Talented OP Max McLeish recently graduated from The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) with an MA in Jazz Trombone, with Distinction.
Max who started in St Peter’s 8-13, and continued to flourish in 13-18, won the St Peter’s Award in 2016 as one of our very best musicians. Max then excelled at University of Cambridge, graduating with a first in his music degree, before starting at RAM.
His father, Professor Tom McLeish, kindly donates his time as a Governor at our school.
Max, said: “I’m always very grateful for my musical experience at St Peter’s” and tells his story so far here in his own words:
“I’m Max and I was at St. Peter’s not long ago, only finishing in 2016, and I have just completed my MA with Distinction at RAM in Jazz Trombone.
The course comprised of a mixture of ensemble projects lead by world renowned jazz artists such as Bill Laurence, Gareth Lockrane, Will Vinsen and Nikki Iles. I was allocated forty hours each year of one-to-one tuition with teachers of my choice, including top British trombonists Trevor Mires and Mark Nightingale. The course had a strong emphasis on composition and arranging, with expert tuition from Pete Churchill. These lessons involved learning everything from writing chord progressions, to voicing a sax section, melody writing to poetry setting, culminating each week in a postgraduate octet session, where we would play through each other’s half-written compositions and receive feedback.
This course had an intimate feel, with only around fifty people in total in all six years of undergraduate and postgraduate students. This facilitated a strong community feel and a constant emphasis on playing together at any opportunity outside of organised classes, resulting in various bands starting in RAM practice rooms. I had the opportunity to get a band together to play the music I had been writing which culminated in performing a set of my own at The 606 Club, a jazz club, in Chelsea, London, for my final recital. This project is something I am also continuing in my freelance life, post Academy.
Overall, my studies at RAM helped me vastly to improve my overall musicianship and hone my individual voice as a musician. It was also incredibly helpful at preparing me for all the practicalities of being a working freelance musician (such as making records, applying for grants, time management, and preparing press packages).
Click here to view one of the tunes I wrote for my recital.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in music and further study options, I would be really happy to chat about my experience so do ask Mr Miles-Kingston if you would like to get in touch!”
