Academy of Contemporary Music - History

History

The Academy of Contemporary Music was the brainchild of Phil Brookes, a guitar tutor from Woking. He wanted to bring contemporary music education and the music industry closer together, ultimately becoming mutually beneficial and working together in the same environment. Originally ACM consisted of tutors who were mainly professional musicians and considered teaching students as a part of their profession. As demand for tutoring in contemporary music has grown these musicians have increasingly become central to the teaching ethos of ACM and spend much of their time passing on their knowledge and experiences to ACM students. ACM currently has three educational partners: Guildford College which is located in the heart of Guildford granting BTEC/Edexcel awards for the lower discipline, and Middlesex University and University of Surrey who validate the Certificate in Higher Education for the intermediate discipline and degree BA (Hons) and BMus (Hons) through to an MA (Masters) in contemporary music. In May 2008 ACM was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2008. The Queen’s Award, which is endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen, follows the Prime Minister's recommendation that the Innovation category should be conferred upon ACM in recognition of ACM’s unique and industrious education philosophy. ACM celebrated the Award with a VIP reception at the Academy with many top-level representatives from the music industry, government and education sectors in attendance to show their support. In the Fall of 2009, ACM, with support from The University of Central Oklahoma, opened up its first location outside of the UK in Downtown Oklahoma City, with Scott Booker as the Executive Director.