Staff profile
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BA, MEd, LTCL, DipEd, FRSA, MBE
Grenville Hancox received his music education at the Birmingham School of Music, University College Aberystwyth and University College Cardiff. Formerly a teacher in secondary schools, his pioneering classroom methods were promulgated through a national project advocating both widening participation and the centrality of music making in the curriculum, both elements underpinning the work of this department.
As a clarinet player he has performed throughout the U.K. and in the U.S.A., most recently with the Maggini Quartet, Thea King, David Rees-Williams and the London Mozart Players. As a conductor he has directed many choirs and orchestras directing three ensembles within the department; Cantata Choir, Choral Society and Symphony Orchestra. In October 2004, the Cantata choir gave the world premiere of Sir John Tavener's Maha Maya commissioned by the University College, in a programme John Tavener and the English Choral Tradition, as part of Canterbury International Festival.
With a background in Music Education and performance his present research interests have developed from these areas and have resulted in a collaborative project with Professor Stephen Clift concerned with the benefits of singing for well being and supporting his belief in music as an agent for social change. Five years of work have resulted in publications and the establishment of The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health where one of the long term aims is through partnership with the local primary care trust, to provide singing on prescription.
Grenville Hancox is also creating an archive of the Naxos Quartets of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, a five year project begun in 2002 in collaboration with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and the department's resident quartet, the Maggini String Quartet. The archive will consist of audio recordings of rehearsals, performances and recordings and provide a comparative review of the process of interaction between composer and performers.
Current PhD supervision is centred in areas of performance and music education both with full-time and part-time students.
Grenville Hancox was appointed Professor of Music in 2000 and was awarded the MBE in the birthday honours list for services to music in 2005.