Philip Bird in his new role at the computer keyboard. | Over the past 10 years, Philip has put computing technology to creative use in music studies, using software to develop musical arrangements for the choir, the Chapel organ, and other performances at King's. He says the Computer Studies curriculum emphasises creativity, in terms of programming and web design, and that fits well with his own interests as well as those of students. Computer Studies is an elective subject at King's from Year 11 to Year 13, although it is not a bursary option. Philip says he is looking forward to the challenge of a completely different role at King's, having headed Music for the past 27 years. His predecessor, LCM Saunders, had retired after 35 years, and continued a tradition of long-serving Music Masters. Each master has put his stamp on music at King's, and in Philip's case there have been a number of advances. He began by establishing a highly successful string group, which was led by Simon ANSELL (Major 76-80), one of the first violin scholars at King's and included Dean SUTCLIFFE (Major 74- 78), now the Director of Music at St Catharine's College, Cambridge University, and David WILSON (Marsden 77-81), who is now a lecturer in the Engineering School at the University of Sweden. Philip moved on to develop school bands, and the House Music competition. These days, Houses can sing, dance, and dress as they please for their performances, but when Philip first resurrected the competition it was rather more restricted, with a set song that all Houses must repeat, dressed standardly in their grey blazers. English-born and educated, Philip says he has seen music became a much more accepted part of College and New Zealand life in the 27 years he has lived here. "There was once a time when a boy wouldn't be seen carrying a violin. Now, music is an accepted part of one's education and the numbers electing to study Music have increased markedly.' Although Philip will no longer have a role in teaching Music at King's, he will continue to play the organ, which he first learnt as a 12-year-old schoolboy in England, and mastered during three years at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Leanne Gibson |
