The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) is a

music academy The Music Academy is a classical music training program in Montecito in Santa Barbara County, California. Overview The academy hosts an annual eight-week summer music festival, highlighted by concerts and workshops directed by famous composer ...

in Guildford, Surrey,

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

providing contemporary music-based courses. The school of music has a focus on

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, electronic dance music and a vocational approach. The school has links with Guildford's Electric Theatre, Guildford College, Middlesex University and University of Surrey.

History

The Academy of Contemporary Music was created by guitar tutor Phil Brookes and Peter Anderton of Andertons Music Co. In the 2000s, the academy partnered with three educational establishments for awarding qualifications: Guildford College which grants BTEC/ Edexcel awards for the lower discipline, Middlesex University and the University of Surrey. The latter validate the Certificate in Higher Education for the intermediate discipline, award degrees at BA (Hons) and BMus (Hons) through to an MA (Masters) in contemporary music in partnership with ACM.

Awards

In May 2008, ACM was awarded The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation (Technology). In late 2009, with support from the

University of Central Oklahoma The University of Central Oklahoma (UCO or Central State) is a public university in Edmond, Oklahoma. It is the third largest university in Oklahoma, with more than 17,000 students and approximately 434 full-time and 400 adjunct faculty. Founde ...

, ACM opened a base outside of the UK in

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, appointing Scott Booker as executive director. In August 2013, ownership of ACM was acquired by Kainne Clements, who also co-owns

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Previous students

Alumni / former students of ACM (including academic music courses in which vocational placements were made with ACM) include: *

Newton Faulkner Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner (born 11 January 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Reigate, Surrey. He is known for his percussive style of guitar playing. In 2007 Faulkner's debut studio album ''Hand Built by Robots'' was c ...

, guitarist/singer/songwriter whose album

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went to number one in the UK Album Charts. *

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, member of The

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. * Ben King, lead guitarist with

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. * Guy Davis, of rock group

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. *

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, singer/songwriter, Ivor Novello,

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and Grammy winner *

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, dubstep producer * Ryan Fletcher and Joel Peat of the band Lawson *

Molly Smitten-Downes Molly Alice Smitten-Downes (born 2 April 1987), known by her mononym Molly, is an English singer and songwriter. Early life Born in Anstey, Leicestershire, Molly grew up in Rothley and attended Our Lady's Convent School in Loughborough. She ...

, Singer-Songwriter and the

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entry * Dominic Lyne, author * Rabea Massaad, guitarist (

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and Toska) *George Berry, drummer/producer, Bears In Trees * Jan-Vincent Velazco, member of

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* Jamie Irrepressible (founding member)

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References

External links

The Academy of Contemporary Music website
{{Authority control Music industry associations Music schools in England Education in Guildford Educational institutions established in 1997 1997 establishments in England Music organisations based in the United Kingdom