Final-year students from UWL’s London College of Music (LCM) have been showcasing their talent and creativity at a series of ARTSFEST events held at the University’s Lawrence Hall, with one final student-led festival event still to take place.
Composition Festival
LCM’s emerging student composers presented new music at the LCM Composition Festival on 22 April and 6 May. Guest flautist Mary Bull delivered a talk on flute and electronics and then performed her fringe music-theatre piece Limbs. Guest composer/sound designer Danilo Ricciardiello delivered a workshop on sound design. Guest percussionist Ric Elsworth premiered seven new pieces by BMus and MMus students, written for marimba and vibraphone.
Level 6 students performed in the Townshend Studio works developed as part of the Composition Portfolio module in collaboration with PhD students. Honorary Professor video game composer Richard Jacques delivered a video game music talk and workshopped six gaming works by BMus and MMus students.
Dr Simone Spagnolo, Head of Composition at LCM, said:
“We had a wonderful Festival this term, enriched by new music and inspiring industry guests. It has been a pleasure to experience our students’ work across a wide range of genres and media. Our composers’ community is vibrant, diverse and forward-thinking,”
The Superhero
On Friday 1 and Saturday 2 May Lawrence Hall was transformed into a futuristic, ice-covered London as final year BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance students presented The Superhero, written and directed by Sophie Swithinbank.
Course Leader Cathy Sloan explained:
“This project is a culmination of three years of training in contemporary performance practices, focusing on the creation and performance of new work. It has allowed the students to work with an industry professional and engage with a play that is both imaginative and socially urgent.”
Sophie praised the students’ professionalism:
“The talented and hardworking student actors have embraced challenges with confidence, kindness and total commitment. This is their final project at UWL, and I hope it serves as a strong springboard into the theatre industry as they graduate.”
Original performance work
From Tuesday 12 – Friday 15 May, final year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre and BA (Hons) Acting (performance) students will present LCM FEST 2026, featuring devised performances, original script readings and student-made films.
The performances form part of the students’ dissertation, in which they create a practice-research performance piece. This may take the form of a cabaret, a small-scale musical, or a piece of choreography. Working with the support of academic supervisors, students develop and present a fully original piece of performance work.
Course Lead for BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Gillian Ford said:
“The project encourages students to be creators and entrepreneurs, empowering them to create their own employment opportunities and take ownership of their careers. Many of these works have the potential to develop beyond the university setting, with students able to develop the pieces further and present them on other platforms after graduation.”
Bradley Bisset, who will present his Cabaret ‘Funny, Little, Fat One!’ said:
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to try out brand new material in front of a live audience that I have spent weeks creating and moulding, with a view of taking it to different venues after graduating in just a few weeks!”
The ARTSFEST events celebrate the creativity, skill and ambition of LCM students as they take their final steps toward careers in music and the performing arts.
