Faculty of Music

In 1891, new Ordinances provided for 'Regulations for Degrees in Music. In 1894, this was approved by Parliament and the Faculty of Music now exisited in its own right. Previously Music came under the aegis of the Faculty of Arts.

Frederick Maternus Neicks (1845-1924) had been appointed Reid Professor in 1891 and was succeeded, in 1914, by Sir Donald Francis Tovey (1875-1940). Tovey founded the Reid Orchestra.

Thereafter followed Sidney Newman in 1941, Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988) in 1970 and Nigel Osborne in 1989. In 1970, a new Tovey Chair was established, with Michael Tilmouth its first incumbent.

Newman oversaw significant expansion of the faculty, the foundation of the Edinburgh Quartet, the acquisition of the Russell Collection and the restoration of St. Cecilia’s Hall as its home.

In 1967, the Faculty moved to Alison House in Nicolson Square. Following the merger with Edinburgh College of Art in 2011, Music became part of the newly reconstituted Edinburgh College of Art within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.