Bibi was the secretary (2020/21), president (21/22) and treasurer (22/23) of LUUMS during her time at the University of Leeds!
Throughout her time in LUUMS, Bibi was a member of Chorus, Brass Band, Symphonic
Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Choir. She now works as a Senior
Assistant Artist Manager at a IMG Artists in London.
Can you share one key experience in your time with LUUMS that has really helped you with your career as an artist manager?
Being on the executive committee teaches you to think on your feet. Whether it’s dealing with parts of a concert hall ceiling starting to crumble or realising percussion won’t fit into a van, you have to make quick, confident decisions. I’ve definitely carried this into my work in artist management, particularly when backing my judgement under pressure.
What encouraged you to run for all three primary committee roles?
President, Treasurer and Secretary are all vital roles, but each comes with very different responsibilities. I wanted to develop as broad a skill set as possible during my time at university and holding all three positions allowed me to build experience across many skills like leadership, finance, organisation and communication.
Did your approach to being on the executive committee change or develop each year?
As the years went on, I realised LUUMS’ core mission is about bringing people together. The concerts are important, but the real value is in the weekly rehearsals where members build friendships and have space to de-stress. I learned that the magic is in the everyday experience, not just the final performance.
Was there anything you learned in your work with LUUMS that was unexpected or surprising?
I learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all model for ensembles. Different groups need different levels of funding, rehearsal space, or performance opportunities (just to name a few) and it’s the executive committee’s role to make that work. That adaptability was something I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
Do you have a favourite LUUMS concert that you were a part of?
My favourite concert in Leeds was in Summer 2023 when we performed Franco Cesarini’s Symphony No. 2: Views of Edo with the Symphonic Wind Orchestra. We had a percussion team of six and the whole symphony was one of the best things I’ve ever played. Our conductor, Tom Proctor, led us brilliantly and pushed us to a level that made performing the piece possible.
What was your proudest moment with the society?
As cheesy as it sounds, my proudest moment within LUUMS is seeing the lifelong friendships people make through the society, and watching those relationships continue long after graduation.
What was your favourite LUUMS memory?
My favourite memory was playing at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh with the
Symphonic Wind Orchestra on tour in June 2022, especially performing Godzilla
Eats Las Vegas by Eric Whitacre. It marked LUUMS’ first academic year back in
person after Covid and everyone had been looking forward to touring again after two years without it. Godzilla Eats Las Vegas was also one of my favourite pieces to play during my four years (the piano part is absolutely wild).
If there’s one piece of advice you could share with current members, what would it be?
Get involved in a leadership role if you can, whether that be on the executive or wider executive committee. Representing the society is incredibly rewarding and the skills you gain are invaluable for postgraduate life and often things you won’t learn through academic modules alone.
Leeds University Union Music Society 