News archive

Christian Mason (BA Music 2003-2006, MA Composition 2006-2007) has won one of the world’s most prestigious international composition awards with his work invisible threads (2023).

A new research project will enable the highly accurate reconstruction of historic musical instruments that are currently too damaged to play.

York, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant creative industries, is celebrating adecade as the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts.

The International Alliance of Arts Management (IAAM) will host its 2024 conference, “Global Opportunities and Challenges in Arts Management Education”, at the University of York from October 31 to November 1, 2024.

The School of Arts and Technologies has placed 7th in the Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2025 for the subjects of Drama, Dance and Cinematics.

Congratulations to Dr Rebecca Benzie on publishing "Feminism, Dramaturgy, and the Contemporary British History Play"

The School of Arts and Creative Technologies has placed 8th in the Guardian University Guide 2025 for the subject of Film Production & Photography.

Thirteen talented and passionate emerging artists have recently taken part in Vamos Theatre’s Emerging Artists Programme, a scheme that aims to create a new generation of performers skilled in full mask, devising, non-verbal and physical theatre.

3rd year Undergraduate Film Film 'HUNT' has made the top ten of The Graddies 2024!

The results of the 2024 National Student Survey have revealed the strengths of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies in ‘Academic support’, ‘Student voice’ and ‘Assessment and feedback’.

The results of the 2024 National Student Survey have revealed the strengths of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies in ‘Student voice’, ‘Teaching on my course’ and ‘Learning opportunities’.

The results of the 2024 National Student Survey have revealed the strengths of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies in ‘Student voice’, ‘Teaching on my course’ and ‘Learning opportunities’.

Congratulations to Professor Benjamin Poore on publishing "The Contemporary History Play"

Quinn McMahon, a third year BSc (Hons) Interactive Media student, was awarded a place on the Creative Immersive Year in Enterprise

University of York Lecturer and historical clarinettist Emily Worthington joins the international jury of the 2024 International Young Artists Competition organised by the National Centre for Early Music.

After 12 weeks of intense preparations, the Business and Enterprise in Interactive Media students present their business pitches to a panel of industry ‘Dragons’

Congratulations to Professor David Barnett in his new book release "Theatricality, Playtexts and Society"

The School of Arts and Creative Technologies (ACT) at the University of York warmly welcomes expressions of interest from scholars aspiring to apply for the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships, which offer fully-funded research opportunities for periods ranging from one to three years.

Performing Arts at York placed in top 100 globally, in the latest release of the QS World University Rankings by subject (2024).

Max and Ben, two 2nd year film students set up their own production company, Lot 108, and is going from strength to strength. Check out what they had to say when Ysobel Lloyd-Payne interviewed them

Student competition success for Mina Jachimowicz (MA Music Historical Performance) and Nick Booth (BA Music)

Success for Reader Robert Hollingworth and his ensemble, BBC Music Magazine Recording of the Month

Success for music alumni Owen Butcher who has been announced as the new tenor for The Swingles

Success for MA Film Project: Still Life at the National Student Film Awards

James Poole a recent graduate has had his MA dissertation published in Frontiers in Education. James explores the perceptions of dialogic teaching amongst trainee instrumental/vocal teachers.

Two University of York academics have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

A new educational game, Play your way into production, which explores working in the TV and film industry, launched today and is available to play as a free PC download.

New report on sexual harassment in the UK film & television industry launched at 'Safe to Speak Up?' event in London

Experts at the University of York are redefining live events with the CoSTAR LiveLAB, a brand new state-of-the-art research and development facility at Production Park in Wakefield.

Professor Jo Wainwright, on being awarded the American Musicological Society's prestigious Claude V. Palisca award for his three-part edition of music by Angelo Notari.

'Black Fell' is a new way to hear music, says composer Martin Suckling.

Senior Lecturer in Film and TV Production, Lorianne Hall, is due to appear on BBC Radio Yorkshire over the next few months.

IM graduate has final project published in the BCS - Human Computer Interaction Conference 2023

IM students prepare to be part of Aesthetica Games Lab, which is an opportunity to engage with the best and brightest new talent

New album from Professor Thomas Simaku, with soloists of Ensemble Intercontemporain.

Professor Jenna Ng wins The John Culkin Award for Outstanding Praxis in the Field of Media Ecology, and the Practice Based Research of the Year Achievement Award.

Dr Hasmik Gasparyan, lecturer in Directing for Film and Television, has published a chapter in the book, ‘The Place of Poetics within Documentary Filmmaking: The Art of Fact’.

Dr Nick Jones, Senior lecturer in Film, Television and Digital Culture has published a new book, Gooey Media: Screen Entertainment and the Graphic User Interface.

New network membership to support the University’s leading research in safe and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

The School of Arts and Creative Technologies has placed Joint 8th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 for the subject of Drama, Dance and Cinematics.

School of Arts and Creative Technologies Professor wins award at the Scottish Awards for New Music.

The results of a nationwide survey have revealed that the School of Arts and Creative Technologies is home to some of the happiest cinematics and photography students in the UK. Hear what our BSc Film and Television Production students have to say.

The results of a nationwide survey have revealed that the School of Arts and Creative Technologies is home to some of the happiest music students in the UK.

The results of a nationwide survey have revealed that the School of Arts and Creative Technologies is home to some of the happiest drama students in the UK.

A team from the School of Arts and Creative Technologies (ACT) has won a Cultural Wellbeing grant to support a community initiative in York.

Drama, Dance and Cinematics at York ranked joint 1st in the UK according to the latest release of the Complete University Guide league tables (2024).

A video essay made by a team from School of ACT has won the Special Jury Award at the Learning on Screen Awards in a ceremony which took place at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London.

Two students who are currently studying on our BSc Interactive Media programme recently won awards for their work at the Immerse UK awards. The Immerse UK awards is a competition for UK students to showcase innovative experiences or projects for the XR industry.

Dr Jenna Ng's most recent book receives Honourable Mention award by the British Association for Film, Television and Screen Studies (BAFTSS)

Researchers at the University of York have found that current AI-generated music is inferior to human-composed music.

The Aurora Orchestra conducted by Geoffrey Patterson premiere Martin Suckling's The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse at London's Royal Festival Hall.

Dr Matthew Williams (Lecturer in Music, School of Arts and Creative Technologies) will be presenting during an event at Bristol University in March 2023.

Music PhD students Xinpei Zheng and Mengyao Zhao will be presenting their research at the International Conference on Music Education Technology.

We were delighted to welcome members of the Ensemble Intercontemporain for a three day residency at York. The ensemble are referred to as the world's flagship of contemporary music.

Richard Mantle, OBE, General Director of Opera North and Sally Joynson, former CEO of Screen Yorkshire were the recipients of honorary degrees at this summer’s graduation ceremonies.

Josh Berger, CBE, former head of Warner Bros in the UK, Ireland and Spain, has been appointed as an Honorary Professor of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

A successful masterclass took place on the 12th October in the Holbeck Cinema with television and film director, Jon East. Jon has directed episodes of The Last Kingdom and Killing Eve.

York’s School and Arts and Creative Technologies placed 5th in the UK according to the latest release of Guardian University Guide (2023).

Auditions for our music ensembles start from 28 September.

Professor Martin Suckling's highly acclaimed disc, 'The Tuning', has been shortlisted for a prestigious Gramophone Classical Music Award.

The White Rose Early Career Screen Industries Research Network is seeking proposals for projects, events and initiatives that support the development of screen industry engagement and the wider Early Career Researcher community in Yorkshire.

Today sees the formal launch of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies (ACT), which combines the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media.

The School of Arts and Creative Technologies has recorded a strong performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) results.

Dr Liz Haddon, Dr Mark Hutchinson and Dr Caroline Waddington-Jones have all been published in this open access book.

We’re delighted to have some of the happiest music students in the Russell Group.

Dr Pete Dale is the Principal Investigator at the CUMIN research network

Drama, Dance and Cinematics at York ranked 3rd in the UK.

Hang Li, Xin Liu, Mengyao Zhao and Xinpei Zheng will be presenting their research at the conference at the University of Sheffield on 21 June 2022.

Thomas Simaku has been awarded the 2022-23 Karel Husa Visiting Professor of Composition at the Ithaca College in New York

2022 sees the two-hundredth anniversary of William Herschel, a profoundly significant figure in the field of astronomy, but one who made his early living as a musician - as an oboist, violinist, harpsichordist, organist, composer and impresario.

Applications are now open for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) positions within the Music Department for the 2022/23 academic year.

Performed by internationally renowned musicians, Thomas Simaku’s music is featured in the Moderne Muziek Nijmegen Festival in Holland on 20th March 2022.

We are delighted to announce that Christopher Fox has become an Honorary Professor of the Department of Music at the University of York.

The TFTI community are deeply saddened by the news of one of the department’s most ardent supporters, Ken Dixon.

Internationally renowned Swedish saxophonist Anders Paulsson has made a video recording in Sweden of Thomas Simaku’s Soliloquy VI for Soprano Saxophone.

The project aims to reveal the hidden acoustics of historic locations around the globe.

The School of Arts and Creative Technologies is delighted to announce the installation of a new state-of-the-art Audient ASP4816 into the recently refurbished Richard Orton studio.

The Music Department is sad to report the death, at the age of 104, of Dr Francis Jackson.

Patrick Crellin and Bethany White have released 'An Endless Summer', filmed remotely during the first 2020 lockdown.

We welcome proposals for papers until 11 February 2022

Articles by a recent MA in Music Education student and a current PhD candidate have recently been published.

A project to breathe new life into one of York’s historic streets has been given the go-ahead after receiving funding of almost half a million pounds from the Government’s Community Renewal Fund.

A new book published features chapters by Department of Music staff.

Interactive Media students Emily Martin and Wan Yun Law were finalists in the Engineers in Business Innovation Competition for their entry ‘North Star’.

Thomas Simaku’s new work Soliloquy VI for Soprano Saxophone will receive its world premiere at a concert in Kungsholm Church in Stockholm on 20th November 2021.

Anthony Hunt, of the Department of Electronic Engineering, awarded 2021 Rebekah Wilson Prize for Interactive Music.

Two York students who have invented a tracking device to help keep vulnerable people safe have won recognition for their work.

Win a prize of £100 and the opportunity to meet composer, performer, and software entrepreneur Rebekah Wilson.

Department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media maintains its place in the UK top 10

Thomas Simaku’s work con-ri-sonanza for piano & strings received its UK premiere at the 2021 North York Moors Festival of Chamber Music to a rapturous reception of a full house on 14 August.

A new feature film based on the high school days of a York lecturer and her love of The Smiths has received great reviews following its exclusive release on Sky Cinema.

The Department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media at the University of York is advertising one XR Stories Masters by Research studentship for the project, “Your heritage, your story: Fundraising e-stories of everyday heritage; increasing membership and widening audience participation” in collaboration with the Council for British Archaeology.

The Department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media at the University of York is advertising one XR Stories Masters by Research studentship for the project, “Space, Media, Imagination: The Story Space of People We Love”. This project examines how stories can be told through physical space, media objects and viewer imagination.

Simaku’s CD on BIS Records, con-ri-sonanza, has received another excellent review, in the July 2021 issue of the Cambridge University Press magazine Tempo.

Three students have won plug-ins from Nugen Audio worth hundreds of pounds, in a competition that was the culmination of a series of extra teaching sessions organised in the most recent lockdown.

Thomas Simaku’s album on French National Radio best CDs. A special programme is to be broadcast on Sunday, 4 July.

After what has been an incredibly challenging year for music-making in the Department and across the world, last week we celebrated the achievements of our third-year undergraduates with a selection of pieces from some of their final recitals!

The YUSU Excellence Awards 2021 results are in. This year TFTI had two lecturers receiving Highly Commended, three shortlisted, and 15 staff members and lecturers nominated for the awards.

This first collaborative project of this kind at TFTI, this challenge will bring together students from across the programmes, and take the opportunity to create performances that draw upon emerging technologies.

MA Music Education: Instrumental and Vocal Teaching awarded the prize for their teaching team's outstanding contribution to enhancing teaching and student learning

MA Music Education: Instrumental and Vocal Teaching student James Hargreaves sees his new EP, Good To Be Back, going in at #7 in the charts.

Andreas Tsiartas work 'Ìérkos for ensemble' (2020) has been recorded on a new CD release by the Stradivarius label, as part of his award for winning the competition Discovering Young Composers of Europe (DYCE) in 2019.

Second year Film and Television Production Student, Molly Danity, and her group win a University of York Student Volunteering Award.

Dr Marta Herrero's report with the Institute of Fundraising, discusses the impact of Covid-19 on arts and culture fundraising. This survey is the first piece of research on the sector and the first time that the collective voice of UK cultural fundraisers has been heard during the pandemic.

A team of six researchers from the Departments of Music and Computer Science has submitted an entry to this year’s AI Song Contest.

Thomas Simaku’s award-winning piece, Soliloquy V – Flauto Acerbo for Recorders has received another performance in the Netherlands.

The TFTI community were greatly saddened by last month's news of the death of Helen McCrory. A celebrated star of British Theatre, Film and Television, Helen was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of York in 2016. Professor Duncan Petrie, Head of Department

Interactive Media BSc Students win the University wide Dragon’s Den competition.

An excellent article about Simaku’s choral piece ‘La Leggiadra Luna’ has been published by Simon Cummings in 5:4 – ‘a blog devoted to the most interesting, innovative and impressive music of our time’.

Interactive Media BSc graduates, Naoimh Murchan (class of 2020), won a special distinction at the NI Game Awards 2021

Eight current and ten ex-students of the Music Department (all professional musicians) took part in a spectacular concert of 17th-century multi-choir music at York's National Centre for Early Music.

A series of distanced sessions on different aspects of music production and sound design, presented by a variety of staff members, has culminated in a remix challenge for students with prizes donated by the software company Nugen Audio.

2014 BSc Film and Television graduates debut their commercial for Maserati

Last week saw the premiere of Virtual Showcase II – an online celebration of the hard work and determination of our students and staff to continue making music during these difficult times!

con-ri-sonanza continues to receive excellent reviews in the British music press.

The Department of Music's Anniversary Reader, Robert Hollingworth, has launched a new online road trip of performances.

Caroline Waddington-Jones has secured a grant from the UKRI-funded Closing the Gap network run by the University of York and Hull York Medical School.

The nature of live music is that it exists in the moment. In years gone by, there would be little or no permanent record of its performance, save, perhaps, for the concert programme, promotional poster, or a ticket stub a concert-goer may take home with them.

The Music Department is sad to report the death of Dr Richard Shephard, Honorary Visiting Fellow of the Department, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University in 2008.

Thomas Simaku’s new album of chamber music, con-ri-sonanza, released by the Swedish label BIS Records in November 2020, has captured the attention of the music press and radio stations alike.

Third-year Music student Joshua Quinlan has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

Canadian postgraduate student Elysia Biro, who is currently doing an MA in Music Education, has been awarded a £3000 International Scholarship by the University of York to help cover tuition fees.

Staff on our BA in Music and Sound Recording have put together a programme of events in which they share their passion for music technology.

Win a prize of £100 and the opportunity to meet composer, performer, and software entrepreneur Rebekah Wilson