Editing Andrew Downes (composer) (section)

== Early life ==
Downes was born in [[Handsworth, Birmingham]].<ref name="Composers Alliance">{{cite web |url=https://composersalliance.com/composers/index.cfm?composer=167 |title=Andrew Downes |website=composersalliance.com |year= 2005 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref> He attended [[St. John's College, Cambridge]], on a scholarship, receiving his master's degree in composition.<ref name="Composers Alliance" /> In 1974 he studied with [[Herbert Howells]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Piano recital includes Howells' work |work=The Citizen |page=10 |date= 10 June 2005}}</ref> at the [[Royal College of Music]].<ref name="Composers Alliance" /> Downes was head of the School of Composition and Creative Studies at [[Birmingham Conservatoire]] from 1992 until 2005, when he retired due to ill health.<ref name="BCU">{{Cite news |title=RBC staff and alumni pay tribute to former Head of Composition Andrew Downes |url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/about-us/news/rbc-staff-and-alumni-pay-tribute-to-former-head-of-composition-andrew-downes |access-date=7 January 2023 |publisher=Birmingham City University |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leading pianist's recital |work=Newsquest Media Group Newspapers |date= 9 June 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tribute to composer |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |page=12 |date=14 June 2005}}</ref> He kept working as a freelance composer.<ref name="Composers Alliance" />