Head Masters Lecture: Malcolm Johnston

About

Biography:
Malcolm is Professor of Radiology and Medical Education at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). He is the academic lead for medical school admissions.

He trained at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine and at University College London. During higher training he undertook a fellowship in Interventional Radiology (IR) at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Malcolm is a consultant interventional radiologist at University Hospitals Sussex. In 2023 he was appointed to chair the Royal College of Radiologists IR committee and Undergraduate committee leading the development of IR education, training and clinical practice across the UK.

Malcolm was a music Scholar at Mill Hill School, playing the violin, piano and percussion. As a student he took informal conducting lessons, and in 1999 was appointed the conductor of the Hampstead Symphonia and Chorus. He is a keen (amateur!) classical composer and has had a number of orchestral and choral compositions performed. Malcolm is an active advocate of the public understanding of science and classical music and lectures at many festivals.

Talk description:
In this concert - lecture Music and the Brain Malcolm will combine science and musical performance (working with musicians and the Choir of Lancing College) to explore what is music and why it is so central to all human societies. Malcolm will try to answer why we are all drawn to different styles of music and will use cutting edge imaging and sound recording technology, combined with live performance, to explore some of these concepts. Although rooted in western classical music, the lecture will also explore musical styles and cultures from around the world and discover the effects that music (both familiar and unfamiliar) has on the brain. Malcolm will challenge your own perceptions of what music is, why you are drawn to some styles but detest others, and why music evolved as central to humanity.