Spotlight On... Catherine Preston

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am a part-time lecturer (teaching) on the MA in Music Education Programme at IOE UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, inputting into an excellent platform for instrumental and class music teachers to develop their practices, and for aspiring music educators, community music leaders, or academics, to learn about key philosophies, research, and pedagogical approaches underpinning music teaching and learning.

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I joined the MA in Music Education team in 2020 having enjoyed an eclectic career in music education as an academic, as a performer, an instrumental teacher, classroom teacher and as a teacher trainer.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

A really hard question to pick one from so many! The standout one is probably an innovative pilot scheme at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Students studied for B.Mus. degrees and Post Graduate Teaching Certificates simultaneously. This ground-breaking initiative gave them the qualifications and skills to work in any sector in Music and Music Education at the highest level.

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list

I live very much in the present and embrace the fact that education and learning are lifelong commitments. The cellist Pablo Casals was asked why he continued to practice at age 90. “Because I think I'm making progress,” he replied. As a trustee and flautist with the north-east-based Cobweb Orchestra and a director of the Berwick’s Golden Square Singers community choir, I am working on my choral and orchestral conducting skills. I recently went on a two-day conducting course at St Andrew's University as a catalyst to be the best conductor I can be.

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

Dvorak’s Cello Concerto performed by Rostropovich with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan. My favourite film is Dr Zhivago and my favourite novel is Charlotte Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. My husband writes crime novels, but as an incurable romantic, I find his noir fiction a bit too bleak, no offence Andrew! 

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?

I am the world’s worst joke teller. Unlike Stewart Lee, there is no punchline I cannot mess up. A flute player and a fiddle player were on a sinking ship. “Help!” cried the fiddle player, “I can’t swim!” “Don’t worry,” said the flute player, “just fake it.”

(You probably need to be a flute player to understand the joke!)

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

I like small intimate gatherings so I would have dinner with my husband, Andrew, and my daughter, Dr. Anne Preston. She is co-lead of the Entrepreneurship Community of Practice and an Associate Professor (Teaching), part of the UCL East Programme and I am incredibly proud of her achievements. As Andrew and I are based in Berwick, Anne’s visits up north are always special and we enjoy each other’s company enormously. It would also be wonderful to include my late mother, Pamela, and Andrew’s late father, Tony. As this is a dream dinner party, I shall have them there them as well.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The advice I would give to my younger self would be to always believe in your ability to succeed – I hope I managed to pass this on to my daughter — and a lot of students with whom I am still in touch.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

It may surprise people to know I ran two half-marathons in Manchester in 2017 and 2018 (or a complete marathon over 12 months … told you I was bad at jokes). My husband was more impressed when I played the flute for Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law at a gallery opening in Salford, the last time they were all together in the same room.

What is your favourite place?

My favourite place is Cocklawburn Beach on the Northumberland coast. Located just outside Berwick upon Tweed with Holy Island within walking distance, there is no better place to relax and unwind.

Further Information

Catherine Preston on IRIS