News

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is delighted to announce the appointment of Havilland Willshire as Director of Music.

Havilland has been serving as Interim Director of Music since the departure of Dr Claire Mera-Nelson in March, having previously held the post of Assistant Director of Music and Head of Performance. He takes up the permanent role of Director of Music with immediate effect.

Passionate about his beliefs in the value of music-making, Havilland Willshire is a highly sought after speaker, adjudicator and competition jury member. Having studied at the RNCM and University of Manchester, he was Head of Metropolitan Wigan Instrument Service for nine years before moving to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he held a number of senior positions, including Dean of the School of Music. He has also worked extensively as a pianist, and has recorded and broadcast live for BBC Radio.

Havilland commented:

“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be taking up the role of Director of Music on a permanent basis. There are very many reasons to be excited about taking on this role at this moment in Trinity Laban’s illustrious history, but two in particular stand out: first, our exceptionally talented and committed staff and students, and second, our fast growing global reputation for doing things differently.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world representing Trinity Laban, and wherever I go I find people who are really excited to learn about what we do: how we equip our students not only with the very highest levels of technical expertise, but also with the ability to innovate, create and work collaboratively, thereby giving them the very best chance of having long, fulfilling and successful careers. I’m looking forward to working with my exceptional colleagues here to develop this work in the future.”

Professor Anthony Bowne, Principal of Trinity Laban, commented:

“Havilland is enormously experienced as both a performer and an educator, and has a deeply held commitment to the wellbeing and success of our students and staff, and so I’m really delighted that he will be taking on this role of Director of Music. I look forward to working with him as we take Trinity Laban into what promises to be a thrilling new era for the conservatoire”.

For more information on Havilland Willshire and Trinity Laban’s Faculty of Music, please see the Trinity Laban website.