We were thrilled to welcome our President, HRH The Prince of Wales, back to the RCM today to confer honours upon international musicians, meet
#RCMJD
and
#RCMSparks
students and hear performances from current RCM musicians.
Read More:
Today we welcomed His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for the grand opening of our new facilities created by the
#MoreMusic
development.
The special visit included a tour of the new
@RCMMuseum
and performances by some of our students.
Read more:
Sir Antonio Pappano, Jonas Kaufmann, Debbie Wiseman OBE and Rachel Portman OBE were among the many celebrated musicians honoured today by HRH The Prince of Wales during his annual visit to the Royal College of Music.
We are appalled by the BBC’s proposed cuts to the
@BBCSingers
and orchestras. We support and stand with these excellent musicians.
Please sign this petition to help stop this decision:
Ahead of The Queen’s 96th Birthday tomorrow,
@windsorhorse
have released a new photograph of Her Majesty.
Taken last month in the grounds of Windsor Castle, The Queen is pictured with two of her fell ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale.
Happy Birthday Your Majesty!
Happy Birthday to us - the Royal College of Music was officially opened
#onthisday
by the Prince of Wales in 1883! 🎂 This was our original building, now the Royal College of Organists.
We are delighted to announce that world-renowned musician Dame Sarah Connolly (
@spconnolly
) is joining the RCM’s prestigious Vocal and Opera Faculty as a vocal professor.
Find out more:
We're delighted to have been named the top conservatoire for performing arts in the UK and Europe and second in the world in the 2018 QS World University Rankings! It's the third year in a row that we've been named the top institution in the UK
Happy Birthday to RCM alumnus composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, born
#onthisday
in 1875! We love this artistic photo recreation by fellow alumnus, baritone
@PeterBrathwaite
- the perfect way to celebrate renowned musicians of the past 👏
Recreation
#50
. A photo of Samuel Coleridge Taylor (c.1898). English composer, conductor and political activist. Sometimes called the ‘African Mahler’. Reworked with Leontyne Price above piano. Rediscovering
#blackportraiture
through
#gettymuseumchallenge
.
#gettychallenge
.
Congratulations to Prof
@NatashaLoges
, who has been appointed to a Personal Chair by the RCM 🎉
As well as her role as Head of Postgraduate Programmes, she now gains the title of Professor of Musicology, in recognition of her contribution to research:
Today was the annual President's Visit from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. Professor Colin Lawson joined RCM students for a special performance during his tour of the
#MoreMusic
building development:
Today is
#UncommonInstrumentAwarenessDay
and we’re highlighting the baryton! Did you know...
A baryton has two sets of strings
Haydn wrote 175 pieces for the instrument at the request of Hungarian Prince Nikolaus Esterházy
The earliest surviving baryton is in the
@RCMMuseum
The
@E_N_O
has always been a great friend to the RCM and given students valuable professional experience through its exceptional schemes and opportunities. It is deeply worrying and sad that they are no longer to receive national portfolio funding.
#LoveENO
#ChooseOpera
We are delighted to announce that James Williams has been appointed as the next Director of the Royal College of Music. James is the Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and will join us in September 2024.
Read the full announcement:
Today, we're celebrating the 150th anniversary of composer and RCM alumnus/professor Ralph Vaughan Williams! What is your favourite work of his?
#ralphvaughanwilliams
Huge congratulations to RCM alumna and vocal professor Dame Sarah Connolly (
@spconnolly
) who will receive The King’s Medal for Music!
It is awarded to an outstanding individual or group who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation:
We are delighted that the BBC has paused its plans to disband the
@BBCSingers
and is exploring alternative funding models to retain them. We hope they now do likewise to stop their planned cuts to the wonderful BBC Orchestras.
A beautiful start to welcome week for the RCM! ⛅️ We're looking forward to some virtual meet & greets, lectures and introductions to faculties, at the beginning of a brand new academic year.
Deputy Director Kevin and Estates Director Aida are happy to be back in our new Performance Hall! We are pleased that other spaces in our Blomfield Building will reopen for individual student music-making from Monday with social distancing and health & safety measures in place.
We're delighted to see RCM alumnus composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor making his first appearance in the
@ClassicFM
Hall of Fame!
His piano piece ‘Deep River’ appears at number 293 in this year’s countdown.
Many congratulations to Dr Jonathan Cole who has been appointed Head of Composition at the RCM.
Jonathan has been working at the RCM since 2005 and is the Area Leader in the Masters composition programme.
The RCM has been ranked the Global No. 1 institution for Performing Arts for the third year running and earned the inaugural top spot for Music in the QS World University Rankings by Subject!🎉
Learn more about our ranking:
#QSWUR
@worlduniranking
150 years old today, and doesn't look a day over 149...
A very Happy Birthday to our magnificent neighbours
@RoyalAlbertHall
🎉
Looking forward to seeing you at the
@bbcproms
this summer!
#RAH150
Hear RCM Andrea Bocelli Foundation-
@CommunityJameel
scholar Clara Barbier Serrano performing this week in concert with
@AndreaBocelli
himself!
Tune in to this exciting livestreamed event from Teatro Regio di Parma opera house on 12 December 🎶 Tickets at:
Today we are launching a free online concert series! Offering a diverse programme of curated broadcasts featuring talented RCM students & celebrated visiting artists, the series includes audience favourites & online premiers. Read more:
#RCMCommunity
We're delighted that the RCM Library has won the
@IAML_UK_IRL
Excellence Award for Music Libraries 2019. Well done to our fantastic library team for all their hard work 🎉
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen, and President, HRH The Prince of Wales, at this sad time.
Former RCM Director Sir David Willcocks was born
#otd
in 1919 🎂 His smiling portrait hangs in our Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, watching performances to this day!
We are deeply saddened by the news of Joseph Horovitz's passing.
Joseph was not only a celebrated composer for stage and screen, but also a former RCM student and composition professor - one of the longest serving members of College staff.
We are proud that the RCM has been ranked global No. 1 for performing arts for the second consecutive year in the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject
#QSWUR
. This result reflects our inspirational people – our staff and students. Read more at
We are delighted that
@Amos_Miller
will join the RCM as Head of Brass in September 2023.
A founding member of
@OnyxBrass
and Principal Trombone with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, he is an experienced educator and has led masterclasses all over the world.
➡️
Happy Birthday to Wolfgang Amadeus
#Mozart
, who was born
#OnThisDay
in 1756! Here's a painting from the
#RCMCollections
of the composer as a young child, accompanied by his father, Leopold.
We are very proud of RCM Masters student Tom Lilburn, who was one of the talented singers at the funeral for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday, along with Miriam Allan, Nick Madden and Simon Whiteley.
We're delighted to announce that the RCM has been ranked the top UK conservatoire for music in
@thetimes
and
@thesundaytimes
Good University Guide 2019 👏
We are delighted to be welcoming celebrated mezzo-soprano Dame
@spconnolly
for a special vocal masterclass in the Britten Theatre on 9 October. Tickets on sale now:
Today we remember alumnus Chris McMullen-Laird, a wonderful conductor and kind friend to all those who knew him at the RCM. We are deeply saddened to hear of his passing and we send our heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.
The RCM is now global no.1 for performing arts in the 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject. This result reflects our incredible people – our staff and students. Read more at
#QSWUR
The RCM has been ranked top institution for performing arts for the fifth consecutive year and top in Europe in the 2020 QS World University Rankings. Find out more at
It's almost the end of a very different year and we'd like to thank our students, staff, supporters & followers for sticking with us through it.
We'll be taking a break over Christmas, so we won't be posting as often... but we'll be back in the new year with more to share! 🎉
English composer Sir Edward
#Elgar
was born
#onthisday
in 1857, and was a contemporary of RCM alumni Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst.
Follow our
@RCMMuseum
thread to learn more about Elgar's life & work on his birthday! 🎉
Tune in to BBC Radio 3 on Monday 19 October at 7.30pm to hear first year pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason’s debut solo performance with
@Chineke4Change
. Jeneba has been busy preparing Florence Price's Piano Concerto in One Movement with teacher Professor Vanessa Latarche
@66leeds
Here are some of our wonderful wind players
@AbbeyRoad
Studios, taking part in recording sessions over the weekend - always great to revisit this historic venue! 🎙️
Great to see
#RCMAlumni
like bass-baritone
@GeraldFinley
receiving recognition for their amazing achievements! Here he is with his well-earned CBE, bestowed yesterday by HRH the Prince of Wales 🍾
Our first artist for
#5WomenArtists
is Avril Coleridge-Taylor, daughter of RCM alumnus Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. A pianist, composer and prominent conductor, she was the first woman to conduct the Royal Marine band. We love this photo full of personality from the
#RCMCollections
!
Did you know the Royal College of Music owns the autograph score for
#Mozart
’s Piano Concerto in C minor? RCM Librarian Peter Linnitt explains the history behind the manuscript…
Join us on Facebook this Friday for a live-streamed performance of the concerto 🎶
RCM Costume Supervisor Jools Osborne has joined other talented designers & costumiers in making scrubs for the NHS. Jools works at home with her sewing machine and lots of donated material to create scrubs, hats and wash bags for medical staff 👏 Great work, Jools!
#RCMCommunity
Thank you
@ObserverUK
for sharing this exclusive first look at the transformed Royal College of Music. After years of hard work it's heartbreaking to delay the use of our beautiful new facilities, but we can't wait to welcome everyone to enjoy them soon.
Professor Ashley Solomon rehearsing on stage with the RCM Baroque Orchestra, ready for today’s lunchtime concert 🎼
Come and hear Bach’s Easter Oratorio at 1.05pm - tickets just £5!
Legendary composer Joseph Horovitz began his studies at the RCM in 1948 and became a professor in 1961, making him one of our longest serving members of staff. Here he tells us about his first visit to the College in 1948, just three years after the end of WW2.
#RCMMakeanEntrance
Season’s Greetings to all our followers ✨ Watch this year's festive e-card, filmed in our new Performance Hall as it takes shape. Look out for a sneak peek of the finished space thanks to some
#MoreMusic
movie magic!
Congratulations to RCM Fellow
@NickyBenedetti
on being awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List! Here’s Nicola working with RCM students in a violin masterclass 🎻
Do you have a baby under 9 months? Are you interested in music? RCM researchers invite UK mums experiencing loneliness & low mood to join free 6-week online songwriting programmes suitable for any level of experience.
More info here:
We were incredibly proud to host Bernard Haitink last week in his only London concerts of 2018 - congratulations to the RCM Symphony Orchestra and
@MJBartlettPiano
for two brilliant performances!
Who was Amanda Aldridge? This fascinating
@ClassicFM
article answers the question about our alumna composer, noted for her Romantic parlour songs, teaching career, and friendship with fellow alum Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Whether you're a long-time admirer or a newer fan, find out more about RCM alumnus composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with this brilliant article from
@OperawireNews
#BlackHistoryMonth
We are committed to safeguarding our community. As a precautionary measure, we’re limiting person-to-person teaching in favour of online learning, and cancelling all performances. Thank you for your support and patience.
Visit for further details.
Have you ever wondered where the RCM Library stores its vast amount of archive material? Composer and performer archives are kept secure in a DeepStore facility that's 700 times the size of the Wembley Stadium pitch!
A touching moment for a couple of familiar faces 💍 Many congratulations to alumna
@eleanorsoprano
& Opera Studio singer
@Harry_Thatcher
on your engagement!
Did you know the RCM's current building was formally opened by the Prince of Wales
#onthisday
in 1894? Here's a beautiful photo from the event showing a rather different view of Prince Consort Road!