Royal College of Music

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is one of the world's greatest conservatoires, training gifted musicians from all over the world for international careers as performers, conductors and composers.

We are ranked the Global No. 1 institution for Performing Arts for the fourth year running and earned the inaugural top spot for Music in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

We welcome and support students from all over the world. Our international reputation is matched by our commitment to students who benefit from world-class facilities, amazing performance opportunities and exc

eptional professors.

We are ranked top UK conservatoire offering music as a single subject in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).

After almost 140 years, the RCM is still true to its founding principles of access, excellence and advocacy. With a student cohort numbering some 60 nationalities, the RCM is determined to play its part in bringing people together, enriching our society and promoting unity.

RCM professors are leaders in their fields and graduates benefit from the expert guidance of our sector-leading Creative Careers Centre, achieving remarkable success around the world. Among our alumni are composers and performers such as Sir Hubert Parry, Benjamin Britten, Gustav Holst, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Lord Lloyd Webber, Rebecca Clarke, Anna Meredith, Clemency Burton-Hill, Dame Joan Sutherland, Dame Sarah Connolly, Gerald Finley, Sophie Bevan, Louise Alder, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Regular visitors to the RCM to work with students in masterclasses and rehearsals include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Alina Ibragimova and Lang Lang. Be part of the future of music.

Royal College of Music students have access to unmatched performance opportunities, often in prestigious venues and with the most highly regarded guest artists.

The College's diverse events calendar includes more than 500 events per year. Ranging from masterclasses and chamber concerts to orchestral concerts and fully staged operas, these give you as much performance experience as possible.

That’s a wrap on our 2025/26 events season! 🎶 It's been another wonderful year of performances, masterclasses, festival...
16/07/2026

That’s a wrap on our 2025/26 events season! 🎶

It's been another wonderful year of performances, masterclasses, festivals and more. Swipe to see a few highlights in our ➡

1. A brilliant performance of Nielsen's Inextinguishable Symphony earlier this month with Ryan Bancroft
2. A series of brilliant festivals including Percussion with Dave Weckl as well as Woodwind and Brass, Conducting, Keyboard, Strings...
3. ...and another fantastic Chamber Festival, culminating in A Grand Night for Singing with Wayne Marshall OBE
4. A huge range of insightful masterclasses from musicians including Zlatomir Fung, Nicky Spence - tenor , Sir Stephen Hough and many more
5. Performing at Southbank Centre Queen Elizabeth Hall with the RCM Symphony Orchestra and Kahchun Wong – plus more concerts around London at Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and Royal Albert Hall
6. New music in a collaborative cross-cultural performance, ‘Bridging Worlds’
7. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Performance Science at the RCM as part of our Music and Ideas seminar series
8. Three wonderful opera productions from the RCM Opera Studio, including our most recent production of new operas by RCM composers in collaboration with Tête à Tête
9. A concert of Cuban-inspired music with The Sarahbanda

…and so much more! We’re looking forward to welcoming new students in September, and can’t wait to see what the new academic year brings 🎉

How do you prepare for performance? Whether it's playing music in a concert hall or football in a stadium, the RCM Centr...
15/07/2026

How do you prepare for performance? Whether it's playing music in a concert hall or football in a stadium, the RCM Centre for Performance Science is at the cutting edge of research into optimising these crucial moments.

In the latest edition of Upbeat magazine, find out how the CPS collaborates with experts from the worlds of sport and music and beyond to encourage peak performance, from building a supportive team around you, to tackling nerves and handling audience reactions: bit.ly/PerformanceScience2026

Tell us how you prepare for performance in the comments 👇

Top of the class! ✨ Following last week’s inspiring graduation ceremonies, the Royal College of Music has once again ex...
13/07/2026

Top of the class! ✨

Following last week’s inspiring graduation ceremonies, the Royal College of Music has once again excelled in the National Student Survey, achieving outstanding results in teaching areas, academic support, wellbeing and resources.

The RCM Library received an almost perfect score of 97%, while communication about mental wellbeing support services achieved a 92% positive score, both exceeding averages across UK institutions and conservatoires.

Find out more about the fantastic results: https://bit.ly/rcm-nss-26

📸: Phil Rowley

09/07/2026

Three brand-new works by RCM composers are now available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Here's a clip from one of them: Dance of the Oilliphéist by Robert IJserinkhuijsen conducted by with on bodhrán.

The music was recorded live at our Bridging Worlds concert, hosted at the RCM in May in collaboration with and curated by their Associate Artists and .

Bringing together students from , and , the project explored new approaches to composing, performing and collaborating across cultures, traditions and musical forms 🎼🌎

📣 Applications to the Royal College of Music are officially open! Apply for September 2027 entry via UCAS Conservatoires...
09/07/2026

📣 Applications to the Royal College of Music are officially open!

Apply for September 2027 entry via UCAS Conservatoires and take the next step towards your musical future.

Make sure to submit your application by 1 October 2026. For more information on how to apply, please visit https://bit.ly/rcm-apply-2027

As we prepare to welcome our students and their families to later this week, we're revisiting some memorable moments f...
08/07/2026

As we prepare to welcome our students and their families to later this week, we're revisiting some memorable moments from last year's celebrations🎓

RCM alumni: can you spot yourself in any of these photos? We'd love to hear from you in the comments ⬇️

For those unable to join us in person for this year's , all ceremonies will be livestreamed via our website homepage.

Looking for summer activities with the kids?Join us at the RCM Museum this July for exciting family-friendly events! Get...
06/07/2026

Looking for summer activities with the kids?

Join us at the RCM Museum this July for exciting family-friendly events! Get involved with Morris dancing and folk fun, or be inspired by classical music at an interactive concert.

👯22 July: Mini Folk Dancers
A lively family session exploring traditional music and dance (ages 2–5)

💃23 July: Family Folk Dancing
Enjoy ceilidh dancing and singing in a playful introduction to folk music and dance (ages 5+)

👒28 July: Morris Dancing Fun
Learn about the different types of Morris dancing in a joyful session open to all ages and abilities!

🪇31 July: Family-Friendly Concert
Discover the colourful sounds of the woodwind family in a relaxed, interactive concert.

Learn more and book your tickets: https://bit.ly/4fm3qKc

Still on a high after that England World Cup game? ⚽ Keep the buzz going with the latest edition of Upbeat, the Royal Co...
06/07/2026

Still on a high after that England World Cup game? ⚽ Keep the buzz going with the latest edition of Upbeat, the Royal College of Music magazine, this term focusing on music and sport! 💫

🏆 Knowing the Score: discover cutting-edge Centre for Performance Science research
🏆 In a League of His Own: meet alumnus Tony Britten, composer of the UEFA Champions League anthem
🏆 Team Players: sporting success across the College community

Pick up your copy at the RCM Box Office, or explore online: bit.ly/UpbeatSummer26

Tonight is the second performance of RCM Opera’s summer production Fantasy & Fairytales, join us to watch live on the RC...
04/07/2026

Tonight is the second performance of RCM Opera’s summer production Fantasy & Fairytales, join us to watch live on the RCM YouTube channel! 🪄

With five brand new short operas by RCM composers, the evening promises to take you to the farthest stretches of imagination encountering magical creatures and mystical lands. During the stream, hear from the composers as they share insights into each of their operas and how they came to be.

Tune in from 7pm: www.rcm.ac.uk/events/live

It’s opening night of the RCM Opera Studio’s summer production Fantasy & Fairytales, and the set and costumes are lookin...
03/07/2026

It’s opening night of the RCM Opera Studio’s summer production Fantasy & Fairytales, and the set and costumes are looking wonderful. Toi toi toi to the cast and crew!

There are just a few tickets remaining for shows this weekend – don't miss out, book yours now: https://www.rcm.ac.uk/events/festival-details/?id=RCM%20Opera

📷: Chris Christodoulou

Address

London

Telephone

+442075893643

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Royal College of Music posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share