teaching/education
Naomi has been teaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire since 2007. She has been Head of Saxophone since 2008.
In the heart of the Midlands, the saxophone department at RBC offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses which focus on individual development alongside building skills for employment in a variety of related fields.
For information about visiting tutors, specialist artists, department events and masterclasses - visit the conservatoire's website, www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire or click here for the saxophone department's Facebook page.
On graduation, RBC students often secure places to study in the UK and abroad for MMus or DMus degrees. Bachelor students have gone on to postgraduate studies at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, University of Texas, Sam Houston University, University of North Carolina, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Missouri-Kansas City or remain at RBC for course in saxophone performance, pedagogy, composition degrees and more.
Current and recent graduates have had success at international competitions such as the Rosen-Schaffel Concerto Competition, 11th International Music Festival of Padova, the 2014 North American Saxophone Alliance Solo Competition and NASA chamber music competition.
Closer to home, postgraduate students past and present have received funding and support from major supporting bodies such as Help Musicians UK, the Tillett Trust and EMI Music Sound Foundation.
Many graduates choose a path to more immediate employment, going on to teaching positions in higher education in the UK, Asia and USA. Many graduates choose to work as freelance musicians, pursuing their own creative endeavours, such as the band - Punch the Sky. And some choose to work in education embarking on PGCE courses, working for Birmingham Music Services, schools in Warkwshire, Northhampshire and across the Midlands. There is a wealth of local music theatre companies offering experience, employment and a gateway to working in this genre. We have seen a number of graduates find a career in music therapy, academic music and outreach projects. Whilst other find employment as chamber musicians, conductors, instrument repair and much, much more. Please visit the conservatoire website for more information.
Naomi has given masterclasses in Europe and USA. Often with the support of the Erasmus programme, she has visited the conservatories of Ferrara, Fermo, Amsterdam, Lucerne, Luxembourg, Oslo, Antwerp and Brussels. In the USA, she has worked with students of the University of Texas, Blinn College Texas and Sam Houston University, Texas.
In the UK she has given masterclasses at the RCM, GSMD, Chetham's School of Music, Wells Cathedral School and the Purcell School.
Naomi also works with the young musician's of Aldeburgh Youth Music, BCMG's Music Maze and Zig Zag. She has taught at Hindhead Summer School, Nottingham Saxophone Day/Weekend and Well’s Cathedral School Saxophone Day.
Left to right -
RBC students performing Michael Wolters: Queer Concerto for 9 saxophones and symphony orchestra. Birmingham, 2018
With the students of Conservatory "G. Rossini" Pesaro, 2019
RBC saxophone students at the World Saxophone Congress, Zagreb with J.M. Londeix, 2018
