Centre for Advanced Music Practice and Research

CAMPR – Where music research becomes music made visible.

The Centre for Advanced Music Practice and Research (CAMPR) is AC[M]’s hub for contemporary music research. It brings practice-based, practice-led and traditional music research together in one collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, where ideas can be developed, supported, tested, presented and shared.

CAMPR is not another academic department or programme. It is a living research environment in which ideas become projects, projects become outputs, and research connects with audiences, partners and the wider music and creative industries.

– Led by Professor Rich Perks

 

The Centre coordinates and supports staff-led research projects, research development, mentoring, seminars, symposia, visiting scholars, practitioner events and large-scale collaborations. It also provides an externally facing identity for international research dissemination, public engagement, strategic partnerships and doctoral music supervision.

Working with higher education institutions, international partners, industry practitioners and cultural organisations, CAMPR creates opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and research impact. It makes the breadth of AC[M]’s creative and scholarly work visible, and helps it reach further.

Our first fully supported project, Skelton Key, launches in December 2026. It is a large-scale performance, composition and production collaboration involving AC[M] staff, students, alumni and external partners.

Music Research at ACM

Who we work with

Academic staff and researchers; doctoral and post-doctoral researchers; external partners; diverse audiences and the wider creative community.

What we offer

  • A supported environment in which contemporary music research can be developed, connected and made visible, while retaining the breadth of practice that defines the institution.
  • A platform for celebrating and disseminating research through performances, recordings, publications, artistic outputs and other events.
  • A research environment designed to strengthen culture, collaboration, visibility and impact.
  • An externally facing identity for wider research activity and potential doctoral music supervision.
  • A coherent institutional home for staff research activity.
  • Support, mentoring and development for researchers building their research portfolios.
  • A platform for research seminars, symposia, visiting scholars and practitioner events.
  • Opportunities to develop interdisciplinary and large-scale music research projects.
  • Connections with academic institutions, international partners, industry practitioners and cultural organisations.
  • A route towards collaborative creative practice funding applications and knowledge exchange.

CAMPR Research Staff

Professor Rich Perks

Professor Rich Perks
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Dr Tom Williams

Dr Tom Williams
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Dr Emily Bettison

Dr Emily Bettison
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Dr Tom Atherton

Dr Tom Atherton
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Scott McGill

Scott McGill
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