Dr Andrew McBirnie returns to LCME as Chief Examiner for Music
London College of Music Examinations (LCME) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Andrew McBirnie as Chief Examiner for Music, effective 14 April 2025.
This appointment marks a significant return for Andrew, who previously held the position of LCME's Chief Examiner from 2002 to 2008. His reappointment brings a wealth of experience from across the performing arts assessment sector, reinforcing LCME's commitment to excellence in music education and assessment.
A distinguished career in performance assessment
Since his previous tenure with LCME, Andrew has held several influential positions in the exam sector. He served as the inaugural Director of Examinations at the Royal Academy of Dance, where he managed their examining business from strategic, operational, financial, and regulatory standpoints. During his time at the Royal Academy of Dance, Andrew also served as a Trustee for the Council for Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre (CDMT) and became a leading advocate for the graded exams sector, further enriching his understanding of the broader performing arts assessment landscape.
Most recently, he has worked at RSL Awards, holding various key leadership roles including Chief Examiner, Head of Standards and Awarding, and Head of Operations.
Music background
A former composer finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year, Andrew studied at Tanglewood with Henri Dutilleux and at Dartington with Peter Sculthorpe. His compositions have been performed throughout the UK and internationally, as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and commercially recorded.
Andrew holds a first-class degree in music from the University of Bristol and completed an MMus and PhD in composition at the University of London, studying at the Royal Academy of Music with Justin Connolly. He has taught at various institutions, including Oklahoma City University and the University of West London, and has served as a church organist and conductor of a community concert band.
Looking to the future
Ben Norbury, Head of Exams at LCME, commented on the appointment, "Andrew brings a wealth of fantastic skills and experience across various awarding bodies. I have no doubt that he will help LCME advance in its mission to empower people through performance. We look forward to collaborating with him to continue developing our syllabuses and assessment practices to meet the evolving needs of music students and teachers worldwide.”
LCME would also like to express sincere gratitude to John Howard, who has provided exceptional leadership as interim Chief Examiner since summer 2024.