News

Sign-up NOW to take part in

The Big String 2021 or The Big Blast 2021

Open to young string, brass or wind musicians from across the county, from

pre-grade 1 to grade 8+, whether already involved in an ensemble or not.

Follow the link here for more information and to register your interest.

Fundraising success

We love sharing good news. The Architectural Heritage Fund has awarded us a grant that will help us to develop our exciting plans for Barbican House. This money will enable us to develop our communications, reach out to our alumni and other important stakeholders and make improvements to our website.

We are very pleased that Gloucestershire Community Foundation has awarded us £2,000 for our bursary fund. This is a welcome boost at a time of great demand.

GAM is delighted to have received a grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This funding will help us to strengthen our delivery of music education at this very challenging time.

IN MEMORY OF

PROFESSOR ALAN LUMSDEN

GAM is very sad to announce the death of

Professor of Music Alan Lumsden,

the husband of our founder, Caroline.

He played an inspirational role in helping Caroline to create an outstanding musical academy, which began life 40 years ago and many of whose students have gone on to forge their own musical careers.

Tribute from President of GAM, Professor Derek Aviss OBE:

Alan was a highly accomplished musician and performer whose standing in the profession, in his own right, commanded both respect and admiration.

His partnership with Caroline in the founding of GAM and its predecessors is of great significance to all who have benefited and have love for its four decades of exceptional music education. Alan was a very special man, he will be greatly missed and long remembered for his outstanding contribution and achievements.

Tribute from GAM’s Artistic Director Glyn Oxley:

Alan and Caroline were the driving force behind the astonishing music education story that started at their home Beauchamp House; grew into Beauchamp Music Group and Gloucester Academy of Music and Performing Arts and a highly successful full summer of residential music camps.

Alan inspired and encouraged generations of young musicians with good humour, fiery intellect and incredible energy. GAM alumni working throughout the music profession at the very highest levels owe a debt of thanks for his musical wisdom. He also leaves a lasting legacy in an extraordinary number of early music masterpieces brought to light by him and carefully edited.

A musical life well lived. He will be greatly missed by all of us who had the privilege of working with him.

Tribute from Viv Hargreaves, GAM’s chair:

I was incredibly privileged to have met Alan and Caroline at the very start of their musical enterprise at Beauchamp House, Churcham, 40 years ago.

Alan’s vast musical knowledge, his influence and support were crucial to the success of Beauchamp Music Group and what followed. He helped lay the foundations for today’s outstanding Gloucestershire Academy of Music, which combines high quality teaching with a wonderful family atmosphere.

The energy and enthusiasm generated by Alan and Caroline has spawned new generations of musicians, some of whom now teach at GAM, while others, including daughter Emma, have professional performing careers. More recently, despite suffering from the onset of dementia, Alan was a welcome presence at some of our Cheltenham GAM sessions when Caroline brought him along to listen to the groups at Dean Close. His memory will live on through music.

For anyone wishing to share memories and tributes, please email these to