Rosie Perkins has been appointed to a Personal Chair in Music, Health and Social Science. Her research focuses on music and mental health and performers’ career development. She is also programme leader for the RCM’s ground-breaking MSc in Performance Science. Her work has been supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England, British Academy, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and has featured in international journals and press.

Of her appointment, Professor Perkins said: ‘I am honoured that my work at the intersection of music, health, and social science has been recognised with this Personal Chair and look forward to continuing to work with the RCM’s inspirational staff and students to evidence the important roles of music in societal wellbeing.’

Neta Spiro has been appointed Reader in Performance Science. Her research is underpinned by two questions: What is the potential role of music in peoples’ health and well-being and what is communicated when we make music together. She is investigating the range of relationships that people can have with music and is exploring the possible levels of shared understanding across a variety of forms of music making. Her teaching includes music, health, and wellbeing topics as well as areas of music psychology across the MSc in Performance Science programme.

Terry Clark has been appointed Research and Knowledge Exchange fellow. His research focuses on the assessment and development of performance skills, experiential learning, and stress measurement and management. He works closely with the Imperial College Business School to develop research and pedagogical initiatives focused on the use of interdisciplinary experiential learning to facilitate the development, real-world application, and assessment of business and entrepreneurship skills. He leads RCM BMus and MSc modules on performance psychology and health.

George Waddell has been appointed Lecturer in Performance Science. In addition to his research on performance evaluation and technology, he is leading the design and delivery of a range of undergraduate and graduate modules bridging science and practice. These include core modules for all RCM undergraduates on performance health and professional skills, as well as a range of options on music psychology, evaluation, entrepreneurship, emotion, and research methods.

Meet the full CPS team.