Bringing the outside in: Conservatoire alumni as agents for change in higher music education in England

Building alumni relations is critical to the sustainability of higher music education institutions worldwide. Indeed, alumni have a vital role to play in supporting leaders and learners within conservatoires and universities to broaden their perspectives about the music industry and the challenges and realities faced by graduates during their professional lives. The current study involved 41 music graduates from a conservatoire in the United Kingdom who, collectively, had contributed to their former institution’s educational activities in numerous ways. The respondents were invited to complete an online survey which aimed to gain insight into the extent to which respondents perceived their graduate contributions to be of value, both personally and institutionally. The findings show that invitations to contribute to conservatoire activity have many motivational benefits for alumni, including recognition of their career achievements and a sense of belonging and responsibility. In returning to their former institution to share honest accounts of their student–professional transitions and lived career experiences, alumni perceived themselves as highly relatable and relevant, with much to offer to both students and staff. With greater acknowledgement of the significance of their contributions to conservatoire life, conservatoire graduates may have the capacity to influence institutional review and change through “alumni-led communities of practice,” in which alumni become the “experts” in the context of music students’ career preparation.