George Pratt
Biography
Professor George Pratt was director of music at Keele University from 1964. During that time he was instrumental in developing the orchestra, the choir, the chapel choir, designing the chapel organ, establishing the Lindsay Quartet, and finally, in developing the Music Department in which he was first senior lecturer and later the head of department. His teaching experience at Keele led to the publication of The Dynamics of Harmony: Principles and Practice (OUP 1984 and 1996).
From 1985 George was professor of music at Huddersfield University, building up a department of over 350 students. His commitment to music education culminated in a major HEFCE funded research project, 'Calma' (Computer Assisted Learning in Musical Awareness) at Huddersfield, developing ideas first proposed in his Aural Awareness: Principles and Practice (OUP 1998). The project won a European Academic Software Award.
George has served on the National Curriculum Music Working Group and HEFCE Research and Teaching Assessment panels. He has been president of the ISM and a director of Opera North, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the Early Music network among others. A frequent broadcaster, he has been presenting BBC Radio 3's Spirit of the Age for over seven years.
He has been honoured with Fellowships from Trinity College of Music, London, the Royal College of Music, London and the universities of Keele and Exeter, as well as being made Emeritus Professor of Huddersfield University. George now lives in Devon. He continues to teach at Exeter University, to review recordings for BBC Music Magazine and to play continuo with the newly formed Ten Tors Orchestra.