Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in the City of London, UK. The first Guildhall School was housed in an old warehouse in Aldermanbury, but these premises soon proved too small. A new purpose-built building in John Carpenter Street was designed by City Architect Sir Horace Jones and opened in December 1886.

Before 1935 it was known as the Guildhall School of Music. Since 1977 it has been next to the Barbican Arts Centre in the Barbican Complex built in the 1960sâ€"70s.

It is a world leader in the teaching of:
*Music
*Opera
*Drama
*Stage Management
*Technical Theatre

It has a renowned Junior Department and its outreach activities won the Queen's Anniversary Award in 2005. Much of the teaching is assisted by the professional creative team. This gives the students the opportunity to learn from those who currently work in the industry, providing them with essential contacts.

Notable alumni

Guildhall School graduates include:
* Thomas Adès
* Jonathan Ansell
* Eileen Atkins
* Neil Austin
* Dido Armstrong
* Max Beesley
* Honor Blackman
* Claire Bloom
* Orlando Bloom
* Owen Brannigan
* Beatrice Chia
* Susan Chilcott
* Mike Christie
* Daniel Craig
* Judy Craymer
* Paul Daniel
* Jeillo Edwards
* Joseph Fiennes
* James Galway
* Dave Holland
* Sarah Lancashire
* Paul Lewis
* Tasmin Little
* Benjamin Luxon
* George Martin
* Alistair McGowan
* Ewan McGregor
* Julia McKenzie
* Marian McPartland
* Leticia Moreno, violinist
* Omar
* Anne-Sofie von Otter
* Felicity Palmer
* Philip Pickett
* Rachel Podger
* Rebecca de Pont Davies
* Jacqueline du Pré
* William Primrose
* Patricia Rozario
* Clive Rowe
* Rosalind Runcie, pianist
* Simon Russell Beale
* Matthew Stiff
* Bryn Terfel
* Ben Thapa
* Marcia Warren
* Janice Watson
* Al Weaver
* Debbie Wiseman

See also

*Music schools

External links

* Guildhall School of Music and Drama website