On Feb. 22, musicians from across the country, including past and current staff and students from Cardiff University’s School of Music, will gather in a musical protest against proposed course closures, job losses, and cuts.

In late Jan. Cardiff University confirmed plans to close Cardiff University School of Music, a facility that has produced outstanding musicians such as Karl Jenkins, Grace Williams, and Alun Hoddinott, as well as contemporary composers David John Roche, and Philip Cashian. The School of Music consistently ranks as one of the highest-performing schools in the university with particularly high student satisfaction.

The demonstration is led by the Committee of Concerned Musicians, an informal organization comprised of individual students who seek to take action. In a press release, the Committee spoke on behalf of current students and alumni, stating, “Collectively, we are outraged at Cardiff University’s decision to cut Music from the university curriculum, and call on Vice-Chancellor Wendy Larner to reverse this decision.”

The Committee of Concerned Musicians is calling for “the reversal of the decision to close the School of Music; to provide job security for those whose positions are threatened, and failing this, to minimize compulsory redundancies; to consider the use of reserve funding to save teaching of the humanities, including music, at Cardiff University; to champion the wealth of knowledge, research and skill that is fostered in the department; to celebrate the power of a university education in music, with the ability to offer musicological study to prospective students who do not wish to pursue conservatoire education, and to provide a tangible vision for the future of the School of Music, in consultation with staff, students and alumni.”

The demonstration will see performances by the specially formed Cardiff University Salvation Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Cardiff University Brass Band, and other ensembles. Performances will champion Welsh music featuring Cardiff University alumni Karl Jenkins’ “Adiemus and Palladio,” and Morfydd Owen’s “Threnody,” as well as traditional classical pieces, and the Welsh national anthem.

The Musicians’ Union, National Youth Art Wales, Royal Musical Association (RMA), Welsh National Opera (WNO), Welsh Music Guild, and others have shown support for the Committee of Concerned Musicians’ efforts. The Society of Musical Analysis called the school’s proposal, “damaging, short-sighted, and ill-conceived.”

Those attending are asked to gather outside the University of Cardiff Chemistry Building at 12 pm, before marching up Museum Avenue to Gorsedd Gardens where the performance will continue to the public. Any musicians wishing to attend are requested to register in order to allow sheet music and information about the performances to be circulated. Petitions have been made available on  Change.org and Senedd.

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