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WHAT’S ON AUTUMN 2026

AUTUMN SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 6 BIG BAND VISIONARIES 8 WOODWIND FESTIVAL 9 THE FIREBIRD 11 EROICA 13 OPERA DOUBLE BILL: DEBUSSY & RAVEL 14 FINNISSY & FELDMAN 15 WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 22 JUNIOR DEPARTMENT 100 AND MUCH MORE... © Chris Christodoulou

WELCOME

WELCOME TO OUR 2026/27 SEASON: MUSICAL INNOVATORS This season at the Royal College of Music, Musical Innovators puts you at the heart of the moments that reshaped the musical landscape – reminding us that innovation is the lifeblood of our art form. Beethoven runs through the year as a central thread: a composer who continually reimagined what music could be. Expect powerful performances from our students across his symphonies, chamber works and more, including a highlight in the Autumn Term – his Eroica Symphony, conducted by Reinhard Goebel, a pioneer of historically informed performance. Across the year, you’ll encounter other musical innovators: Stravinsky, breaking new ground at every stage of his career; Debussy, transforming music through colour, texture and atmosphere; and Schoenberg, pushing composition into new and unexpected territory, including this term’s performance of Variations for Orchestra conducted by Professor Martyn Brabbins. We look forward to visits from inspiring performer-innovators and exploring further figures who expanded musical possibilities. And with a special focus on the work of the RCM Junior Department in its 100th year, this is a season of bold ideas, fresh interpretations and enduring influence – brought to life by our inspiring students. I look forward to welcoming you to an event over the coming months. Andrew Moore, Artistic Director

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

SEASON EVENTS

Wednesday 30 September

RCM STRING ORCHESTRA 6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

Nathaniel Anderson-Frank director RCM String Orchestra Jessie Montgomery Starburst Elgar Serenade for String Orchestra in E minor op 20 Caroline Shaw Entr’acte G Williams Sea Sketches

SEPTEMBER

BBC Concert Orchestra leader Nathaniel Anderson-Frank makes his Royal College of Music debut with a riveting concert of string works, including the vivid Sea Sketches by Grace Williams.

Thursday 24 September

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE 6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

£6.50

Natalia Luis-Bassa conductor RCM Wind Orchestra Programme to include: Joe Hisaishi (arr Yo Goto) Howl’s Moving Castle: Symphonic Fantasy for Band Nancy Galbraith Danza de los Duendes Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte £6.50

Joe Hisaishi at the RCM © Chris Christodoulou

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

SEASON EVENTS Joana Carneiro © Craig Fuller

OCTOBER Wednesday 7 October

Thursday 8 October

ORCHESTRAL MASTERWORKS WITH JOANA CARNEIRO

ELECTRIC DREAMS: SPATIAL SOUNDS

6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

Programme to include: Xenakis Diamorphoses Stockhausen Gesang der Jünglinge World premieres by Oscar Mao, Sofia Kiviniemi and Daniel Solomons

Beethoven Leonore Overture no 3 op 72b Bartók Piano Concerto no 3 in E

6pm | Britten Theatre

Experience modern music as never before in the newly immersive Britten Theatre. Thanks to its new 360 d&b Soundscape system, audiences can enjoy RCM composers’ scores written specially for this technology – creating spatial effects that draw listeners inside the music. From Xenakis and Stockhausen to world premieres, this is a concert that epitomises the innovative spirit. £6.50

Joana Carneiro conductor Markus Sadler piano RCM Philharmonic

Joana Carneiro returns to conduct the RCM Philharmonic in the dramatic Leonore Overture, an instrumental summation of the opera Fidelio. Here, the heroine is Leonore, who disguises herself as Fidelio in order to rescue her beloved husband. RCM Concerto Competition winner Markus Sadler plays the Piano Concerto no 3 by another 20thcentury innovator: Bartók, who weaves folk music into a work of intricate layers and rich harmony. Supported by the Artistic Programme Syndicate From £9.50 Under 35 discount available

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

Wednesday 14 October

BIG BAND VISIONARIES 7.30pm | Britten Theatre Jon Stokes director RCM Jazz Orchestra Celebrate the golden age of the big band with this swinging programme! Directed by Jon Stokes, the RCM Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to the pioneering bandleaders, arrangers and musicians who shaped the big band explosion of the 1930s and 40s – and to the innovators who keep the tradition alive today. These outstanding young musicians take you from the rhythmic groove of Count Basie and the sophisticated sound of Duke Ellington to more recent voices such as Wynton Marsalis and Maria Schneider. Supported by The Victor Ford Swale Jazz Fund From £16.50 Under 35 discount available

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

RCM WIND ENSEMBLE: OCTETS 7.30pm | Britten Theatre

Marie Lloyd director RCM Wind Ensemble Beethoven Octet op 103 Earle Brown Octet I Tonia Ko Giving Ground Addie Gardner-Williams New work (world premiere) Earle Brown Octet II Stravinsky Octet Surinach Ritmo Jondo

SEASON EVENTS

Thursday 15 October

Journey through time and place with the RCM Wind Ensemble, in a riveting programme of octets including those of American composer Earle Brown, a close colleague of John Cage. Framing the evening are two contrasting works written over 100 years apart: Beethoven’s cheerful entertainment piece written in the composer’s early years, and Stravinsky’s mystical work for the unusual instrumentation of four woodwind and four brass instruments, said to be inspired by a dream. £6.50

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

Sunday 25 October

WOODWIND FESTIVAL From 11am | Various locations

Join us for a packed day as the Royal College of Music celebrates the world of woodwind! Globally leading performers host masterclasses throughout the day, including Amy Dickson (saxophone), Julian Bliss (clarinet), Philippe Tondre (oboe) and Lola Descours (bassoon). There are also plenty of opportunities to hear our students perform a breadth of virtuosic music for wind instruments, curated by Head of Woodwind Marie Lloyd. The festival is perfect for families and those new to their instrument, with come-and-play events, family-friendly concerts, and performances from our Junior Department students. For the full line-up visit www.rcm.ac.uk/woodwindfestival £16.50 Under 35 discount available

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

SEASON EVENTS

Thursday 29 & Friday 30 October

THE FIREBIRD

7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall Naomi Woo conductor Sasha Parker violin RCM Symphony Orchestra RCM Chorus Mariana Rosas chorus director Stravinsky Suite from The Firebird (1919 version) Stravinsky Violin Concerto Beethoven Mass in C op 86 Two of this season’s heavyweights go head to head in a concert bristling with energy and innovation, conducted by Naomi Woo. Stravinsky outstripped his teacher Rimsky-Korsakov with his delicious ballet The Firebird – an early work that made the music world sit up and listen. Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto reveals his cleaner, neoclassical style, performed by RCM Concerto Competition winner Sasha Parker. Then in the second half we hear Beethoven’s seminal Mass in C, in which the RCM Symphony Orchestra is joined by four vocal soloists and chorus for a work of great emotional integrity. From £16.50 Under 35 discount available RCM INSIGHTS: Join RCM Artistic Director Andrew Moore for a pre-concert talk on Musical Innovators on 29 October at 6.15pm. Turn to page 28 for details.

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

NOVEMBER Thursday 5 November

RCM BRASS: WEST SIDE STORY

7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall Amos Miller director RCM Brass Ensemble Programme to include: Adolphus Hailstork American Fanfare Jennifer Higdon Tenfold Bernstein West Side Story Suite This all-American programme of 20th and 21st-century musical voices opens with a fanfare and concludes with iconic works by one of the most famous and influential composers from the States, Leonard Bernstein, whose music traverses classical, popular and jazz traditions. The concert reaches its climax with a show-stopping suite from West Side Story, the timeless love story brought to life by the rich harmonies and vibrant sounds of the brass ensemble. Supported by Betty Sutherland £6.50

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

EROICA

7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall Reinhard Goebel conductor RCM Chamber Orchestra Onslow Symphony no 1 in A major op 41 Beethoven Symphony no 3 in E flat major op 55 Eroica Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony needs little introduction – widely recognised as one of the turning points of Western music for its innovative form and sweep. George Onslow’s Symphony no 1, on the other hand, is a neglected gem from a cosmopolitan composer of English and French parentage who was also popular in Germany. Onslow stood out during his lifetime (1784–1853) for preferring to write for instruments instead while his contemporaries were composing operas, and the result is music of crisp melodic charm.

SEASON EVENTS

Thursday 19 November

From £9.50 Under 35 discount available

Reinhard Goebel © Marcus Bollen

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

Thursday 12 November

ORCHESTRAL MASTERWORKS WITH MARTYN BRABBINS 6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall Martyn Brabbins conductor Reynold Yang clarinet RCM Philharmonic Nielsen Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra op 57 Schoenberg Variations for Orchestra op 31 ’He has liberated the soul of the clarinet…’ So wrote one reviewer after hearing Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto. Performed by RCM Concerto Competition winner Reynold Yang, the concerto combines the lyrical and powerful aspects of the instrument’s personality. Schoenberg is still considered an enfant terrible of classical music, but the RCM Philharmonic sheds light on this often-misunderstood figure with the enigmatically beautiful Variations for Orchestra, led by Chair of Conducting, Martyn Brabbins. From £9.50 Under 35 discount available

Martyn Brabbins © Chris Christodoulou

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

Tuesday 24 November

CLAVICHORD DAY: MOZART WITH MARCIA HADJIMARKOS From 10.30am | Performance Hall

Discover the keyboard music of Mozart at the Royal College of Music’s annual Clavichord Day, with Marcia Hadjimarkos. Featuring a masterclass, demonstration and a lunchtime recital, enjoy the opportunity to hear a fascinating selection of historical keyboards from the RCM’s collection. Pay What You Can

OPERA DOUBLE BILL: DEBUSSY & RAVEL 7pm | Britten Theatre

OPERA

Monday 23, Wednesday 25, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 November

Christopher Luscombe director Michael Rosewell conductor Jonathan Fensom designer Mark Jonathan lighting designer Nicola Keen choreographer Debussy L’enfant prodigue Ravel L’enfant et les sortilèges Stellar singers from the RCM Opera Studio bring to life Debussy’s biblical parable and Ravel’s magic realist fantasy. Debussy’s richly orchestrated L’enfant prodigue (The Prodigal Son) showcases the composer’s trademark melodic gestures and expressive detail in a retelling of the Bible story. In Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges (The Bewitched Child) animals and animated objects teach an unruly child a lesson in empathy after he is sent to his room, with the action leading us into a lush garden. The opera sets a libretto by Colette, the celebrated author of Gigi. The RCM Opera Studio is supported by the Patrick & Helena Frost Foundation and Old Possum’s Practical Trust

From £21.50 Under 35 discount available RCM INSIGHTS: Join Richard Langham Smith and the opera creatives for a pre-show talk on 25 November at 5.45pm. Turn to page 29 for details.

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

FINNISSY & FELDMAN Two great recent composers share both musical characteristics and, this year, important anniversaries: the 80th birthday of British composer and RCM alumnus Michael Finnissy, and the centenary of American composer Morton Feldman’s birth. In celebration of these avant garde, radical musicians – whose work focuses on sound, texture, innovative notation and performance techniques – the RCM presents three concerts showcasing their remarkable chamber repertoire. All tickets £6.50 Wednesday 25 November

Thursday 26 November

7.30pm | Performance Hall

7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

FELDMAN PIANO AND STRING QUARTET Feldman Piano and String Quartet Composed two years before Feldman’s death, this hypnotic one-movement, 80-minute work of sustained and arpeggiated chords, sets the piano and string quartet apart as two distinct voices. Thursday 26 November

FINNISSY VENICE VIPERS 6pm | Performance Hall

Michael Finnissy Forest Michael Finnissy Venice Vipers Michael Finnissy Selection of Songs (world premieres)

Michael Finnissy © Ben Britton

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

NEW PERSPECTIVES: FOR SAMUEL BECKETT Timothy Lines director New Perspectives Michael Finnissy Ouraa Michael Finnissy Mu-Fa Feldman For Samuel Beckett

Through his exploration of folk traditions, Ouraa forms part of Michael Finnissy’s works inspired by Australian Aboriginal culture, while Mu-Fa is a complex spatial composition for two ensembles exploring fragmentation. The programme concludes with Feldman’s large-scale chamber work echoing his connection with the Irish playwright’s minimalist and repetitive style. RCM INSIGHTS: Join Michael Finnissy for a talk at 5.15pm on Wednesday 25 November. Turn to page 29 for details.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 7.30pm | Britten Theatre

See the world through a new lens as RCM composers present innovative compositions inspired by a selection of images from the Natural History Museum’s 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

SEASON EVENTS

Monday 30 November

This unique concert features a series of short works for solo, duo and trio ensembles alongside the striking images that inspired them. The performance will take you to the far ends of the Earth, from the deepest seas to the driest deserts, with music that builds on these evocative images of the natural world. Supported by Sara Horner From £9.50 Under 35 discount available

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

COMING SOON

SHOWCASES

2027 FESTIVALS

Save the dates! The Royal College of Music looks forward to a series of festivals celebrating the many facets of its musical life. Put these in your diary so you don’t miss stellar guest artists, stunning performances, and lots of extras from interactive workshops to trade fairs. Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February

CHAMBER FESTIVAL

Wednesday 18 November

COMPOSITION SHOWCASE

Sunday 28 February

6pm | Performance Hall

KEYBOARD FESTIVAL

Enjoy innovative creations by RCM composers. Pay What You Can

Sunday 18 April

RECORDER FESTIVAL Tuesday 8 December Sunday 9 May

PERCUSSION SHOWCASE

Sunday 27 June

Performances on a range of instruments from Royal College of Music ensembles including the renowned PERC’M.

FESTIVAL OF PERCUSSION STRINGS FESTIVAL

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

£6.50

Royal College of Music performers regularly appear at venues across London and beyond. Highlights include Classical Coffee Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, where you can enjoy a hot drink and a pastry, included in the ticket price. You’ll also find our musicians performing in venues such as St Mary Abbotts Church and St James’s Piccadilly. Many of the concerts are free. Visit our website for details of what’s coming up!

OUT AND ABOUT

OUT AND ABOUT www.rcm.ac.uk/events

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

CHAMBER MUSIC

CHAMBER MUSIC Intimate performances of chamber music, showcasing the talents of Royal College of Music students. www.rcm.ac.uk/chamber

CHAMBER SPOTLIGHTS Thursday 15 October

THE SALON AFTER DARK 6pm | Performance Hall

Pierre Gutierrez New work (world premiere) Horovitz Music Hall Suite Dring Trio for Flute, Oboe and Piano Bernstein Piano Trio As the sun sets, experience an intimate performance of salon music featuring three innovative 20th-century composers who bridge the worlds of popular and classical music, including music by an alumna of both the RCM Junior Department and senior College, Madeleine Dring. £6.50 Wednesday 11 November

BEETHOVEN – THE BONN YEARS

Wednesday 4 November

BRODSKY QUARTET: BACH, BRITTEN & BRIDGE 7.30pm | Performance Hall

JS Bach Solo sonatas arranged for string quartet Bridge Second Idyll from Three Idylls H67 Britten Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge Hear expressive arrangements of solo sonatas from one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, presented alongside works with strong connections to the Royal College of Music. £11.50 Thursday 5 November

HANDEL IN ITALY 6pm | Performance Hall

Sparkling works by Handel from his time in Italy, directed from the harpsichord by Luke Mitchell and featuring countertenor Zheng Jiang. £6.50

6pm | Performance Hall

Barbod Yekdaneh New work (world premiere) Beethoven String Quartet in F major op 18 no 1

Thursday 19 November

Meet the young Beethoven, teeming with new ideas in one of his earliest works, alongside music inspired by this early style.

6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

£6.50

ALL-NIGHT VIGIL

RCM Cello Ensemble Curated by Raphael Wallfisch Rachmaninov (arr White) Excerpts from All-Night Vigil Elgar (arr Seymour) Serenade for String Orchestra op 20 Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras no 1 W246 Hear the rich layers of eight cellos playing together in specially arranged repertoire, including Rachmaninov’s goosebump-inducing masterpiece, All-Night Vigil. £6.50

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

11am | The Carne Room

1.05pm | Performance Studio

Wednesday 14 October & Wednesday 11 November

Pay What You Can

£6.50 (includes a hot drink in The Carolean café)

CHAMBER TUESDAYS

Weekly in term time

FRIDAY MUSIC IN THE MUSEUM

CHAMBER EVENINGS

£6.50

Thursday 22 October Chamber Rush Hour

12.30pm | RCM Museum

ORGAN INTERLUDES

6pm | Performance Hall

6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

Friday 20 November Clarinet Side by Side

Wednesday 14 October & Wednesday 18 November

Pay What You Can

MUSEUM CHAMBER SEASON EVENTS EVENTS MUSIC

CARNE ROOM ELEVENSES

Weekly in term time

£6.50

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

MASTERCLASSES

MASTERCLASSES The Royal College of Music regularly welcomes some of today’s finest artists to work with RCM musicians. Our masterclass series is a great way to find out more about the process behind the performance. Please check www.rcm.ac.uk/masterclasses for newly added dates. Pay What You Can unless otherwise stated

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Friday 25 September

Tuesday 13 October

2pm | The Carne Room Guitar: Amanda Cook

10am | Performance Hall Piano: Roland Krüger Tuesday 13 October 6pm | Performance Hall Bassoon: Julien Hardy Tuesday 13 October 6pm | Recital Hall Flute: Amy Yule

Tuesday 3 November

PIANO: KATHRYN STOTT 10am | Performance Hall

Royal College of Music alumna Kathryn Stott shares her expertise with RCM pianists. Kathryn has made countless major international solo and orchestral appearances, and her most notable collaboration is with the acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, forming one of the most enduring partnerships in classical music. £6.50 Kathryn Stott © Nigel Parry

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

Thursday 15 October 2pm | Recital Hall Chamber music: Chiaroscuro Quartet Friday 23 October 2pm | Performance Hall Clarinet: Maximiliano Martin Friday 23 October 2pm | Recital Hall Trombone: Emily White

Tuesday 3 November 6pm | Performance Hall Violin: Augustin Dumay Tuesday 3 November 6pm | The Carne Room Bassoon: Ole Kristian Dahl Friday 6 November 2pm | Performance Hall Oboe: Timothy Rundle

Tuesday 17 November

Friday 20 November

6pm | Performance Hall Clarinet: Sharon Kam

2pm | West Parry Room Oboe: Nick Deutsch

Tuesday 17 November

Tuesday 24 November

6pm | Recital Hall Flute: André Cebrián

6pm | Performance Hall Violin: Alina Ibragimova

Tuesday 17 November

Friday 27 November

6pm | The Carne Room Viola: Thomas Riebl

2pm | Performance Hall Saxophone: Timothy Roberts

Friday 20 November 2pm | The Carne Room Harp: Emily Hoile

Friday 13 November ^

Friday 20 November

£6.50

2pm | Recital Hall Double bass: Stanislau Anishchanka

2pm | Performance Hall Cello: Ralph Kirshbaum

SEASON EVENTS MASTERCLASSES

NOVEMBER

Key for masterclass supporters

+ Belle Shenkman International

Masterclass ^ Supported by the Rolando Fund for International Visiting Artists at the RCM

Thursday 5 November

STRING QUARTET: BRODSKY QUARTET 2pm | Recital Hall

Since its formation, the Brodsky Quartet has maintained a busy international schedule with a wide-ranging repertoire including the complete quartet cycles of Shostakovich, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Britten, Schoenberg and Bartók, offering a wealth of experience to Royal College of Music string players. £6.50 Brodsky Quartet © Sarah Cresswell

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

JUNIOR DEPARTMENT 100

JUNIOR DEPARTMENT 100 Join us as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal College of Music Junior Department! The Junior Department is at the heart of the RCM community, encouraging young musicians aged 8–18 from all over the country to fulfil their potential and find their voice. Be sure to join in the centenary celebrations at one of our events this term, including a special performance of Tippett’s Concerto for Double String Orchestra featuring former Junior Department students. Tickets: £6.50 unless otherwise stated

Saturday 19 September

Saturday 14 November

Hourly from 9am | RCM Foyer

5.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

FANFARES

Junior Department students perform celebratory fanfares by JD composers, every hour on the hour!

SINFONIA

Robert Hodge conductor RCMJD Sinfonia

Free, no ticket required Saturday 21 November Saturday 19 September

JANÁČEK SINFONIETTA

CHAMBER CONCERT 5.30pm | Performance Hall

5.30pm | RCM Foyer

Brass and percussion players perform the first movement of Janáček’s glorious Sinfonietta of 1926, the year the JD opened.

Saturday 21 November

Free, no ticket required

3pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

Saturday 7 November

Saturday 28 November

5.30pm | Performance Hall

5.15pm | Performance Hall

SOLOISTS’ CONCERT

PETER MORRISON CONCERTO COMPETITION FINAL

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

CONTEMPORARY CONCERT

Saturday 12 December

SYMPHONY & CHAMBER ORCHESTRAS CONCERT

SOLOISTS’ CONCERT

Chamber Orchestra Laura Rickart director

Saturday 12 December

Tippett Concerto for Double String Orchestra

2.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

11am | Performance Hall

7pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

END OF TERM CONCERT

Symphony Orchestra Jacques Cohen conductor Sibelius Tapiola op 112 Kodály Háry János Suite

JUNIOR DEPARTMENT 100

Saturday 5 December

Junior Department musicians past and present come together for a stunning orchestral concerto by RCM alumnus Michael Tippett, as well as music composed in the year the JD opened, 1926.

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

MUSEUM

VISIT THE MUSEUM Experience the treasures of the RCM Museum collections, join a guided tour, or attend special chamber performances elevating the voices of the historical instruments in the galleries. www.rcm.ac.uk/museum

Tuesday 19 May–Sunday 25 October

SHARED AIRS: OUR THRIVING FOLK MUSICS

Open Tuesday–Sunday | RCM Museum | Visit website for opening times The Royal College of Music Museum’s special exhibition explores the world of contemporary folk traditions, celebrating how and why folk musics continue to evolve, live and thrive. Free, no booking required

TALKS Wednesday 16 September Shanties 5.15pm | RCM Museum Wednesday 7 October Women in Folk 5.15pm | RCM Museum Turn to page 28 for details

EVENTS Monday 26 October Family-friendly Ceilidh 3pm | Recital Hall £5 (child), £8 (adult) Ceilidh 6pm | Recital Hall £6.50

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

Thursday 3 December

MUSEUM LATE: THE TROMBONE THROUGH TIME

Wednesdays

WEEKLY GUIDED TOURS 12.30pm–1.15pm | RCM Museum

6pm | RCM Museum

Free, booking required

Led by RCM sackbut professor Susan Addison, this concert explores the history of the trombone in England from Tudor times to the late 19th century. Featuring The Royal Sackbut Collective and two trombones that were played by Gustav Holst and Sir Edward Elgar.

By request

£6.50

Tailored 45-minute tours for up to 16 people.

GROUP TOURS From £40 per group

FRIDAY MUSIC IN THE MUSEUM 12.30pm | RCM Museum £6.50

By request

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME Inspire students with an educational visit to the RCM Museum. Tailored to groups from Key Stages 1 to 5, this tour showcases the Museum’s permanent collection, allowing participants to explore 500 years of music history.

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

HALF TERM

HALF TERM ADVENTURES This half term, dive into workshops and performances with the RCM Museum and RCM Sparks, our learning and participation programme. www.rcm.ac.uk/sparks/events

Monday 26 October

Wednesday 28 October

3pm | Recital Hall

10.30am | Weston Discovery Centre

FAMILY-FRIENDLY CEILIDH £5 (child), £8 (adult)

MUSIC & SKETCHING FUN Ages 6–12 £10 per child (adults free)

Tuesday 27–Wednesday 28 October

BRASS & PERCUSSION WITH GALSI

Thursday 29 October

Ages 8–18

10.30am | Weston Discovery Centre

10.30am | Various locations

GALSI – Gender and the Large and Shiny Instruments – is a pioneering initiative promoting gender equality among instruments not traditionally played by women. This two-day course is open to anyone aged eight to 18 who plays a brass or percussion instrument and who identifies as female or non-binary. Junior, intermediate and senior ensembles will enjoy workshops, masterclasses and performances. Free tickets available, subject to eligibility

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

MINI MUSIC MAKERS Ages 2–5

Led by Early Childhood Music specialist Katie Neilson, this session uses songs, rhymes and movement to explore the RCM Museum’s wonderful artefacts in creative and engaging ways. Mini musicians must be accompanied by an adult throughout. £5 per child (adults free)

EXPLORERS COURSE

9.45am | Recital Hall & Parry Rooms

Various dates

SPRINGBOARD: MUSIC CREATORS

Run by RCM Sparks

10.30am | Various locations

Ages 6–9 & 10–13

Run by RCM Sparks

A popular two-day course focusing on creative musicmaking, storytelling, instrumental playing and singing. £75 Free tickets available, subject to eligibility

HALF TERM

Thursday 29 & Friday 30 October

Ages 14–15 For Year 9 and 10 instrumentalists, singers, composers or songwriters from any musical background who meet one of the RCM Sparks eligibility criteria. This free course runs until April 2027 with approximately one workshop or short course per month. Free tickets available, subject to eligibility

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

INSIGHTS

RCM INSIGHTS RCM Insights is a rich programme of talks that brings together pre-concert talks, research highlights and broader musical conversations for all audiences. www.rcm.ac.uk/talks Pay What You Can Wednesday 16 September

Wednesday 7 October

SHANTIES

WOMEN IN FOLK

The Journey of the Sea Shanty: from Work Song to Cultural Icon

Electrofolk musician and producer Frankie Archer (opposite) brings an innovative sound and fresh perspective to ancient tales. In this talk, she explores her influences and the inspiration she draws from centuries-old stories, and how she transforms them into experimental alt-folk tracks. The session also includes an interactive live set-up with opportunities for audience participation.

5.15pm | RCM Museum

Dr Mollie Carlyle explores the shanty in its 19th-century maritime context, examining its role as a work song aboard merchant ships and highlighting its diverse global origins. Alive as the Sea, the Folk Process in Action Daniel Woodfield explores shanties in their contemporary context: as living songs that travel, mutate and take root in new communities.

5.15pm | RCM Museum

Thursday 29 October

PRE-CONCERT TALK: MUSICAL INNOVATORS

6.15pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall Wednesday 30 September

THE BRASS BAND STORY 5.15pm | Performance Hall

Brass bands have played a unique role in the cultural history of Britain, inspiring many of the UK’s finest musicians. RCM Emeritus Professor Trevor Herbert introduces his new book The Brass Band Story, offering a revealing history of a much-loved but often misunderstood aspect of Britain’s musical heritage.

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

RCM Artistic Director Andrew Moore presents Musical Innovators, his year-long artistic vision for the College, with this evening’s talk focusing in particular on Beethoven and Stravinsky ahead of the 7.30pm Firebird concert.

PRE-CONCERT TALK: FINNISSY & FOLK 5.15pm | Performance Hall

Composer Michael Finnissy discusses how folk music has inspired his work, alongside performances of pieces from his album Folklore, a four-part cycle of piano works composed between the 1990s and 2005. By deconstructing and reimagining melodies from a wide range of folk traditions, he explains how they are transformed into complex yet engaging avant garde works.

Wednesday 25 November

PRE-PERFORMANCE TALK 5.45pm |Britten Theatre

Richard Langham Smith is a leading authority on French music, particularly the works of Claude Debussy and his contemporaries. Alongside creatives from this season’s RCM Opera Studio production, they delve into the stories, sound world and themes of this remarkable repertoire ahead of the 7pm performance (see page 13).

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk

INSIGHTS

Wednesday 25 November

BOOKING INFORMATION

BOOKING INFORMATION HOW TO BOOK

HOW TO FIND US

Book by phone: 020 7591 4314, weekdays 1–4pm

We are near South Kensington underground station and well served by local buses. For other options and information about trains and parking, please visit: www.rcm.ac.uk/discover

Book online: www.rcm.ac.uk/events Booking opens for the Autumn Season on 5 August. RCM Friends have priority booking from 29 July. Booking opens for the Debussy/Ravel Opera Double Bill on 30 September. RCM Friends have priority booking from 23 September.

Prince Consort Road London SW7 2BS

For more information about our pricing, refunds and ticket availability please visit: www.rcm.ac.uk/boxoffice

KEEP IN TOUCH

YOUR VISIT

To keep up to date with the latest from across the College you can sign up to our mailing list: www.rcm.ac.uk/subscribe

We pride ourselves on providing a warm welcome to all. Our concert spaces are accessible via lifts and ramps, with spaces for wheelchair users. Guide/companion dogs may be taken anywhere on site. Please contact the Box Office if you require step-free access or assistance.

Further questions? Our box office is happy to help: boxoffice@rcm.ac.uk Follow us on

Programmes are subject to change: please visit our website for the most up-to-date details.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT Grab a bite in our café, The Carolean. Enjoy your refreshments inside or out, with access to our spectacular 1851 Courtyard, while accompanied by the sounds of music from across the College. Choose from barista-style coffees, sandwiches, snacks and hot food, and a salad bar with locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Wine and bottled beverages are also served before most mid-week evening concerts.

Monday–Friday: 8.30am–4.30pm Saturday: 8.30am–4.30pm (term time only*) Concert days: from 5pm

Printed by Park Lane Press on FSC® certified paper using fully sustainable, vegetable oil-based inks. Powered by 100% renewable resources, utilising waterless printing technology and achieving zero waste to landfill. Print production systems are registered to ISO 14001 and ISO 9001, B Corp certified, and a SEDEX member.

*See website for details

The Royal College of Music is a

www.rcm.ac.uk/carolean

registered charity no. 309268

EVENTS AUTUMN 2026

Becoming an RCM Friend is the best way to support young musical talent while keeping up to date with news and events taking place at the College.

SUPPORT THE RCM

SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF MUSIC From just £52 a year, you will join a growing community of music lovers and enjoy benefits such as: • Priority booking and waived booking fee for RCM performances and opera productions • Regular advance information on RCM events via the Events Guide • In-depth views of College life through regular e-newsletters, monthly keynote emails and our termly magazine Upbeat • Those at Best Friend level are invited to an annual event hosted by the Director RCM Friends membership also makes an ideal gift for a music-loving friend or family member. To find out more, please call 020 7591 4353 or email friends@rcm.ac.uk, or visit www.rcm.ac.uk/friends To learn about further opportunities to support the Royal College of Music, such as through our Scholarships programme or leaving a gift in your Will, please visit www.rcm.ac.uk/support

020 7591 4314 / www.rcm.ac.uk/events

020 7591 4314 rcm.ac.uk/events Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BS, United Kingdom

EXPERIENCE GREAT MUSICAL INNOVATORS