New Directors of Music and Theatre
Published by Uppingham School on Wednesday 5th of March 2025
It is great to be able to share two exciting internal appointments to the positions of Director of Music and Director of Theatre.
Andrew Webster will take up the role of Director of Music from September 2025. Andrew studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he has also been a Professor of Clarinet since 1994. For eight years, he served as Sub-Principal Clarinet with the orchestra of the English National Opera and was Principal Clarinet with the Glyndebourne Touring Opera for twelve years. He has performed as Guest Principal Clarinet with all the UK’s major orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Andrew joined Uppingham’s Music Department in 2013 as Head of Wind, Brass, and Percussion, later assuming the role of Assistant Director of Music (Instrumental) alongside this. Those who have attended Uppingham’s music concerts will be familiar with Andrew’s work as conductor of our Symphony and Jazz Orchestras. His immense talent, expertise, and deep knowledge of the School will lead Uppingham’s Music Department into an exciting new era.
Matt Bulmer has been confirmed as Director of Theatre, having first taken on the role in an interim capacity last year. Matt discovered his passion for the performing arts while studying at Cambridge University and has since gained extensive industry experience in acting, directing, and theatre production. Matt was the co-founder and director of Fight in the Dog, a theatre and comedy production company that enjoyed significant success and critical reception nationally. Matt developed and directed a range of new productions that sold out extended runs across London, headlined major UK festivals and won the Edinburgh comedy award.
Before joining Uppingham, Matt was the director of performing arts at Brentwood School and then head of the day school and sixth form at ArtsEd, London’s leading school for the performing arts. In his short time at Uppingham, he has already directed several outstanding productions, including The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. We are delighted that Matt will continue in this role on a permanent basis.
Uppingham’s Headmaster, Dr Richard Maloney, said: "As a school that is committed to the value of a truly holistic education, the leaders of our music and theatre departments play an integral part in Uppingham life. We are thrilled to confirm Andrew Webster and Matt Bulmer in their new leadership roles.
“Andrew’s exceptional musicianship and dedication to Uppingham’s musical life make him the perfect person to take our Music Department forward. Likewise, Matt’s creativity and passion for theatre have already had a profound impact on our school productions, and I have no doubt that he will continue to inspire our pupils in the years ahead. I warmly congratulate them both on these well-deserved appointments.
