YOUR FUTURE IS MUSIC’S FUTURE PROSPECTUS 2022/23 Music must always move forward. There has to be CONTENTS a place for new musicians to connect, collaborate and create. We are that place. An adventurous conservatoire where the traditions of the past 3 INTRODUCTION 42 OUR DEPARTMENTS meet the talent of the future. 6 A message from our Principal 44 Accordion Our mission: to create 8 Imagine yourself here 46 Brass the music that will move 48 Choral Conducting 10 ABOUT THE ACADEMY 50 Composition and the world tomorrow. 12 Music’s future starts here Contemporary Music 14 Into our third century 52 Conducting 16 Sending music to the world 54 Guitar 17 Creative partners 56 Harp 58 Historical Performance 18 STUDENT LIFE 60 Jazz 20 Your future is music’s future 62 Musical Theatre 22 The new generation 64 Opera 24 Meet your mentor 66 Organ 26 Learn by performing 68 Piano 27 Equal partners 70 Piano Accompaniment 28 Skills for life 72 Strings 30 Space to grow 74 Timpani and Percussion 31 Your stage awaits 76 Vocal Studies 32 Find knowledge, find inspiration 78 Woodwind 34 Musicians, united 36 All together now 80 OUR COURSES 38 London calling 82 Academy courses 40 Find your place 84 Undergraduates 41 Reaching outwards 85 One-year courses 86 Postgraduates 87 Postgraduate degrees 88 Postgraduate diplomas 90 Research 91 The art of collaboration 92 Open Academy This PDF document has been optimised for accessibility. 94 YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE 96 The next step Royal Academy of Music ©2021 97 Ready to audition? Every effort has been made to ensure that the information included 98 Tuition fees in this prospectus is correct at the time of publication. Please consult 99 Get in touch our website for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Please address any queries about this publication to [email protected]. 2 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 3 TODAY’S ASPIRATION TOMORROW’S ARTIST We look for musical potential, then encourage our students to find their own voice and develop individual excellence. From undergraduate to post-doc, we help thousands of students turn aspiration into achievement. We embed artistic risk-taking and professional reality into everything we do. Our graduates leave ready for a life in music. Continually embracing new ideas, we are adapting our vision to the post-Covid musical world. 4 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 5 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL the opportunities and needs of the current MOVING era. As we celebrate our 200th year of existence, we’re more confident than ever in our ability to help you realise your dreams and ambitions. One of the biggest influences on your development as a musician will be your teacher, and at the Academy you will find the very best – their names are listed in the department pages of this prospectus. You will also work regularly with renowned visiting professors and guests – distinguished figures who are part of the Academy family – The Royal Academy of Music is an in performances and masterclasses that extraordinary place with extraordinary you will remember for the rest of your people. The pages that follow will give you life. Indeed, the breadth and quality of some insight into life here, and I hope that collaborative opportunities here will lay the they will help you decide if the Academy groundwork for a fulfilling musical life. could be the right next step for you. As Britain’s oldest conservatoire, the MUSIC As I write, we are, of course, emerging Academy is steeped in tradition but is from an incredibly difficult year. The also one of the most progressive musical pandemic has had a profound impact institutions in the world. Students have on us all, but has also brought home the access to cutting-edge technology in importance of music in our collective our amazing performance spaces, our wellbeing. The special qualities of the programming is groundbreaking, and in all Academy community have never been our disciplines, from classical to musical more evident – even in such trying theatre and jazz to composition, we times, we have found innovative ways to encourage students to explore their connect, collaborate and create. horizons to the limit. We can’t pretend that there won’t be For you, the most pressing question is challenges ahead. Rest assured, though, probably ‘what will it actually be like to that we remain committed to playing our study at the Academy?’. I hope that this part in actively shaping the music world – prospectus – in addition to our Open Days and doing everything we can to support and the information on our website – will the regeneration of the profession as go a long way to answering this and any Covid-19 loosens its hold. Musicians will other questions you might have. We hope to need imagination, versatility and resilience welcome you soon. as never before, and at the Academy, your individual talent will be matched to Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE FORWARD 6 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 7 AT THE ACADEMY YOU WILL… Hone your performance Prepare physically and skills. Our students mentally for a career at the take part in around 500 top of an ever-expanding events every year music profession Learn from the masters. Develop professional skills Experience inspiring one- that will help you thrive to-one tuition with the in today’s musical world world’s finest teachers and build your audience Work with your musical Collaborate internationally heroes. We have an with many leading illustrious roster institutions, including of visiting professors The Juilliard School Be inspired by different Showcase your talent with genres – classical, jazz, cutting-edge technology opera, musical theatre, and in our world-class historical and all forms performance spaces of new music Live in the heart of Make lifelong friends London, one of the most IMAGINE and professional contacts vibrant, creative cities in from around the world the world YOURSELF Raise your musical game Earn an internationally by working alongside respected degree awarded outstanding peers from by the Academy and the HERE over 50 countries University of London 8 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 9 ABOUT THE ACADEMY I feel inspired and honoured to be part of a historic institution that has guided some of the greatest artistic minds Alexandra, MA student 10 ABOUT THE ACADEMY ABOUT THE ACADEMY 11 98% BMus students 96% MUSIC’S graduated with a first or upper second MA/MMus students graduated with FUTURE distinction or merit STARTS 218,030 HERE people watched Academy performances in person or via streaming 858students from 58 countries The Royal Academy of Music moves music Every student benefits from a stimulating forward by inspiring successive generations curriculum and an ambitious range of of musicians to connect, collaborate and concerts and events. Legendary artists come create. We are the meeting point between here not just to perform, but to become the traditions of the past and the talent of mentors, friends and musical partners. the future, seeking out and supporting the musicians today whose music will move A world of music comes to us – and we 6,943 the world tomorrow. send music back out into the world. As participants worked with Open Academy in 46 projects we enter our third century, our aim is to Join us and you will become part of a shape the future of music by discovering musical melting pot. Our students come and supporting talent wherever it exists. from more than 50 countries. We challenge them to find their own voice, take risks There is so much music to be made. and push boundaries. Simon Rattle, Felicity We look forward to helping you make it. Lott, Elton John and Harrison Birtwistle all learnt their craft here. We are excited to discover who’s next. £4.9minvested in scholarships and financial support for talented musicians All data from 2019/20 academic year 12 ABOUT THE ACADEMY ABOUT THE ACADEMY 13 1957 Harrison Birtwistle 1991 The innovative 2010 Honorary 2013 The Sir Elton The new Susie studies clarinet at BMus degree Doctorates are given John/Ray Cooper Sainsbury Theatre and INTO OUR 2000 the Academy is launched to Stephen Sondheim, organ is installed in Angela Burgess Recital 2001 The two-year Pierre Boulez and the Duke’s Hall Hall open THIRD CENTURY The Sinfonia travels postgraduate Royal Daniel Barenboim overseas for the first Academy Opera time, to the Republic course is introduced 2011 Royal Academy of Korea Opera presents the The David Josefowitz 1800 1900 acclaimed premiere 1961 Former student 1992 The refurbished Recital Hall opens 1903 Aged 13, of Sir Peter Maxwell Sir John Barbirolli Duke’s Hall reopens Myra Hess wins a Davies’s Kommilitonen! becomes conductor of scholarship to study the first orchestra piano at the Academy 2019 Hans Abrahamsen becomes 2014 A practice the first Oliver Knussen centre is added to Chair of Composition our facilities 2002 A Royal Opera 2012 The Privy Council House performance grants degree- 1822 The Royal with Sir Elton John awarding powers to 1968 HM Queen 1994 Ligeti attends the Academy of Music, raises nearly £1m the Academy Elizabeth The Queen 10-year anniversary Britain’s first 1911 The Academy for the Elton John Mother opens our of the International conservatoire, is moves to custom- Scholarship Fund new library Composer Festival, founded in Tenterden built premises on which has previously Street, Hanover Square Marylebone Road celebrated Messiaen, 1826 Carl Maria von Berio, Henze A joint Academy- Weber conducts our and Tippett 2017 The entrance is Juilliard orchestra first orchestral concert refurbished to include performs at the 1997 The Academy is