London College of Music Examinations (LCME) has announced the appointment of Dr Andrew McBirnie as Chief Examiner for Music, with effective from 14 April 2025. He follows John Howard, who has served as interim Chief Examiner since the summer of 2024.
Dr McBirnie was LCME's Chief Examiner from 2002–08, since when he has held several influential positions in the exam sector, including as the inaugural Director of Examinations at the Royal Academy of Dance. He also served as a Trustee for the Council for Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre (CDMT), and most recently worked at RSL Awards, in leadership roles including Chief Examiner, Head of Standards and Awarding, and Head of Operations.
Known as a composer in the UK and internationally, Dr McBirnie studied at Tanglewood with Henri Dutilleux and at Dartington with Peter Sculthorpe. He holds a first-class degree in Music from the University of Bristol and an MMus and PhD in Composition from the University of London. His teaching posts have included Oklahoma City University and the University of West London; he has also served as a church organist and conductor of a community concert band.
LCME Head of Exams Ben Norbury said: ‘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.’
