Julian Lloyd Webber is to step down from his role as Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire next month. In recognition of his five-year tenure – during which time he oversaw the move to a new £57m building and the organisation granted Royal status – he has been given the status of Emeritus Professor, and will retain links with the Conservatoire and Birmingham City University.

Other accomplishments under Lloyd Webber’s leadership include a merger with the School of Acting; securing the largest ever single donation in the history of the Conservatoire and attaining outstanding National Student Survey results year on year, with music achieving the highest result of any UK conservatoire in 2020 for the third successive year.

Birmingham City University Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Plowden said: 'The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has thrived under Julian’s leadership.  What has been achieved has been exceptional. We are a university with creative arts at our core and Professor Lloyd Webber has not only been passionate about achieving world-class quality in the Conservatoire, but also supporting and promoting its exceptional outreach work to ensure that musical education is available to everyone. Working with Julian has been a delight, and I am very pleased that he has accepted the award of Emeritus Professor and will retain links with the Conservatoire and BCU. I look forward to continuing to work with him, and I wish him all the very best as he steps down as Principal.'
 
Julian Lloyd Webber said: 'I will always treasure the many happy memories of my time at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It has been a privilege to work with such a marvellous team and such wonderful students. I thank the University for the award of an Emeritus Professorship and wish the institution ongoing success.'

Over the past five years, under his leadership, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has forged a partnership with Naxos for a series of recordings featuring Conservatoire students, celebrated Junior Department student pianist Lauren Zhang win the BBC Young Musician of the Year and awarded honorary doctorates to the songwriter and composer Laura Mvula and the actor Daniel Day Lewis.