LCA Staff

Denise Ham (Course Director)

Denise Ham has an international reputation as a teacher of conducting, with private students coming to her from the USA, China, the Middle East and from across Europe. The basis of the technique she teaches is the Toscanini/Barzin technique- a comprehensive technique that combines fluent use of the baton with economic, natural use of the whole body.

She was tutor in conducting at the Royal Academy of Music from 1986-2009 and from 2006 -2016 founded and taught the Conducting Course at Blackheath Conservatoire, London. For many years she has been on the staff of the George Hurst Conductors’ Course at Sherborne (Canford) Summer School of Music.

Her conducting and teaching career has taken her to Germany, France, Spain, Greece, Switzerland Australia and Bermuda. In the UK principal conductorships have included the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Conservatoire, the Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra, the Aberdeenshire Youth Orchestra and currently the Bournemouth Rehearsal Orchestra.

Her instructional DVD, “The Craft of Conducting”, has a worldwide market, with many conductors testifying to its effectiveness in their work and study.