Julian West is well known throughout the UK as an oboist and animateur.  Over the last 20 years he has combined a career as an oboist with developing creative learning projects for many organisations, including Wigmore Hall, Glyndebourne Opera, and Spitalfields Music to name but a few.  

Remaining at the forefront of the development of this field of work, Julian is currently Head of Open Academy, the Royal Academy of Music's creative learning and participation programme, where he lectures on music in community, and carries out research into best practice.




© Julian West 2011

Julian is currently leading a project for Wigmore Hall's Music for Life programme.

A project with moving image artist Ellie Rees for Magic Me and Spitalfields Music is underway, exploring themes of mapping - geographical, emotional and historical. Watch this space!

As Head of Open Academy, Julian has been instrumental in bringing together Kuumba Youth Music with the Academy to research the obstacles that might prevent BAME musicians from entering the music profession.  A year long programme of research and events is underway.

Julian is looking forward to leading training sessions for Live Music Now this spring, looking at working with older people.

Twitter: @mrjulianwest