacity he has worked with some of the finest conductors and soloists, and in some of the most prestigious concert halls and festivals across the world. In addition, he has appeared as a guest performer with many leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and the Super World Orchestra at the Tokyo International Music Festival. In addition to his career on the concert platform, Roger has worked extensively as a studio session musician, recording scores for leading film composers such as Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Danny Elfman.
In January 2005, Roger started Superbrass, a collective of some of the finest brass and percussion players working on the London music scene. A deliberate and eclectic mix of classical, folk, jazz and the contemporary, Superbrass has worked for Music for Youth, the BBC Proms, London’s Southbank Centre and many leading county music service providers. Superbrass strives to premiere new and imaginative repertoire for brass and percussion and from this ethos has sprung an extensive and ever-expanding library of original new music, which is performed by professional, amateur and student ensembles across the world. A brass band catalogue has also evolved, while a new collection of wind band music includes Kirkfield, a new work for solo trombone and wind band by the LA-based composer Grant Kirkhope which was premiered by Ian Bousfield at the 2017 International Trombone Festival in Redlands, California.
Roger’s professional commitment to encouraging young brass musicians is second to none. Alongside his performing work, he is a highly experienced educator and teacher. This has included an association with Trinity Laban Conservatoire which extended over twenty years. At Trinity, as Head of Brass, Roger instigated and managed a series of international masterclasses that saw visits from world-class performers from orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Roger was heavily involved in establishing the RPO’s award winning Education Department, he set the trombone syllabus for the Trinity Guildhall Examination Board, and he sits on the Artistic Board of the World Youth Orchestra.
Kevin Price was born in Wellington New Zealand and studied at Otago University while working as a freelance musician with Auckland Philharmonia and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He moved to London after winning a three-year Associated Board Scholarship for postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. Kevin freelanced with London orchestras while studying from 1989-1991 and was subsequently appointed Principal Trombone of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. This appointment led to trombone teaching positions at Chetham’s School of Music and at the Royal Northern College of Music until 2005.
Kevin was appointed Head of Brass and Percussion Studies at RWCMD in September 2005, a role which enables him to develop his interests in brass chamber music, historical performance, educational outreach, brass teaching methods and Performance Practice.
Kevin’s research into the bioscience of musical performance is financially supported by the Wellcome Trust and the Universities of Cardiff and South Wales, and is undertaken in collaboration with Dr Alan Watson of Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences. The research aims to provide a knowledge base and support for the Royal Society of Musicians, the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund and the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine in order to assist performing musicians to pursue active and healthy careers.
Kevin currently examines at Chetham’s School of Music, Wells Cathedral School, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music, and is a Diploma examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music. He was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2012.
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