PROSPECTUS 2021—2022 YOU ONLY GET THE BEST AT THIS INSTITUTION. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE RCM TO ANYONE. Zwakele Tshabalala, Master of Performance ROYAL COLLEGE COLLEGE ROYAL OF MUSIC OF 2022 – 2021 PROSPECTUS 02— 03 PERFORM AND PERFECT ACCESS OUTSTANDING FACILITIES 01 You will have the opportunity to perform 06 From magnificent performance spaces in venues across London and further to state-of-the-art accommodation, our afield with world-leading conductors and excellent facilities are at your disposal. TOP 10 artists, and composers can see their works We are continually investing in our brought to life by RCM musicians. campus and our More Music Campaign has transformed and expanded our REASONS TO STUDY facilities to ensure our students have the AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE very best opportunities. OF MUSIC LEARN WITH EXCEPTIONAL IMMERSE YOURSELF IN OUR 02 PROFESSORS 07 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY Our dedicated and experienced The RCM is a truly global conservatoire. professors are at the forefront of their Our students and staff come from every fields, and many are principal players with corner of the world to create a friendly, London’s major orchestras and ensembles. exciting and diverse hub of music-making, allowing you to build contacts with musicians from around the globe. PREPARE FOR YOUR FUTURE EXPERIENCE DIGITAL INNOVATION ROYAL COLLEGE COLLEGE ROYAL Follow in the footsteps of the world’s Our virtual learning environment and 03 08 MUSIC OF leading musicians — our students have innovative facilities make the RCM a world 2022 – gone on to enjoy successful international leader in the use of digital technologies, 2021 PROSPECTUS careers for more than 135 years. preparing our students for successful careers. BE INSPIRED BY OUR LOCATION TAILOR YOUR STUDIES 04 Situated in the heart of London and 09 We are the only conservatoire to award standing proudly opposite the Royal Albert our own degrees right up to doctoral level, Hall, the RCM’s location is the envy of the meaning you can create a bespoke course musical world. to suit your aspirations. GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ENGAGE WITH WORLD-LEADING RESEARCH 05 Our Creative Careers Centre offers 10 countless opportunities to perform at The RCM is renowned for its thriving cutting- prestigious events and venues and take edge research, which informs our teaching music into the wider community. and can help you develop fully as an artist. 04— 05 08 LIFE AT 08 Welcome to the RCM THE RCM 10 Performance Opportunities 14 Learning & Development 16 Prepare for Your Future 18 RCM Graduates 22 Location 24 Studying in London 26 Accommodation 28 Student Support CONTENTS 29 RCM Students’ Union 30 Our Campus & Facilities 34 Global Opportunities 36 Scholarships www.rcm.ac.uk/life 38 FACULTIES 40 Brass 42 Composition ROYAL COLLEGE COLLEGE ROYAL 44 Conducting MUSIC OF 2022 – 46 Historical Performance 2021 PROSPECTUS 48 Keyboard 50 Percussion 52 Strings 54 Woodwind 56 Vocal & Opera 58 RCM Opera Studio 60 RCM Professors www.rcm.ac.uk/faculties 68 PROGRAMMES 70 Undergraduate Programmes OF STUDY 72 Masters Programmes 76 Artist Diplomas 78 Research Degrees www.rcm.ac.uk/courses 80 HOW TO 82 How to Get in Touch APPLY 83 Visit Us 84 Applying & Auditions 86 Fees & Funding www.rcm.ac.uk/apply 06— 07 The Royal College of Music is one of the world’s greatest conservatoires. Ranked the GOLD RATING FOR top institution for performing arts in the UK for OUTSTANDING TEACHING five consecutive years (QS World University Rankings 2016–2020) and no.1 in Europe AND LEARNING in 2020, we welcome staff and students from Teaching Excellence Framework (2017) all over the world bringing exceptional talent, THE RCM creativity and inspiration. WELCOME TO ROYAL COLLEGE COLLEGE ROYAL OF MUSIC OF 2022 – 2021 PROSPECTUS The musical opportunities you will discover We are also dedicated to preparing you for life here are unparalleled. We hold more than after graduation. Our Creative Careers Centre 500 events each year across our magnificent gives you access to a wealth of job opportunities performance spaces and at external venues. as well as support and advice on how to forge We are excited that two new state-of-the-art a successful career. In a recent Higher Education performance spaces came online at the RCM Statistics Agency survey, of the RCM alumni who in 2020, as well as new facilities for learning graduated in 2017, 100% of survey respondents and collaboration. This is an environment where had moved into employment or further study you are sure to find an outlet for your particular six months after graduating. This demonstrates musical interests. our continued commitment to supporting our musicians in their career aspirations. Here at the RCM we support you as an artist. Our professors represent the best international We are proud of our heritage as a conservatoire talent and are committed to nurturing you through that has nurtured some of the most exceptional your studies. We are delighted to have achieved musical talent over more than 135 years, but a gold rating for our outstanding teaching and we also seek to push the boundaries of music learning for undergraduates in the first-ever as leaders in digital innovation. Our More Teaching Excellence Framework (2017). Music Campaign has touched all aspects of the RCM and will support and promote innovative As an RCM musician you will be encouraged academic initiatives, providing an inspirational to develop by exploring the research behind environment in which our students can create, music in practice, and will be well placed to do research and perform music. so, as we were named the London conservatoire with the highest percentage of world-leading Professor Colin Lawson, Director research in the latest Research Excellence CBE, MA (Oxon), MA, PhD, DMus, FRCM, Framework (2014). FRNCM, FLCM, HonRAM 08— 09 Image right Bernard Haitink conducts the RCM At the Royal College of Music you will Symphony Orchestra have access to unmatched performance opportunities. Every year we present more than 500 events ranging from masterclasses, solo and chamber recitals to large orchestral concerts and fully staged operas, giving you as much performance experience as possible. We have several large ensembles in addition CHAMBER MUSIC ROYAL COLLEGE COLLEGE ROYAL to our main orchestras, and composers can MUSIC OF You can perform solo and chamber works in our 2022 hear their works performed by fellow musicians – chamber music series, and all students are able too. Solo opportunities are numerous, with 2021 to apply to take part in these lunchtime and PROSPECTUS many concert slots available each week, and rush-hour concerts. There are also opportunities students are actively encouraged and supported to play at venues across London and beyond, to form chamber groups to help broaden their including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, repertoire further. Southbank Centre, the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, Victoria and Albert Museum and local RCM ENSEMBLES churches including St James’s Piccadilly and St The RCM Symphony Orchestra is frequently Mary Abbots, Kensington. joined by some of the world’s greatest Visiting ensembles, including the Harlem Quartet conductors and artists. Recent visitors have and Sacconi Quartet, provide further opportunities included Martyn Brabbins, Vladimir Jurowski, to play alongside professional performers. Rafael Payare, Jac van Steen and John Wilson. The RCM Philharmonic’s Orchestral Masterworks CONCERTOS AND COMPETITIONS series ensures that students have regular The RCM runs a regular concerto competition PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES PERFORMANCE opportunities to play the core works of the and the winners receive showcase performances orchestral repertoire. Our other ensembles with our ensembles. Composers are also able cover a wide range of genres: contemporary to win the chance to have their works rehearsed music with RCM New Perspectives, historical and premiered by a full orchestra. Recently performance with the RCM Baroque Orchestra, pianist Viktor Maslov played Rachmaninov’s electronic music in our From the Soundhouse Piano Concerto no 3 at the Queen Elizabeth series, and jazz and swing with the RCM Hall with the RCM Symphony Orchestra; at the Swing Band and RCM Big Band, including RCM Timothy Edlin sang Mussorgsky’s Songs a performance at Ronnie Scotts in 2019. and Dances of Death, Maja Horvat played RCM conductors also have the opportunity to Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto no 1, and Ashby lead rehearsals and concerts with our ensembles Mayes performed Weber’s Bassoon Concerto. throughout the year. Our faculties also run competitions for a wide range of soloists and chamber ensembles. 10 —11 OPERA PRODUCTIONS RCM composers and musicians have created music to accompany exhibitions at the Royal The Royal College of Music Opera Studio Academy of Arts and the National Gallery. presents three fully staged opera performances Our Great Exhibitionists series offers you the each year, along with frequent opera scenes chance to devise your own experimental events and special projects. Some of the world’s with full support and mentorship. Students can most acclaimed directors, designers and collaborate to create and present unique projects choreographers join us for these productions, that redefine what classical music means today. providing a professional experience within a supportive environment. In addition we present biennial fully staged productions of mini-operas FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE written by RCM student composers. Every year we stage many festivals that provide a platform for individual faculties to showcase COLLABORATIONS their talents. Our Keyboard Festival features a live-streamed marathon of performances, There are many collaborative projects at the while Super String Sunday explores sensational RCM each year, both cross-faculty and with string music. Other regular festivals include the external institutions. Principal players from the International Double Bass Festival, International Chamber Orchestra of Europe visit annually to Guitar Day, which included performances by John work and perform with students.