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As one of the world’s greatest conservatoires, the Royal College of Music, London (RCM) is a top choice for anyone seeking to learn from and perform with the best musicians of today. Ranked the Global No.1 for Music and Performing Arts (QS World University Rankings of 2024, 2023 and 2022), the RCM is where students from all backgrounds transform their passion into preparation for a world of exciting career opportunities. Just look at the College’s alumni list, which is graced by the likes of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, conductor Leopold Stokowski, singer Alfie Boe, and cellist Natalie Clein.
These important figures in British and international music life were once students here. They experienced the same Royal College of Music education, taught by professors with years of experience in the industry. From soloists to chamber musicians and orchestral players, these teachers have a proven record of leading students towards success in competitions and preparing students for careers in the world of music.
The RCM community is a friendly and welcoming one and is proud to have over 50 nationalities studying at this leading institution.
“My composition teachers have helped me enormously throughout my course,” says fourth-year, BMus student Anian Wiedner. “They enabled me to find my own voice as a composer and pushed my technical abilities in one-to-one lessons, masterclasses, and seminars.”
Student Nicole Ng from the Keyboard Faculty agrees. She adds that professors here are kind and have always encouraged her to develop her fullest potential not only as a musician but also as herself.
Royal College of Music programmes build your academic and practical skills. A wide range is offered here, such as Bachelor of Music at the undergraduate level, as well as Master of Performance, Master of Composition, Master of Music in Performance, Master of Music in Composition, Master of Science in Performance Science, and MMusEd Teaching Musician. Shorter programmes include the Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance, Artist Diploma in Performance, Artist Diploma in Opera, Artist Diploma in Composition, as well as postgraduate certificates.
It’s only in these programmes that you get intensive one-to-one lessons with world-class professors. Despite already having an outstanding list of faculty members the College recently hired Dame Sarah Connolly, a mezzo-soprano, to join the Vocal & Opera Faculty. Connolly is in demand as both an opera singer, recitalist and recording artist, with performances on the world’s most prestigious stages including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Paris Opera, La Scala Milan, Bayreuth and Glyndebourne, and more.
Another addition is Emily Sun, an accomplished violinist and highly in demand as a teacher in the Strings Faculty. With a critically acclaimed solo album under her belt, Sun will guide you to fuse instrumental training of the highest calibre with the skills needed to succeed as an artist.
Passing on more knowledge to the new generation is an impressive list of visiting professors: piano superstar Lang Lang, once hailed by the New York Times as “the hottest artist on the classical music planet,” Maxim Vengerov, who UK’s Classic FM once dubbed as one of the greatest violinists in the world, and Angela Gheorghiu, a lyric soprano widely recognised by critics and opera lovers.
Lang Lang often visited the conservatoire to share his experiences as a world-renowned pianist. Source: Royal College of Music, London
Careers, connections, and collaborations
From masterclasses and chamber concerts to orchestral concerts and fully staged operas, whether in a large ensemble or solo, there are plenty of ways to gain performance experience and showcase your talents to the world. A recent performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie by Royal College of Music students at the Royal Festival Hall, London was met with praise. The Critics’ Circle called it a “finely articulated playing, near-flawless ensemble, and a sense of occasion that was a delight.”
Other performances include chamber music at Wigmore Hall and The Planets at the BBC Proms. “Few concert spectacles are as heart-warming as a confident student orchestra tackling symphonic repertoire with total aplomb,” says The Times of the latter.
The Royal College of Music’s partnerships with major London orchestras allow you to build a strong network. For selected students, the College offers sit-in schemes to gain key experiences in professional environments. This form of mentorship programme will link you to some of London’s highly-regarded orchestras, namely London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and English National Opera Orchestra.
Royal College of Music, London encourages you to hone your entrepreneurial skills by supporting you through the Creative Careers Centre. Source: Royal College of Music, London
The RCM’s Creative Careers Centre works alongside professors to unlock your artistic potential. This world-leading centre offers resources and guidance, bespoke career advice, workshops, and presentations by industry specialists such as Grammy award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. If you want to hone your entrepreneurial skills, the RCM Accelerate scheme can help you launch a new creative project, social enterprise, or business idea on graduation.
“The RCM is the perfect melting pot in which to become a highly versatile musician who can perform in any context while enabling you to pursue your own projects alongside the most amazing, passionate people in collaborations that will last a lifetime,” says student Oliver Lee from Australia.
Interested in attending the Global No.1 for Music and Performing Arts institution (QS World University Rankings of 2024/2023/2022)? The Royal College of Music holds auditions in London and overseas venues including Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Singapore; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Bangkok, Thailand; Melbourne, Australia; New York, USA. You can find out more at www.rcm.ac.uk/auditionlocations.
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