Leeds Conservatoire is renowned both nationally and internationally for its creative and innovative approach for specialist teaching of music and the performing arts. With a vision to not only lead in music and performing arts education within the north, it also aspires to be a world-leading choice for applicants from around the globe.
The conservatoire has implemented an exciting new academic structure and is delighted to introduce the following appointments:
- Kari Bleivik as Head of School of Popular Music and Voice
- Erin Carter as Head of School of Drama
- Craig Golding as Head of School of Music Production and Events
- Jamil Sheriff as Head of School of Music and Education
Kari, Erin, Craig and Jamil, whose expertise is outlined below, will each lead a school of specialist highly trained teaching staff with significant reputations.
Leeds Conservatoire values excellence and elite training in all forms of music and performance making, and so offers the broadest range of genres of any conservatoire in Europe, giving its students unrivalled opportunities for collaboration. It seeks the new artforms of the future, valuing experimentation and creative risk, and exposing its students, staff and audiences to new artistic experiences.
The responsibilities of the new school Heads involve expanding upon the conservatoire's achievements, the development of new and innovative programmes, along with championing excellence and sustainable change. The student experience and ability to succeed continue to be key as well as commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Kari Bleivik - Head of School of Popular Music and Voice
Kari is an acclaimed vocalist and composer, originally from Norway, but now residing in Yorkshire. She grew up in a creative family where the pursuit of music was encouraged from an early age, and she started working as a professional musician in her teens.
As a vocalist, Kari has toured extensively for over 20 years and performed at many major venues and festivals both in the UK and internationally. Projects and collaborations, such as Røyst Trio, Sonic Stories, Metamorphic and Tommy Evans Orchestra among many others, have spanned many genres including jazz, pop, world music and avantgarde. She has released and contributed to several albums released on labels in the UK, Norway and Australia. In 2012 she received the award ‘Vocalist of the Year’ by Jazz Yorkshire.
In 2018 the music video released by Røyst Trio was nominated for multiple international awards, and won the Best Music Video Category at the Independent Talents International Film Festival. This featured her composition ‘The Quiet Beauty.’
She has been teaching at Leeds Conservatoire since 2002, working with students across all levels and a range of courses. Kari has been Programme Leader for the Foundation Year for the last 12 years.
She is a graduate of Leeds Conservatoire and Royal Northern College of Music, and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She continues to pursue opportunities to expand her knowledge, most recently completing a qualification in Vocal Health First Aid in 2022.
Kari will be supported by established songwriting academic Danny Cope as Deputy Head along with Academic Managers, professional vocalist and vocal coach Anna Uhuru, popular music expert Dr Jack Harbord, cultural studies and historiography specialist Dr Lewis Kennedy and multi-instrumentalist composer Chris Lawson-Quick.
Erin Carter - Head of School of Drama
Erin is a theatre maker and educator from Scotland. Following a decade long career in multi-disciplinary performance, Erin turned her attention to the creation of work; writing for radio, stage and screen and directing/choreographing theatrical productions.
Alongside creating new work, Erin has continued to pursue her passion for training and supporting new artists. In a higher education setting, Erin received academic commendation for her work in creating innovative curricular and assessment methods and a Teaching Excellence Award for her widening access project; Teaching the ‘Unteachable.’
Career highlights as a writer include: VII, Teatru Malta; Prophesy, The Public Theatre New York; Simple Truth, Theatre503; Three is Company and The Shed, Kings Head Theatre; Bound, BBC Radio 4; River City, BBC and Teacup Travels, CBeebies. As a director; Tin Forest International Company, National Theatre of Scotland, Rave & Behave, Spazju Kreattiv/The Edinburgh Festival, Brigadoom!, Play Pie Pint, Òran Mór. As an associate director/choreographer; Build a Rocket, Latitude, Melbourne Fringe and Edinburgh Festivals; 39 Steps, Stepping Out, Alice in Wonderland; The Stephen Joseph Theatre.
Erin joined Leeds Conservatoire in 2019 and has been instrumental in developing undergraduate and postgraduate drama focused programmes, working with industry professionals, practitioners, graduates, venues and partners in the north to identify exactly what innovative, vocational, contemporary training in the region looks like.
She leads Masterclasses in Storytelling and Artistic Development, nationally and internationally. Always crediting her work with the next generation of artists as her inspiration for creating form-challenging drama.
Erin will be supported by musical theatre specialist Adam Stadius as Deputy Head along with Academic Managers Harriet Spence (Dance), Aaron Newland-Bentley (Singing), Joanna Clark (Voice), Dr Eilon Morris (Movement), Laura McIntosh (Music), Gus Gowland (Postgraduate Musical Theatre) and Aiden Crawford (Projects and Productions).
Craig Golding - Head of School of Music Production and Events
Craig Golding (BA (Hons), PGCE) is Head of School of Music Production and Events and Principal Lecturer in Music Production. His teaching specialisms have included Studio Recording and Production, and Song Production.
Craig was originally appointed as Lecturer in Music Production/Popular Music in 2003, before taking up the role as course leader for the BA (Hons) programme in 2006.
Before joining the conservatoire, Craig worked as a professional front of house (FOH) sound engineer at a number of theatres/venues and toured with the Dance Theatre company Kudos Dance.
Craig has pursued an active freelance career in sound engineering and production since 2000, including work as a FOH engineer at many large UK venues including The Sage, Gateshead, the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, and Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
He has worked with and recorded a variety of artists and ensembles from choirs and orchestras to singer-songwriters/bands, Indian classical musicians and jazz ensembles. His more recent professional work has included the recording and mixing for Indian film soundtracks Life in Marina/Vidiyaaha Mun, Brilliant Classics and recording/production for Aston Microphones ‘Stealth’ product launch.
Craig is also a classically trained musician and can often be found sitting behind the mixing desk with a full score. He signed a publishing contract with Focal Press in 2008, and his co-authored book What is Music Production? A Producer’s Guide: The Role, The People, The Process was published in 2010 in both the UK and the US. A German translation by Carstensen was published in Europe in 2011.
Alongside his writing, Craig has delivered papers on the subject of music production at both national and international conferences. His more recent research focus has been the use of augmented reality to enhance teaching within the recording studio environment.
Craig will be supported by music production and Indian classical music specialist Bhupinder Chaggar as Deputy Head along with Academic Managers, experienced live event manager Colleen Lloyd and production and live recording specialist Si McGrath.
Jamil Sheriff - Head of School of Music and Education
Described by The Guardian as "someone who has made a real difference to the vitality of the jazz scene in the North of England."
His teaching specialisms are Jazz Piano, Jazz Composition and Jazz Musicianship. Jamil also enjoyed the role of Programme Leader (Jazz) at Leeds Conservatoire from 2014 to 2023.
Jamil has recorded and collaborated with many artists and recorded four albums of his own music, each of which have received national and international accolades. Jazz UK writes about Jamil: “His music is both swinging and sophisticated, Sheriff showing himself to be a constantly inventive arranger. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, he’ll come up with something fresh.”
As a composer, arranger and pianist Jamil has toured extensively throughout the UK and performed at national and international jazz festivals.
Aside from his own projects, Jamil enjoys a busy performance and recording schedule and works regularly with artists such as Arun Ghosh, Colman Brothers, Matt Anderson and Josh Kemp.
Jamil has been described by The Times as an "excellent Northern pianist who brings together a range of contemporary and urban approaches.”
Jamil will be supported by film music specialist Dr Brian Morrell as Deputy Head along with Academic Managers, orchestral film music expert Andy Barraclough, classical composer Dr Carl Vincent and jazz drummer Dave Walsh.
Find out more about studying at Leeds Conservatoire
Thinking of studying at Leeds Conservatoire in 2024? Request a prospectus here
