Reference for Rory Duffy
It is my pleasure to provide this recommendation for Rory Duffy. I write in my role as Head of Music at the University of Manchester. Rory studied on our MusB (Hons) programme, graduating in the summer of 2008 with a well-deserved First. He then went on to complete an MMus at the Royal Northern College of Music, once again achieving first class honours.
During his undergraduate years, Rory took a wide range of course units across the curriculum, encompassing performance, composition, music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology. He thereby acquired a broad set of skills as well as knowledge, both of which he was able to put to eminently good use in his extracurricular and post-degree activities. He excelled in his final year, achieving especially strong marks for his dissertation and recital. I acted as supervisor for his dissertation on redefining the ‘Spanish tinge’ in contemporary music. This was an ambitious and authoritative study that built on Rory’s extensive knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, Afro-Cuban and Latin musics. The dissertation was testimony to Rory’s well-developed research skills and attention to detail. It stood out for the degree to which he was able to synthesise an impressive amount of material from a wealth of literature, alongside drawing on his intimate knowledge of the music itself – reflected in a massive discography – and his own fieldwork in Cuba. Equally impressive was the highly accomplished and detailed technical analysis, which in turn was balanced by nuanced perspectives on processes and theories of globalisation and syncretisation. The study was further enriched by an extensive selection of accompanying recordings, including original field recordings. In this regard the dissertation was a reflection, in distilled from, of Rory’s in-depth knowledge of, and fluency with, a vast array of musical idioms and repertoires. The work was also marked by his well- crafted and eloquent style of writing and excellent command of expressive and technical language.
I am happy to vouch more broadly for Rory’s excellent organisational, communication and time- management skills, attention to detail, sound judgement and commitment to delivering high quality results in a demanding environment. Rory’s interest in arts administration was evident during his student years, when he undertook duties in support of our concerts programme. I am not in a position to comment in detail on his work in recent years but I have remained in contact with him and have followed his career with interest. In my university capacity I also had dealings with him in his role at Band on the Wall and found him to be professional, efficient, amenable and courteous at all times. He has worked tirelessly and imaginatively to develop different aspects of his career in tandem, acquiring wide-ranging expertise in different areas of arts management and performance. With the combination of finely honed skills, knowledge and experience that he now has to offer, I am confident that Rory would make a valuable and original contribution to any arts institution.
Professor Caroline Bithell
Head of Music
Caroline.Bithell@manchester.ac.uk
August 2020
It is my pleasure to provide this recommendation for Rory Duffy. I write in my role as Head of Music at the University of Manchester. Rory studied on our MusB (Hons) programme, graduating in the summer of 2008 with a well-deserved First. He then went on to complete an MMus at the Royal Northern College of Music, once again achieving first class honours.
During his undergraduate years, Rory took a wide range of course units across the curriculum, encompassing performance, composition, music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology. He thereby acquired a broad set of skills as well as knowledge, both of which he was able to put to eminently good use in his extracurricular and post-degree activities. He excelled in his final year, achieving especially strong marks for his dissertation and recital. I acted as supervisor for his dissertation on redefining the ‘Spanish tinge’ in contemporary music. This was an ambitious and authoritative study that built on Rory’s extensive knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, Afro-Cuban and Latin musics. The dissertation was testimony to Rory’s well-developed research skills and attention to detail. It stood out for the degree to which he was able to synthesise an impressive amount of material from a wealth of literature, alongside drawing on his intimate knowledge of the music itself – reflected in a massive discography – and his own fieldwork in Cuba. Equally impressive was the highly accomplished and detailed technical analysis, which in turn was balanced by nuanced perspectives on processes and theories of globalisation and syncretisation. The study was further enriched by an extensive selection of accompanying recordings, including original field recordings. In this regard the dissertation was a reflection, in distilled from, of Rory’s in-depth knowledge of, and fluency with, a vast array of musical idioms and repertoires. The work was also marked by his well- crafted and eloquent style of writing and excellent command of expressive and technical language.
I am happy to vouch more broadly for Rory’s excellent organisational, communication and time- management skills, attention to detail, sound judgement and commitment to delivering high quality results in a demanding environment. Rory’s interest in arts administration was evident during his student years, when he undertook duties in support of our concerts programme. I am not in a position to comment in detail on his work in recent years but I have remained in contact with him and have followed his career with interest. In my university capacity I also had dealings with him in his role at Band on the Wall and found him to be professional, efficient, amenable and courteous at all times. He has worked tirelessly and imaginatively to develop different aspects of his career in tandem, acquiring wide-ranging expertise in different areas of arts management and performance. With the combination of finely honed skills, knowledge and experience that he now has to offer, I am confident that Rory would make a valuable and original contribution to any arts institution.
Professor Caroline Bithell
Head of Music
Caroline.Bithell@manchester.ac.uk
August 2020