Music and Performing Arts
The Centre for Music and Performing Arts is a vibrant and dynamic community of practitioners that encompasses classical, jazz and popular music idioms; dance, acting and musical theatre; technical theatre and creative media (film). Creativity, innovation and performance are at the heart of the Centre. We have excellent facilities, close links to the local and regional arts industry and a large team of experienced staff who are active professionals as well as excellent educators. If you are serious about a career in music (classical, jazz, popular or film music), performing arts (musical theatre, acting or technical theatre) or creative media (film and moving image) we believe that we have the right courses, facilities and staff to help you to realise that ambition.
Colchester Institute is one of eleven new Associate College members of the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural.
Performance is at the heart of the Centre; each year we host a wide range of workshops and performances from visiting artists of national and international renown. Our students have many opportunities to perform in our own spaces and outside at local and regional venues including the Mercury Theatre, The Soundhouse, Colchester Arts Centre, The Twist, Headgate Theatre, Lakeside Theatre, The Hythe Lightship, Colchester Castle and many clubs and pubs.
Our cmpalive! website details this year's exciting performance schedule of concerts, gigs, dance shows and productions featuring professional musicians, famous faces and talented students. You can see full details of the event series and book online. You can also "like" us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and see and hear us on our YouTube channel.
Careers in music, creative media and performing arts range from the performer and educator through to the composer, director, choreographer, arts administrator, camera operator, technician and stage manager. Our graduates include the opera singer Deborah Norman and composer Tansy Davies both of whom are internationally known. Many graduates are teachers in schools, colleges and through instrumental services such as the Essex Music Services while others are working in bands, or with established solo stars. Our Musical Theatre graduates have gone on to a variety of careers as well as postgraduate study at some of the most prestigious schools in London and our Technical Theatre students are successful in finding jobs in the industry.
