Newsroom University of Manchester

Music Department hosts 'Re:locating the Arts' event with researchers and leading industry partners

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:43:24 +0000

On 4th November, the University’s Music Department hosted Re:locating the Arts, a symposium which explored research and current practice on themes of location in the output of arts organisations, co-organised with partner organisation Manchester Camerata. With contributions from academia, postgraduate researchers, and professionals working in industry, the event provided an opportunity for a disciplinary diverse range of voices to interrogate current thinking around the role of geographical location in designing and delivering effective arts programmes.

With representatives from theatre, music, orchestral production, and music education, the event began with a roundtable discussion that examined routes to finding a home within a community. Presentations covered a breadth of topics spotlighting current initiatives and relocations in arts organisations; experimental AI in collective practice; festival partnerships; the positioning of the arts within (and by) universities; civic capital in classical music outreach projects; ethics, rights, and regulations in the University of Sheffield’s Access Folk’s participant-led research; and preliminary findings from the University’s research partnership with English National Opera.

This symposium was the third in an ongoing series of Think Tank events, in which themes emerging from a collaborative PhD project are discussed and interrogated by a diverse range of voices and disciplines. The Think Tank series will continue in 2026 with an event focusing on the theme which was considered the most urgent for further interrogation: community.

This event was funded by the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership, part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Thanks also to Creative Manchester for their generous support.

For more information on the Think Tank series, please email Rebecca.parnell@manchester.ac.uk

Creative Manchester Showcases Student Research and Celebrates University Collaboration at BEYOND Conference 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:18:30 +0000

For the second-year running, was one of the partners for the , engaging with industry leaders, researchers and artists from across the creative sector. The conference provided an opportunity to explore applications of and research into CreaTech and build collaborative links across the UK.

One of the highlights was Professor John McAuliffe, Creative Manchester’s Platform Director, taking part in the panel discussion “Civic, Creative and Cultural: University Collaboration”. The session brought together members of the , including Professor Kirsty Fairclough (School of Digital Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University), Dr Sam Ingleson (University of Salford) and Professor Wiebke Thormählen (Royal Northern College of Music). Together, they demonstrated how universities are helping to create a more connected, creative and equitable city-region through strategic partnerships and cultural engagement.

Creative Manchester also invited three PhD students and their supervisors along to BEYOND for their CreaTech Student Research Showcase. The showcase, located among many other exciting product and research demos in the Immersive Futures Lab, featured the students’ PhD research and celebrated the University of Manchester’s vibrant postgraduate research community. These projects show how creative technology can tackle real-world challenges across diverse industries:

- PhD in Electroacoustic Music Composition
Stream of Strings explores embodied music cognition, blending cultural heritage with creative technology to create motion-responsive performances and visual works. The project reimagines the ancient Chinese Guqin as an interactive instrument for live performance and public engagement. She is supervised by .
- PhD in Electroacoustic Music Composition
Data Sonification for Algorithm Behaviour uses sonification, the mapping of non-auditory data into sound, to better understand how optimisation algorithms work. This approach advances mathematical research while inspiring educational tools and musical compositions. He is also supervised by Professor Ricardo Climent.
- PhD in Computer Science
ReflectanceFusion is a neural text-to-texture model that generates editable, relightable materials from text prompts. It enables precise control of physical attributes, producing highly accurate textures for rendering and material design. He is supervised by .

The showcase sparked lively conversations among attendees, with many playing the Guqin virtually via a Leap Motion Controller and others listening to the beats generated by algorithms being solved in real time. Not only did the students get to practise their pitching skills, but they also found partners for onward collaboration and learning. It was great to see how the next generation of researchers and business partners can come together and seize opportunities for R&D.

More content from BEYOND 2025 will be shared soon, but to get an idea of the atmosphere at this special conference.

University of Manchester hosts unveiling of 2026 BRIT Awards Trophy

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:28:59 +0000

The University of Manchester proudly hosted the unveiling of the official 2026 BRIT Awards trophy design at the University’s , marking a major cultural moment as the BRITs prepare to be hosted in Manchester for the first time in their history.

The trophy, designed by internationally acclaimed Manchester-born designer was unveiled during a special event celebrating both the city’s creative heritage and the University’s role as a hub for arts, design, music and performance. The University of Manchester’s , home to the renowned - the UK’s first large-scale, dedicated collection for the preservation and study of popular, counter- and youth culture - helped frame the significance of the occasion.

At the event, attended by fashion, music and drama students from across the University, guests witnessed the first public reveal of the iconic trophy and took part in an in-depth Q&A with Williamson. The conversation, led by , Head of Collections, Teaching and Research at the John Rylands Library, offered students and attendees unique insight into the designer’s creative process, his career journey, and what it means to see the BRITs come to his home city.

Williamson’s design draws deeply from Manchester’s identity. Crafted in amber-toned resin reminiscent of the golden honey of the worker bee, the city’s enduring symbol of resilience, the trophy sits atop a globe representing the global reach and influence of British music.

Heather Cole from the John Rylands Research Institute and Library added: “It was a privilege to host Matthew Williamson and introduce our students to the creative thinking behind this year’s BRITs trophy.

At the John Rylands Library, and through the British Pop Archive, we are committed to preserving and celebrating the cultural movements that shape British identity. Seeing a Manchester-born designer lead this new chapter of the BRIT Awards resonates strongly with our mission, and it was inspiring to give students direct access to such an influential figure.”

, taking place on Saturday 28th February at Manchester’s , marks the first time the ceremony will be hosted outside London. This year’s trophy places Manchester and the University, firmly at the centre of the BRITs’ new era.

Matthew Williamson joins a distinguished list of creatives who have shaped the BRITs trophy, including , , , , , , , . Each year, the BRITs commission a leading artist to reinterpret the iconic statue, ensuring it remains a dynamic symbol of British creativity.

As the BRIT Awards begin their first-ever chapter in Manchester, the University’s involvement underscores its commitment to celebrating and fostering the city’s rich cultural landscape while offering transformative experiences for its students.

Professor delivers keynote at landmark conference on AI in Music and the Digital Humanities

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 11:50:10 +0100

On Friday, 7 March 2025, delivered a compelling keynote speech at 'Creative Dynamics II: AI & Digital Innovations for Voice and Vocal Music', a one-day conference hosted by the .

The event, supported by the (IASH) brought together leading experts to explore cutting-edge advancements in AI-driven composition, voice synthesis, and the evolving legal, ethical, and economic landscape of AI-generated music.

His talk explored 30 years of practice-led research, from dataset sonification for composition to disruptive technologies shaping the University of Manchester's – including geolocative tech, game engines, and AI in music – culminating in works like his concert piece and interactive installation AI Beatboxer (Noh Virtual).

Another highlight of the conference was the UK première of AI Opera ��ū�� (Ghost) – an immersive Japanese sci-fi opera that captivated a packed audience of 200 attendees. Designed, produced, and directed by , postdoctoral scholar in Intermediality & Digital Humanities at the University of Edinburgh and Lund University, the opera showcased AI’s potential in reshaping vocal performance and storytelling.

This landmark event underscored the transformative role of artificial intelligence in vocal music, setting the stage for further innovation in the field.