Royal Northern College of Music

Music school in Manchester, England

Royal Northern College of Music

The RNCM building on Oxford Road

Other names

| RNCM
Type| Public, Conservatoire
Established| 1973 by the merger of the Northern School of Music (established 1920) and the Royal Manchester College of Music (established 1893)
Endowment| £22.5 million (2024)[1]
Budget| £25.0 million (2023/24) [1]
President| Sir John Tomlinson
Principal| Linda Merrick[2]

Administrative staff

| 320 teaching staff
Students| 890 (2022/23)[3]
Undergraduates| 590 (2022/23)[3]
Postgraduates| 295 (2022/23)[3]
Address|

124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD

Manchester

England, UK

53°28′07″N 2°14′11″W﻿ / ﻿53.46861°N 2.23639°W﻿ / 53.46861; -2.23639
Campus| Urban
Affiliations|

* University of Manchester
* Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
* Conservatoires UK
* European Association of Conservatoires[4]

Website| rncm.ac.uk

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is a conservatoire located in Manchester, England. It is one of four conservatoires associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In addition to being a centre of music education, RNCM is a busy and diverse public performance venue.[5]

## History

[edit]

The RNCM has a history dating back to the 19th century and the establishment of the Royal Manchester College of Music (RMCM). In 1858, Sir Charles Hallé founded the Hallé orchestra in Manchester, and by the early 1890s had raised the idea of a music college in the city. Following an appeal for support, a building on Ducie Street was secured, Hallé was appointed Principal and Queen Victoria conferred the Royal title. The RMCM opened its doors to 80 students in 1893, rising to 117 by the end of the first year. Less than four decades later, in 1920, the Northern School of Music was established (initially as a branch of the Matthay School of Music), and for many years the two institutions peacefully coexisted. It wasn't until 1955 that NSM Principal Hilda Collins, in recognising the importance of performance in training students, met with RMCM Principal Frederic Cox to raise the question of merging. Discussions continued until September 1967 when a Joint Committee was formed to oversee plans to combine the two colleges. The RNCM was formed in 1972, moving to its purpose-built home on Oxford Road in 1973.

## Building

[edit]

The RNCM western entrance, Booth Street (added 1997–98)

The college building was built on the corner of Oxford Road and Booth Street West between 1968 and 1973 by architects Bickerdike, Allen, and Rich. The two-storey rectangular concrete structure is fronted by tall glazed bays recessed behind an array of square concrete pillars. Originally an elevated walkway ran along the Oxford Road side connecting the building to the former neighbouring Precinct Centre via a bridge over Booth Street East. Truncated sections of this walkway were the vestigial evidence of an unrealised plan to create a network of high-level "boulevards", providing pedestrian routes on concrete stilts above street level from the RNCM to neighbouring buildings, and extending as far as Hulme and Ancoats. Only the bridges over Oxford Road and Booth Street East were ever constructed.[6][7][8]

In 1997–98, the RNCM building was extended by architects Mills Beaumont Leavey Channon, with a new entrance built on the western side, and the walkway was removed.[6]

A major refurbishment of the Concert Hall was undertaken between December 2013 and September 2014 by Scott Hughes Design.[9]

## Academics

[edit]

The college offers both undergraduate (BMus and joint MusB/GRNCM course with the University of Manchester in any of the five specialisations offered) and postgraduate taught programmes (PGDip, MMus) in musical performance and composition. In association with Manchester Metropolitan University the college offers research degrees (MPhil, PhD) in musical performance, composition, musicology and music psychology as part of its Graduate School and also confers awards at Companion, Fellowship (FRNCM) and Member level.[10]

In January 2005, the RNCM was awarded £4.5 million by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to become a recognised Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), the only UK conservatoire to be selected.

The RNCM currently has 770 students and 320 teaching staff, the majority of whom are part-time visiting tutors. Many of the staff also teach at the Junior RNCM, a Saturday music school for talented young musicians who are keen on pursuing a musical career.

### Faculties

[edit]

The college is divided into 6 schools by area of specialisation.

* School of Composition
* School of Keyboard Studies
* School of Strings
* School of Vocal Studies and Opera
* School of Wind, Brass & Percussion
* Popular Music

There is also a School of Conducting within its Graduate School.

## Student life

[edit]

### Students' Union

[edit]

The RNCM students' union (RNCMSU) is the main student-run organisation. Besides representing the study body, the RNCMSU also plans and organises social programmes and provides peer support for students. The RNCMSU is member of the National Union of Students.[11][12]

### Student housing

[edit]

There is a residential hall, Sir Charles Groves Hall, next to the campus.[13] Alternatively, students may choose to rent a flat at the Manchester Student Homes, a provider of housing for university students in Manchester run by the Universities.[14]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

Main category: Alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music

* Don Airey, keyboard player/songwriter
* Christopher Ball, composer
* Alex Banfield, tenor
* Barry Banks, tenor
* Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor
* Tim Benjamin, composer
* Harrison Birtwistle, composer
* Peter Butterfield, conductor and tenor
* Arthur Butterworth, composer
* Cathal Breslin, pianist
* Jon Christos, singer
* Chris Craker, clarinettist
* Peter Maxwell Davies, composer and Master of the Queen's Music
* Peter Donohoe, pianist
* Philip Duffy, composer
* Jane Eaglen, soprano
* David Ellis, composer
* Catherine Foster, soprano
* Alexander Goehr, composer
* Anthony Goldstone, pianist
* Jean Hindmarsh, soprano
* Simon Holt, composer
* Stephen Hough, pianist
* Elgar Howarth, conductor
* Rafael Rojas, tenor
* Gary Hughes, singer/songwriter
* Darren Jeffery, bass-baritone
* Olga Jegunova, pianist
* Adam Johnson, pianist and conductor
* Sir Peter Jonas, history of music
* Howard Jones, singer/songwriter
* Simon Keenlyside, baritone
* Mary Ann Kennedy, singer
* Grant Kirkhope, composer
* Eduard Kunz, pianist
* Alison Lambert, clarinettist
* Jeffrey Lawton tenor, tutor, fellow
* Wilbur Lin, conductor
* Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham
* Steven Mead, euphonium player
* Sarah Oates, violinist and associate leader Philharmonia orchestra
* John Ogdon, pianist
* Annette Bryn Parri, pianist
* Rosalind Plowright, soprano/mezzo soprano
* Julie Price, bassoonist
* Christine Rice, mezzo soprano
* Martin Roscoe, pianist
* Andy Scott, saxophonist
* Ronald Stevenson, composer and pianist
* Gordon Stewart, organist
* Iyad Sughayer, pianist
* Benedict Taylor violist & composer
* Ben Thapa, tenor
* Sir John Tomlinson, singer
* Ian Vine, composer, born in 1974[15]
* Kristofer Wåhlander, conductor
* Simon Willescroft, saxophonist
* Gregg Scott, violinist
* Conor Collins, visual artist

## Directors of the RNCM

[edit]

1. John Manduell (1973–1996)
2. Edward Gregson (1996–2008)
3. Jonty Stockdale (2008–2012)[16]
4. Linda Merrick (2013–present)[17]

## See also

[edit]

* Conservatoires UK
* Hallé Orchestra
* Bridgewater Hall
* Chetham's School of Music

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Financial Statements 2024" (PDF). Royal Northern College of Music. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
2. ^ "Linda Merrick :: About :: RNCM". Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
3. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
4. ^ "European Association of Conservatoires - Our Members". European Association of Conservatoires. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
5. ^ "RNCM Unveils Refurbished Concert Hall". RNCM. 6 November 2014.
6. ^ a b Hartwell, Clare (1 January 2002). Pevsner Architectural Guides: Manchester. Yale University Press. pp. 135–6\. ISBN 978-0-300-09666-8.135-6&rft.pub=Yale+University+Press&rft.date=2002-01-01&rft.isbn=978-0-300-09666-8&rft.aulast=Hartwell&rft.aufirst=Clare&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=TFW9Ag48nO4C&pg;=PA135&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Royal+Northern+College+of+Music" class="Z3988">
7. ^ "Upper Walkways of Oxford Road". Skyliner: Alternative Tours of Manchester. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
8. ^ Williams, Jennifer (19 August 2015). "Revealed: The utopian 1960s vision for Manchester that never took off". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
9. ^ "Ridge and Partners LLP" (PDF).
10. ^ "Fellows and Honorary Members – Royal Northern College of Music".
11. ^ "Students' Union". rncm.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
12. ^ National Union of Students: Royal Northern College of Music
13. ^ "Accommodation". rncm.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
14. ^ "Manchester Student Homes". Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
15. ^ "Ian Vine". British Music Collection. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
16. ^ Ward, David (23 September 2008). "Cool cat in the conservatoire". Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
17. ^ "Linda Merrick". rncm.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2019.

### Sources

[edit]

* Kennedy, Michael (1971) The History of the Royal Manchester College of Music. Manchester University Press
* Royal Manchester College of Music Archive: National Archives
* View of the college

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Northern College of Music.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Music schools in the United Kingdom

Music school

Secondary|

* Chetham's School of Music
* City of Edinburgh Music School
* Kimichi School
* North East of Scotland Music School
* Purcell School for Young Musicians
* St Mary's Music School
* Wells Cathedral School
* Yehudi Menuhin School

Tertiary|

* Academy of Contemporary Music
* BIMM University
* Cardiff University School of Music
* Guildhall School of Music and Drama
* Ian Tomlin School of Music
* The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
* Leeds Conservatoire
* Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
* London College of Creative Media
* London School of Musical Theatre
* National Opera Studio
* Point Blank Music School
* Royal Academy of Music
* Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
* Royal College of Music
* Royal College of Organists
* Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
* Royal Northern College of Music
* Royal School of Church Music
* Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
* School of Sound Recording
* Tech Music School
* Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
* Wales International Academy of Voice

Military|

* Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
* Royal Military School of Music

Associated
organisations|

* Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
* Conservatoires UK
* European Association of Conservatoires

Category

* v
* t
* e

Universities and colleges in North West England

Universities|

* BPP
* Central Lancashire
* Chester
* Cumbria
* Edge Hill
* Greater Manchester
* Lancaster
* Law
* Liverpool
* Liverpool Hope
* Liverpool John Moores
* Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
* Manchester
* Manchester Metropolitan
* Salford

University colleges|

* UA92
* Royal Northern College of Music
* Hugh Baird University Centre

Further Education colleges|

* Accrington & Rossendale
* Blackburn
* Blackpool & The Fylde
* Bolton
* Burnley
* Bury
* Carlisle
* Co-operative
* Furness
* Hopwood Hall
* Hugh Baird College
* Kendal
* Knowsley
* Lakes
* Lancaster & Morecambe
* Liverpool
* Macclesfield
* Manchester
* Mid Cheshire
* Myerscough
* Nelson & Colne
* Oldham
* Preston's
* Reaseheath
* Riverside
* Runshaw
* St Helens
* Salford
* South Cheshire
* Southport
* Stockport
* Tameside
* Trafford
* Warrington
* West Cheshire
* West Lancashire
* Wigan & Leigh
* Wirral Metropolitan

Sixth form colleges|

* Aquinas
* Ashton
* Barrow
* Birkenhead
* Blackpool
* Bolton
* Cardinal Newman
* Carmel
* Cheadle & Marple
* Clarendon
* Connell
* Holy Cross
* King George V
* LUSoM
* Loreto
* Oldham
* Priestley
* Rainford
* Rochdale
* Sir John Deane's
* St John Rigby
* St Mary's
* South Sefton
* Winstanley
* Xaverian

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Australia
* Czech Republic
* Norway
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz place

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template