Annual Review 2019/2020 Prince Consort Road London SW7 2BS United Kingdom +44(0)20 7591 4300 [email protected] www.rcm.ac.uk /royalcollegeofmusic @RCMLondon /RCMLondon @RCMLondon RCMLondon weibo.com/RCMLondon Patron Her Majesty The Queen President His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales Chairman Lord Black of Brentwood Director Professor Colin Lawson CBE, MA (Oxon), MA, PhD, DMus, FRCM, FRNCM, FLCM, HonRAM The Royal College of Music is a registered charity. No 309268 Printed by Park Lane Press on FSC® certified paper, using fully sustainable, vegetable oil-based inks, power from 100% renewable resources and waterless printing technology. Print production systems registered to ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and over 97% of waste is recycled. Photo credits: Sheila Burnett (page 28); Chris Christodoulou (pages 12, 14, 26, 38 and 44); Adam Ferguson (page 24); and Phil Rowley (pages 4, 6, 8, 10, 16, 20, 26, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 42). All details correct at time of going to print. Design by www.splashofpaint.com CONTENTS Chairman’s Welcome 5 Director’s Message 7 Celebrating Success 9 Pioneering Research 11 Performance and Partnerships 13 Honouring International Talent 15 Promoting Digital Innovation 17 Celebrating Our Heritage 19 Forging Bright Futures 21 Global Alumni Community 23 Supporting Talent 25 Widening Access: RCM Junior Department 27 Widening Access: RCM Sparks 29 Investing in Our Facilities 31 Legacies 33 Our Generous Supporters 35 More Music Campaign 37 2019/2020 in Numbers 38 Thank You to Our Supporters 40 Student Numbers 43 Finances 45 Council and Directorate 46 ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC / ANNUAL REVIEW 2019/2020 3 CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME I am extremely proud that the Royal College of Music (RCM) remains true to its founding principles of access, excellence and advocacy for music education. We believe music can transform lives and this The College’s response to Covid-19 was Opposite year awarded over £3 million in scholarships exemplary, moving to digital learning in Martyn Brabbins and bursaries, thanks to donations from our March. We also addressed the financial rehearsing with the RCM Symphony generous supporters. challenge it brought, with income from our Orchestra and Chorus usual sources much reduced this year; notably We value our diverse community highly, with in the Amaryllis there was no donation from the Associated 50 nationalities in the student body. We will Fleming Concert Hall Board of the Royal Schools of Music, reinvigorate our scholarship programme to compared with £1.6 million in 2018/19. ensure that the College is accessible to students across the EU and beyond, and that we We were very sorry to say goodbye to Alethea support the most talented with scholarships, Siow after ten years’ exceptional service on whatever their financial means. Council, but are delighted that she will continue on the More Music Campaign Committee. The More Music: Reimagining the Royal We welcome new Council member Guy College of Music building development was Weston, and also Joel Wilson, back for a completed in March, within budget. This has second term as Students’ Union representative. delivered two stunning new performance venues, an interactive museum and social There has been a shocking collapse of music spaces, while RCM Jay Mews now houses education in our schools and the need for new rehearsal and practice facilities, as well fundamental policy change is even more as offices. We continue to fundraise for important after Covid-19. I am proud that the the More Music Campaign to fulfill all RCM continues to play a leading role in our objectives, including an expanded putting forward the case for music and digital strategy. advocating urgent change. Lord Black of Brentwood Chairman We remain strong in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, and ready to adapt to ensure the College continues as a truly world-leading institution with the education and wellbeing of our students at its heart. ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC / ANNUAL REVIEW 2019/2020 5 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE I am delighted to report that for the fifth consecutive year the RCM has been ranked the top institution for performing arts in the UK (2020 QS World University Rankings); we were rated no.1 in Europe. The RCM was also placed first among conservatoires for music in the UK in the 2021 Complete University Guide. The challenge of Covid-19 has been The More Music building development project Opposite unprecedented in the College’s history. I am achieved a timely practical completion in RCM student double immensely proud of the commitment, flair and March just as lockdown began. Although bassist rehearsing at the College imagination of RCM staff, which enabled the planned Royal opening of the entire us to quickly move online for academic complex was inevitably postponed because and faculty classes, one-to-one tuition and of Covid-19, HRH The Prince of Wales did other services, notably the Library and attend a short concert in the new Royal Creative Careers Centre. We also launched College of Music Museum as part of the our Covid-19 Hardship Fund to support President’s Visit, at which he conferred vulnerable students, and the appeal raised honours on a number of leading musicians over £400,000 by year-end that is already including Jonas Kaufmann, Sir Antonio going directly to students in the most need. Pappano and Debbie Wiseman OBE. One of the College’s founding principles This was an outstanding year for academic has been at the top of our minds this year: programmes, and a vibrant research agenda the RCM will not tolerate racism anywhere included active partnerships at home and it is expressed within our organisation, and abroad. Our artistic programme meanwhile we are committed to achieving equality and brought an impressive roster of luminaries in respect for all our members. Our Diversity masterclasses and concerts including Martyn Action Group, convened in June, has been Brabbins, Sir Thomas Allen, Stefan Dohr, consulting widely across the institution. Its Alina Ibragimova, Sir Antonio Pappano and members are working hard at the task of Maxim Vengerov, while RCM musicians listening carefully to students and staff and again won numerous high profile awards at agreeing a set of recommendations for prestigious competitions across the globe. concrete, achievable actions that make Professor Colin Lawson CBE, FRCM positive, structural and lasting changes in Director all areas. Developing the talent and character of our students to thrill on the world stage and thrive in their professional life is the RCM’s core aim and our students never fail to deliver. ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC / ANNUAL REVIEW 2019/2020 7 8 Royal College of Music / Annual Review 2015-2016 CELEBRATING SUCCESS Providing our dedicated students with the skills to achieve their best is the top priority of the Royal College of Music. We are immensely proud to celebrate their successes both at home and abroad. This year Martin James Bartlett, Benjamin From the Composition Faculty, Owen Ho Opposite Britten Piano Fellow for 2020-21, was jointly won First Prize at The Association of RCM vocalist awarded First Prize in the Young Concert English Singers & Speakers Song Writing performs in class Artists International Auditions in New York Competition for Composers and the Arcubus and Dmitrii Kalashnikov won First Prize at the Ensemble Call for Scores 2020, while Edwin final of the Jaques Samuel Intercollegiate Hillier was the winner of the Electroacoustic/ Piano Competition at Wigmore Hall. Sound Artwork category at the Scottish Awards for New Music. Lara Poe was In an impressive year for the Keyboard commissioned by the Santa Fe Music Festival Faculty, Victor Maslov shared First Prize to write a piece for the Young Composers at the Second International Rachmaninoff String Quartet Project and also an orchestral Competition in Moscow, Thomas Kelly piece for The Sibelius Festival’s Nursery won the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe Garden concert. Senior Intercollegiate Piano Prize and Dominic Doutney won First Prize at the Vocalists had a successful year too, with Royal Over-seas League (ROSL) Annual Music Annabel Kennedy winning First Prize in The Competition Piano Final. In addition, Daniel Association of English Singers & Speakers Floyd was appointed Bert Allwood Organ Courtney Kenny Award Final, as well as Scholar at Alexandra Palace, and Junior Second Prize in the Maureen Lehane Vocal Department pianist Clara Sherratt won the Awards at Wigmore Hall, where Rebecca Junior Intercollegiate Competition – at 15, Leggett won the Audience Prize. Jessica Clara was the youngest participant. Cale won Second Prize in the International Voice of the Future Competition at the Flautist Sirius Chau won the Woodwind and Llangollen Eisteddfod. Brass Prize at the ROSL Competition, clarinettist Carlos Caballero won a place in Other successes included Louise Goodwin this year’s European Union Youth Orchestra being selected as Principal Timpani for the and Matt Glendening played both Principal Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and cellist Clarinet with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Tamaki Sugimoto being chosen for the London and Guest Principal with the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Foyle Future First Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Opera Scheme. Avi Taler was awarded the Bob and House with Sir Antonio Pappano. Beryl Harding Bursary for Young Conductors, giving him the chance to work with the Havant Symphony Orchestra. ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC / ANNUAL REVIEW 2019/2020 9 HEALTHY PERFORMER The Healthy Conservatoires network grew out of the pioneering research project Musical Impact (which ran from 2013 to 2018). Driven by a clear need and demand to support performers’ health more effectively, it aimed to promote knowledge and good practice in the performing arts nationally. Healthy Performer builds on that, with follow-on funding of £100,000 awarded by the AHRC. The 12-month project is supported by the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) and Conservatoires UK (CUK) and will extend the reach of its research to include music, dance, drama, physical theatre and circus arts.