I recently found myself reflecting on a constant theme in my life – that of teaching the oboe and especially within the conservatoire sector. It is remarkable to think that I was appointed to teach the Oboe at the Royal Academy of Music in April 1984 and thus can look back on 40 years in conservatoires. At the RAM I was soon to find myself as Head of the Woodwind Department but I continued to enjoy and put as much energy as I could into my role as Oboe Professor. I look back on those years with colleagues Tess Miller and Celia Nicklin with such pleasure and nostalgia!

On my appointment to the Principalship of Birmingham Conservatoire (now Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), I made sure to continue teaching the oboe and was delighted and proud to work for three Heads of Woodwind over my years there: Janet Hilton (who went on to run the Woodwind Department at the Royal College of Music), Michael Harris and Jenni Phillips.

As Principal, I felt it important to continue to teach my instrument to ensure that my leadership of the institution remained embedded in music making and the professional world of music. I also needed to continue to teach as an extension of my own playing which I have maintained as best I could over all those years.

On standing down as Principal after 17 years in 2010, my teaching at conservatoire level could have ceased too, especially as I soon found myself in a new role at Codarts Rotterdam where the oboe teaching was expertly covered by Maarten Deckers and Aisling Casey. But Jenni Phillips encouraged me to continue as an Oboe Tutor in Birmingham, made possible by the fact that my work in the Netherlands was a part-time appointment.

Over the years, it has been so rewarding to work alongside colleague oboe tutors in the Woodwind Department currently Jenni Phillips, Emmet Byrne, Rachel Pankhurst, Anna Cooper, Gail Hennessy and formerly the wonderful past members of the CBSO section, Richard Weigall, Jonathan Kelly, Karen O’Connor, Peter Walden and many distinguished visiting professionals too.

So I have now completed over 30 years at RBC and continue to enjoy teaching my students there. I try to stay aware of all those with whom I have worked and am thrilled to see the many successful careers that have developed over the years. If you are a former student and reading this, I am always so pleased to hear from you. I should also say that it is not just my oboe students but all former students who I worked with who can be included in this message!

In the meantime, I would wish to thank Janet Hilton, Michael Harris and Jenni Phillips for their amazing leadership of what remains as a remarkable Woodwind Department at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Jenni Phillips, Head of Woodwind, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

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