David Clarke Professor of music, International Centre for Music, School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University
Advertised in The Times Higher , April 8, 2005

It was an odd moment for David Clarke when he saw that he would have to quit the search for a professor of music at Newcastle University and apply for the job himself.

"Obviously we sought good applicants," said Professor Clarke, who as a reader and head of music was involved in the selection process.

"But as the CVs started to arrive, I realised that my own was not too dissimilar. A few of my colleagues encouraged me to apply, so I sounded out the possibility. After hearing positive noises, I decided to throw my hat into the ring.

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"It was weird having to let go of all my involvement in the selection process. It was still a surprise to be appointed. Sometimes the hardest person to please and impress is yourself, and I've been touched by the endorsement from colleagues and all the messages of goodwill."

For Professor Clarke, a musicologist renowned for his analysis of the music of composer Sir Michael Tippett, the new job has been very much business as usual.

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As leader of a consortium of six North East England universities and The Sage Music Centre in Gateshead, he has spent the past year overseeing the start of a five-year project to turn the 5* Newcastle music department into a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

"The vision for the department is to move away from the classical music tradition and be inclusive of world music, pop and folk," Professor Clarke said.