Dr Francesca Carpos

Biography

Dr Francesca Carpos is an Academic Researcher at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and a founding member of its Institute for Social Impact Research in the Performing Arts. Her research focusses on social justice and socio-legal issues in the orchestral profession. In addition, Francesca continues a close association with Guildhall School as a long-standing bassoon tutor at the Guildhall Young Artists, Centre for Young Musicians. 

Francesca is a professional bassoon player, having worked for leading national and international orchestras for over thirty years. She is the bassoonist for TV adverts such as Kellogg’s, Duracell Batteries, Boots the Chemist and Andrex. She is an experienced conservatoire lecturer, bassoon teacher and examiner. Francesca’s lifelong interest in the practices that unfairly disadvantage classical musicians led to her doctoral research (PhD) at University College London (UCL). 

To broaden her wide-ranging body of research, Francesca trained as a barrister and was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, having been awarded a BPC Advocacy Scholarship (University of Law).

Francesca’s PhD, ‘The Prestige Economy of a London Orchestra’, shines a light on the long-standing complacency towards racism, favouritism, sexism, cronyism and nepotism in the orchestral profession:  https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10024679/

Francesca is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of Trinity College, London, Member of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, Member of the Royal Society of Musicians, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.