WELCOME TO THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC’S SUMMER SEASON
This term, the thread of music shaped by folk traditions from across the world weaves its way through our programme. From reimagined melodies and centuries-old stories to bold new cross-cultural collaborations, we celebrate innovation, connection and artistic adventure.
Musicians from our Composition Faculty respond to birdsong and the British landscape in Larks Ascending, inspired by Vaughan Williams’ most iconic work, while Kodály’s unmistakable Hungarian voice is heard in Háry János
Rushil Ranjan leads a project of collaboration between cultures from Ireland, China and India, and Sarah Willis’ Sarahbanda brings Cuban dance rhythms to a collaborative performance. The term also offers two Junior Fellow Showcases from Will Kidner and María Linares, exploring the folk colours of the UK and Spain – from new bassoon works rooted in British heritage, to the vivid Spanish dances of Albéniz’ Iberia
Many performances shine a light on the breadth of creativity at the RCM. Our Composition for Screen Showcase returns to the Britten Theatre with new scores performed live to film. The much-loved Festival of Percussion bursts across campus, this year featuring musicians of the Royal Air Force and legendary drummer Dave Weckl. Our Strings Festival focuses on the conversational voices of the string quartet.
Performances at major London concert venues take the RCM Symphony Orchestra to the Southbank Centre with Kahchun Wong, showcase performances at Wigmore Hall including musicians from our Strings and Vocal & Opera faculties, and Junior Department musicians performing Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring at Cadogan Hall.
Masterclasses offering students extraordinary opportunities to learn from leading performers include return visits from Nicky Spence and Tasmin Little, and we are delighted to welcome for the first time American cellist Zlatomir Fung.
Across the term, the RCM becomes a meeting point for musical traditions, for new ideas shaped by old stories. Whether you join us for a symphonic spectacle, an intimate chamber concert, a new opera, a family event or a festival, thank you for supporting the outstanding work of our musicians.
I look forward to welcoming you to an event over the coming months.
Andrew Moore, Artistic Director
SEASON EVENTS
APRIL
Monday 20 April
RCM YOUTH BRASS: WATER AND THE NATURAL WORLD
6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Amos Miller conductor
RCM Youth Brass
RCM Prize Winners
Inspiring workshops with Head of Brass Amos Miller and RCM musicians build up to the third RCM Youth Brass ensemble extravaganza, exploring works drawing on the natural world, arranged by RCM alumnus Ryan Linham. A collaboration with London music hubs and the RCM Sparks programme, the concert concludes with prizewinning RCM brass players in a magnificent competition final.
Pay What You Can
Wednesday 22 April ORGAN
INTERLUDES
6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
James Todd organ
James Todd performs in the RCM Organ Interludes series, exploring a variety of works on the RCM’s majestic Flentrop Orgelbouw organ.
£6.50
Thursday 23 April
ARTISTIC INSIGHTS
1.05pm | The Carne Room
Join RCM doctoral musicians for this lunch-hour concert presenting new perspectives on repertoire.
£6.50
Thursday 23 April
COMPOSITION FOR SCREEN SHOWCASE
7.30pm | Britten Theatre
Ben Draper and Wooju Baik conductors
RCM Composers for Screen unveil their latest scores accompanying footage created by young film-makers. Alumni from the College’s Composition for Screen course are in demand throughout the Hollywood and UK film industries, and hold numerous accolades including BAFTA, Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy awards.
Don’t miss this chance to hear the film composers of the future as their scores are performed live to new films by young producers, projected above the orchestra in the cinematic Britten Theatre.
This event may contain lighting effects and themes not suitable for children.
Supported by Betty Sutherland
£11.50
An exhilarating atmosphere
RCM audience member
Wednesday 29 April
LARKS ASCENDING
6pm | Performance Hall
Inspired by The Lark Ascending, the folk-influenced work for violin and orchestra by RCM alumnus Vaughan Williams, this event features new chamber works by RCM composers using pre-recorded lark song. Competition winners, chosen by a special panel, will be announced at the end of the event.
The Larks Ascending project is a collaboration between the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, the Wildlife Sound Recording Society, the British Library’s Wildlife & Environmental Sounds department and the Royal College of Music, highlighting the declining numbers of skylarks in Britain.
£6.50
MAY
Friday 1 May
COLLABORATIVE PIANO SHOWCASE
2pm | The Carne Room
Following masterclasses with Susan Manoff, the RCM’s talented collaborative pianists present a range of works alongside singers and instrumentalists.
Pay What You Can
LEARN MORE Susan Manoff leads collaborative piano masterclasses as part of her residency. Turn to page 28 for details.
Friday 1 May
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH ALINDE QUINTET
6pm | Performance Hall
Alinde Quintet
Anna Talácková flute
Barbora Trnčíková oboe
David Šimeček clarinet
Kryštof Koska horn
Petr Sedlák bassoon
Programme to include:
Haas Wind Quintet op 10
Peteris Vasks Wind Quintet no 2 In memory of a friend
Winner of the ARD International Music Competition, Czech ensemble Alinde Quintet makes its Royal College of Music debut, performing side-by-side with musicians from the RCM Woodwind Faculty. The programme includes repertoire performed by the Alinde Quintet on its highly acclaimed recent recording, Inscape
£6.50
LEARN MORE Alinde Quintet leads a masterclass as part of its residency. Turn to page 29 for details.
Thursday 30 April
ORCHESTRAL MASTERWORKS: FOLK HEROES
6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Natalia Luis-Bassa and Yi-Chuan Chen conductors
RCM Philharmonic
Robert Baird Hearth and Home
Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber
Kodály Háry János Suite
From the Scottish tunes inspiring RCM Composition Competition winner, Robert Baird, to the Hungarian melodies permeating Kodály’s suite, this concert is a feast of folk.
Kodály’s Háry János Suite features the cimbalom, with its distinctive resonating sonority, as we follow the story of a Hungarian soldier and his supposedly heroic deeds. Robert Baird’s Hearth and Home takes traditional tunes and puts them into a contemporary classical context, warping and weaving them through the orchestra.
Supported by John Nickson & Simon Rew
From £9.50
Under 35 discount available
Sunday 10 May
RCM FESTIVAL OF PERCUSSION
Step into a day of rhythm and energy for all ages at the Royal College of Music’s Festival of Percussion, this year with guest star Dave Weckl.
A great day out for families, young musicians and percussion enthusiasts!
DAYTIME FESTIVAL
11am–6.45pm | Various locations
DAVE WECKL IN CONVERSATION WITH MIKE DOLBEAR
GUEST STAR DAVE WECKL
SOPHIE ALLOWAY DRUM DEMO • FAMILY-FRIENDLY LUNCHTIME CONCERT • MICK DORAN & THE CENTRAL BAND OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE • GRAHAME KING & DANIEL MARTINEZ TIMPANI SESSION • CALUM HUGGAN MARIMBA MASTERCLASS • CAMERON SINCLAIR ORCHESTRAL TASTERS • CORMAC BYRNE BODHRÁN CLASS • BRUCE PARRY SABIAN SESSION • JUNIOR ENSEMBLES • MUSEUM CRAFTS • TRADE FAIR • INTERACTIVE ZONE • AND MUCH MORE!
COME AND PLAY: Take part in activities tailored to young percussionists. Ideal for families wanting to follow a specifically curated timetable. See page 27.
EVENING JAZZ
7.15–8.30pm | Britten Theatre
Dave Weckl drums
Mark Armstrong director RCM Jazz Orchestra
Supported by The Victor Ford Swale Jazz Fund
From £16.50 Under 35s discount available www.rcm.ac.uk/percussionfestival
Sunday 28 June
RCM STRINGS FESTIVAL
11am–6pm | Various locations
From soaring melodies to complex harmonies, pizzicato to vibrato, experience the full brilliance of the RCM Strings Faculty!
A perfect day for instrumentalists, string enthusiasts and music lovers of all ages.
GUEST STARS: KLEIO QUARTET & SACCONI QUARTET
VIDA GUITAR QUARTET RECITAL • FLORIAN LEONHARD ON RARE VIOLINS • NADEJA QUARTET • RCM STRING ORCHESTRA LUNCHTIME CONCERT • HARP & GUITAR SHOWCASES • POP-UP CONCERTS • AND MUCH MORE!
COME AND PLAY: Take part in activities tailored to young violists. See page 27 for details.
£16.50
Under 35 discount available www.rcm.ac.uk/stringsfestival
Kleio Quartet © Agnete Schlichtkrull
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Thursday 7 May
JOHN DOWLAND 400
1.05pm | Performance Hall
Celebrate the legacy of John Dowland, the renowned English Renaissance composer, lutenist and singer. In this lunchtime concert marking 400 years since his death, musicians from the Historical Performance faculties at the RCM and Bremen Hochschule perform music from Dowland’s Lachrimae collection, as well as exquisite lute songs.
The event features selected instruments from the RCM Museum’s Kessler collection, one of the finest sets of English viols in existence, dating from the late 16th to early 18th centuries.
£6.50
Thursday 7 May
BRIDGING WORLDS
7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Bridging Worlds brings together the Royal Albert Hall’s Associate Artists, Rushil Ranjan and Abi Sampa, with students from the Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Sunshine Orchestra (Chennai, India).
Over the past year, cohorts of conductors, dancers, composers and non-Western instrumentalists have collaborated to create bold new works, driven by a shared curiosity: how Western and non-Western classical traditions can meet, inform one another and open up new creative possibilities.
From £12
Bridging Worlds © Andy Paradise
Sunday 17 May
RCM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL: MAHLER 5
7.30pm | Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Kahchun Wong conductor
Mariamna Sherling piano
RCM Symphony Orchestra
Shostakovich Piano Concerto no 2 in F major op 102
Mahler Symphony no 5
From wit to wonder – in a night of vivid storytelling, the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kahchun Wong perform 20th-century greats.
Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto no 2 bursts with youthful energy and sparkling wit. Performed by rising star Mariamna Sherling, this lively showpiece offers moments of lyrical beauty alongside shining virtuosity.
In stark contrast, Mahler’s monumental Symphony no 5 takes the listener on a profound emotional journey, from its dramatic opening funeral march to the radiant joy of the final movement. With the deeply moving Adagietto at its heart, this symphony is one of the composer’s most striking and enduring works.
Uniting these two worlds are the RCM Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Hallé, Kahchun Wong, internationally acclaimed for his electrifying stage presence.
Supported by The Donna L Kendall Foundation
From £15.50 (concessions 25% off, limited availability)
Tickets: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/mahlers-fifth
Kahchun Wong © Angie Kremer
OPERA SCENES
5.30pm | Britten Theatre
Friday 8 May
Deborah Cohen director Gary Matthewman conductor
Thursday 14 May
Eloise Lally director
Ashok Gupta conductor
Singers from the RCM Vocal & Opera Faculty regularly go on to take leading roles in the world’s greatest opera houses. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear talented singers perform excerpts from some of the most beloved operas.
Supported by the Estate of Basil Coleman
Pay What You Can
Saturday 9 May
RCMJD BAROQUE ENSEMBLES CONCERT
5.30pm | Performance Hall
RCM Junior Department Baroque and recorder ensembles present works by a range of composers. These impressive young musicians display their technical skills performing with period bows and on the RCM’s superb KennedyMietke harpsichord.
£6.50
Wednesday 13 May CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT: CELTIC FOLKLORE
6pm | Performance Hall
Beethoven Violin Sonata no 8 in G major op 30 no 3 Xiaoxuan Gao New work (world premiere)
Anthony Plog Three Miniatures Lutosławski Variations on a Theme by Paganini
Showcasing the talents of the Royal College of Music’s Hogwood Scholars, this chamber concert features Three Miniatures by Anthony Plog, which include Celtic and Irish folk styles.
£6.50
Thursday 14 May FUTURE PERFECT
7.30pm | Performance Hall
Hear the composers of the future as they reveal their newest creations, including world premieres of stunning solo and chamber pieces, collaborating with RCM musicians to push the boundaries of modern performance.
Pay What You Can
Friday 15 May
CUBAN HORNS
WITH THE SARAHBANDA
7.30pm | Britten Theatre
The unique cross-genre ensemble Sarahbanda takes to the stage with a fresh take on Cuban dance music – an exciting fusion of classical music and Cuban rhythms. Founded by Sarah Willis, an RCM International Visiting Artist, the ensemble leads a vibrant performance, joined by a select group of RCM musicians.
Supported by Victoria, Lady Robey CBE HonRCM
£11.50
Under 35 discount available
Saturday 16 May
RCMJD PIANO CONCERT
5.30pm | Performance Hall
Inspiring young soloists take centre stage to play a range of piano works in the RCM’s magnificent Performance Hall. Throughout the year RCM Junior Department pianists have been taught by some of the world’s best teachers, working towards these formative experiences of public performance.
£6.50
Wednesday 20 May
ELECTRIC DREAMS
6pm | Performance Hall
Sofia Kiviniemi Pixelating (world premiere)
Hanna Horobynska Game for Two (world premiere)
Beatriz Ferreyra La ba-balle du chien-chien à la mé-mère
Annea Lockwood For Ruth Lily Greenham Seascape
Composer and RCM professor Catherine Kontz curates this cutting-edge concert focussing on women composers, featuring works with a playful veneer but with deeper meanings beneath the surface. The programme will include Hanna Horobynska’s new piece showcasing a playtronica, an electronic device that makes use of touch technology.
£6.50
JUNE
Tuesday 9 June
MUSEUM LATE: HARPING ON! FUTURE FOLK
6pm | RCM Museum
RCM harp professor Elizabeth Bass leads a concert featuring a selection of new works written for harp and inspired by folk themes.
£6.50
Saturday 13 June
RCMJD CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
5.30pm | Performance Hall
A vibrant programme featuring new works composed by RCM Junior Department composers for RCMJD ensembles.
£6.50
The Sarahbanda © Sebastian Haenel
RCM AT WIGMORE HALL
Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP
Tickets: www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
Sunday 28 June
VOCAL SHOWCASE: WHITE CAMELLIA
3pm
Royal College of Music vocalists present a moving programme inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ novel La Dame aux camélias, the story of a beautiful Parisian courtesan who falls for an honourable man.
Through songs in French, German, English and Russian, this showcase explores Dumas’ themes of social judgement, the struggle between passion and duty, tragic love and sacrifice, and includes the story of Violetta, Alfredo and Giorgio from Verdi’s La traviata.
£18 (concessions £16)
Wednesday 1 July STRINGS SHOWCASE: LIGHT AND SHADOW 1pm
Piazzolla Selection from Histoire du Tango
Debussy Sonata for flute, viola and harp
N Boulanger Three pieces for cello and piano
Bruch String Octet in B flat major op posth
In this lunchtime performance, folk melodies intertwine with classical in Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango, a work steeped in Argentinian dance. Completing the programme are Nadia Boulanger’s Trois pièces, Bruch’s rarely heard String Octet – a late Romantic masterpiece – and Debussy’s impressionistic trio sonata, an evocative work of shimmering textures.
£18 (concessions £16)
Sunday 5 July
RCMJD YOUNG ARTISTS CONCERT
3pm
This vibrant and varied concert offers Royal College of Music Junior Department musicians the opportunity to shine as they share the results of their hard work and commitment to music.
The programme features outstanding performances from the winners of the RCMJD Chamber Music Prize, alongside talented soloists and the Advanced Vocal Ensemble.
£20
Monday 22 June
BELLOT ENSEMBLE: GROUNDS FOR EXCHANGE
6pm | Performance Hall
Bellot Ensemble explores the rich musical conversation between 17th-century Italy and England. Bellot Ensemble is the 2026–28 New Generation Baroque Ensemble supported by the RCM, BBC Radio 3 and the National Centre for Early Music.
£6.50
Tuesday
23 June
COMPOSITION SHOWCASE
6pm | Performance Studio
Hear the very best solo and ensemble arrangements as RCM composers showcase their expertise.
Pay What You Can
JUNIOR FELLOW SHOWCASES
Tuesday 23 June
Bassoon Spotlight
6pm | Performance Hall
Will Kidner bassoon
RCM composers New works (world premieres)
Will Kidner, Mills Williams Junior Fellow 2025/26 from the Artist Diploma programme, curates and performs a unique concert, including new works based on folk tunes for bassoon and small chamber ensemble.
£6.50
Monday 29 June Iberia
6pm | Performance Hall
María Linares piano
Albéniz Iberia Suite Books 3 and 4
María Linares, the Constant and Kit Lambert Junior Fellow 2025/26 from the Artist Diploma programme, curates and performs a unique concert. Infused with folk elements, Iberia is Albéniz’ celebrated keyboard work inspired by the rhythms and colours of traditional Spanish dances.
£6.50
SEASON EVENTS
Wednesday 24 June
RCM CHAMBER ENSEMBLE: HORSEPLAY
6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Toby Purser, Ben Draper and Wooju Baik conductors
RCM Chamber Orchestra
Britten Sinfonietta op 1
Tippett Divertimento on ’Sellinger’s Round’ Errollyn Wallen Horseplay
RCM Head of Conducting Toby Purser and postgraduate conductors direct a concert of music by RCM alumni
Britten and Tippett and RCM composition professor Errollyn Wallen, including Tippett’s folk influenced Divertimento on ’Sellinger’s Round’
From £9.50
Under 35 discount available
Thursday 25 June
FATHER, SON AND GODFATHER
6pm | Performance Hall
Professor Ashley Solomon directs musicians from the RCM Historical Performance Faculty in a programme exploring the lineage of three Baroque masters: JS Bach, his son Carl Philipp Emanuel, and the latter’s godfather Georg Philipp Telemann.
£6.50
Saturday 27 June
RCMJD SUMMER
ENSEMBLES CONCERT
5.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
The Sinfonietta, Jazz Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Upper Voices and Junior Choir of the RCM Junior Department, comprising young musicians aged eight to 18, perform in their annual summer celebration.
Supported by The Victor Ford Swale Jazz Fund
£6.50
Sunday 28 June
RCMJD CHAMBER & SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS: THE RITE OF SPRING
6.30pm | Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ
Robert Hodge conductor*
Jacques Cohen conductor**
RCMJD Chamber Orchestra*
RCMJD Symphony Orchestra**
Ives The Unanswered Question
Anna Clyne Restless Oceans
Prokofiev Symphony no 1 in D major op 25
Glinka Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture
Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
RCM Junior Department students return to Cadogan Hall to perform some of the most demanding and thrilling music in the repertoire, including Glinka’s exhilarating, folk-inspired Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture, and Stravinsky’s viscerally powerful ballet score, based on Lithuanian folk music: The Rite of Spring
£25 (senior citizens & students £10)
Tickets: www.cadoganhall.com
Errollyn Wallen © Azzura Primavera
Thursday 2 July
RCM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: INEXTINGUISHABLE
7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Ryan Bancroft conductor
Alex Franklin oboe
Emily Crook clarinet
Will Kidner bassoon
Stefan Grant horn
RCM Symphony Orchestra
Gabriella Smith Tumblebird Contrails
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E flat major K297b
Nielsen Symphony no 4 Inextinguishable
Four Royal College of Music soloists join conductor Ryan Bancroft for Mozart’s sparkling Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds, before the RCM Symphony Orchestra dives into the dramatic ‘Inextinguishable’ Symphony by Danish composer Carl Nielsen – featuring a thrilling ‘battle’ between two sets of timpani. The symphony conjures up an irrepressible life force: an inextinguishable spirit.
The concert opens with the spacious, open-air textures of Tumblebird Contrails by up-and-coming American composer Gabriella Smith.
Supported by Victoria, Lady Robey CBE HonRCM
From £16.50
Under 35 discount available
Pre-concert performance
6.15pm |Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Enjoy a pre-concert performance of chamber music with Nielsen’s String Quartet no 2 in F minor op 5.
Free for concert ticket holders
Ryan Bancroft
JULY
Friday 3 July
RCM SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLE: WINDCATCHER
7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Kyle Horch director
RCM Saxophone Ensemble
Holst (arr Elizabeth Drury) St Paul’s Suite
Clare Loveday Duodectet for Octet
Elizabeth Knudson Hexagonal (UK premiere)
Philip Glass The Windcatcher
Mark Bowden New work (world premiere)
William Sweeney (arr Richard Ingham) Cha b’ann grad
Craig Rickards (arr Nigel Wood) Three Selections from Songs of the British Isles
RCM alumnus Gustav Holst based much of his St Paul’s Suite on English folksong styles, dance rhythms and harmony. William Sweeney likewise incorporates Gaelic song and traditional Scottish modalities: Cha b’ann grad is a contemporary treatment of Scottish folk influences.
Craig Rickards’ work is based on traditional British Isles folk songs, and the programme also includes new music by RCM professor Mark Bowden.
£6.50
Saturday 4 July
RCMJD SUMMER ORCHESTRA
CONCERT: MAMBO
5.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Robert Hodge conductor (RCMJD Sinfonia)
Anthony Bailey conductor (RCMJD Symphonic Wind Orchestra)
Esther King Smith conductor (RCMJD String Orchestra)
Nirvana Che-Lai violin
Programme to include: Korngold ‘Moderato nobile’ from Violin Concerto in D major op 35
Gershwin (arr D Rose) Girl Crazy Overture
Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Musicians from the RCM Junior Department present a summer celebration featuring bold and colourful scores by Gershwin and Bernstein. Plus, hear sumptuous Korngold performed by violinist Nirvana Che-Lai, the winner of the 2026 Barbara Boissard Junior Concerto Competition.
£6.50
Monday 6 July
RCM FOLK ORCHESTRA
6pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Joe Broughton director
RCM Brass Ensemble
Led by Joe Broughton, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and educator, the RCM Brass Ensemble, alongside woodwind and percussion students, have come together over three days to create new works embedded in folk traditions.
Supported by the Artistic Programme Syndicate
£6.50
Friday 3, Saturday 4 & Monday 6 July
FANTASY & FAIRYTALES
7pm | Britten Theatre
Bill Bankes-Jones director
Michael Rosewell conductor
Sarah Jane Booth designer
Lasha Kharkhelauri / Sandro Tsikoridze Ramona
Daniel Musashi / Jacques Allen / Ed Allen Ogga Loggas
Asher Joyce Three Lives
Deniz Dortok The Boy Who Went to Find Fear
Ruvin Meda The Nightingale and the Rose
Hear five world-premiere short operas by Royal College of Music composers, brought to life by RCM singers and instrumentalists working with pathfinding opera company Tête à Tête. Each piece transports you to a new fantastical setting, where you’ll encounter magical characters revealing stories of human emotion
The performance on Saturday 4 July will be live streamed at www.rcm.ac.uk/live
From £21.50
Under 35 discount available
The RCM Opera Studio is supported by the Patrick & Helena Frost Foundation and Old Possum’s Practical Trust
Tête à Tête is supported by Arts Council England
Tuesday 7 July
CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT: MIRACULOUS MANDARIN
6pm | Performance Hall
Yi-Chuan Chen conductor
Kodály Duo for violin and cello op 7
Bartók (arr Iain Farrington) The Miraculous Mandarin Suite
Hear Bartók’s colourful suite from his pantomime-ballet
The Miraculous Mandarin in an intimate and illuminating chamber arrangement.
£6.50
Tuesday 7 July
PERCUSSION SHOWCASE: SIX MARIMBAS
7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Discover the power and versatility of percussion in this engaging showcase featuring Steve Reich’s hypnotic Six Marimbas, a work which cleverly builds on an eightbeat rhythmic pattern. Plus world premieres and new arrangements of well-known works, played on a wide range of instruments.
£6.50
Wednesday 8 July
RCM WIND ENSEMBLE: SUMMER
MUSIC
7.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Marie Lloyd director
Emily Crook clarinet
Hannah Shimwell basset horn
Colares Ensemble
RCM Wind Ensemble
L Boulanger (arr Isaac Prince) D’un matin de printemps
Lily Zhang New work (world premiere)
Krieger Serenata a Cinco
Mendelssohn (arr AN Tarkmann) Konzertstück no 1 in F minor op 113
Jonathan Dove Figures in the Garden
Barber Summer Music op 31
Krommer Octet-Partita in F major op 57
From Lili Boulanger’s ‘Spring Morning’ to Barber’s Summer Music via Jonathan Dove’s Figures in the Garden, enjoy a programme evoking fresh breezes and scented summer days, performed by the RCM Wind Ensemble.
£6.50
Thursday 9 July CONDUCTORS’ PODIUM: PASTORAL POEMS
1.05pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
Ben Draper, Wooju Baik, Giuseppe Stillitano and Yi-Chuan Chen conductors
Liza Rakovska harp
Beethoven Coriolan Overture op 62
Damase Concertino for harp
Berkeley Four Poems of St Teresa of Avila op 27 Larsson Pastoralsvit op 19
In this student curated concert, budding Royal College of Music conductors share their unique interpretations of repertoire ranging from bold Beethoven to Larsson’s light, lyrical work evoking the Swedish countryside.
Pay What You Can
Saturday 11 July RCMJD END OF YEAR CONCERT AND GRADUATION
2.30pm | Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
After a wonderful year of RCM Junior Department music-making and creation, these accomplished musicians come together to celebrate their successes. Hear first-class performances from the RCM Junior Department Brass Dectet, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra.
£6.50
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT
Make the most of your visit to the Royal College of Music by grabbing 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.
www.rcm.ac.uk/carolean
Monday–Friday: 8.30am–4.30pm Saturday: 8.30am–4.30pm (term time only*)
Concert days: from 5pm
*See website for details
MUSEUM TOURS & EVENTS
Visit the Royal College of Music Museum and 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
Every Wednesday GUIDED TOURS
12.30pm–1.15pm | RCM Museum
Enjoy a tour of the RCM Museum led by our knowledgeable team. Our passionate guides will share intriguing stories and insights and give you the opportunity to hear the voices of some of the instruments on display, ensuring that your visit is both informative and enjoyable. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or simply curious, this tour will enhance your appreciation of our musical heritage.
Free, booking required
By request GROUP TOURS
The Museum offers engaging 45-minute tours designed for groups of six to a maximum of 16 people. These tours can be tailored to meet your specific interests, age groups or needs of the visitors, ensuring a personalised experience.
£5 per person (£3.50 concession)
By request
MUSEUM TOUR & WOLFSON CENTRE OBJECT HANDLING SESSION
Get hands on with the RCM’s musical history. Groups of students from higher education institutions interested in music, organology, material culture or musical instrument making can enjoy a tour of the Museum alongside a session of handling unique objects from the RCM collections in our new research facility, the Wolfson Centre in Music & Material Culture.
£7 per person (£6.50 concession)
Tuesday 19 May–Sunday 25 October
SHARED AIRS: THE THRIVING FOLK MUSICS OF THESE ISLANDS
Open Tuesday–Sunday | RCM Museum | Visit website for opening times
Shared Airs invites you into the world of folk music today, through this collaborative exhibition where folk musics are celebrated, made, shared and reimagined. Through instruments, personal stories and community voices from across these islands, explore how folk traditions continue to thrive. Featuring participatory displays and interactive interpretation, the exhibition celebrates folk musics as sources of belonging, creativity and connection.
Free, no booking required
RELATED EVENTS
Tuesday 26 May & Wednesday 22 July
Mini Folk Dancers
10.30am | Weston Discovery Centre & Recital Hall
Ages 2–5
£5 per child (adults free)
Wednesday 27 May
Folk Music & Portrait Adventure
10.30am | Weston Discovery Centre
Ages 6–12
£10 per child (adults free)
Wednesday 24 June
Screening:
A Basket Full Of Eggs
5.15pm | Performance Studio
A screening of an English Romani documentary, plus an insight-sharing session.
£6.50
Monday 29 June
Queer Folk 6pm | Weston Discovery Centre
Celebrate Pride month with this open, welcoming session.
Pay What You Can
Thursday 23 July
Family Folk Dancing 2pm | Recital Hall
Ages 5+
£5 (child), £8 (adult)
Tuesday 28 July
Morris Dancing Fun 2pm | Recital Hall
Ages 5+
£5 (child), £8 (adult)
SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
An RCM membership is the best way to keep up with news and events taking place at the Royal College of Music, while helping us to provide world-leading education and training to our talented students.
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
CHAMBER MUSIC
Enjoy a wide range of chamber music from a variety of ensembles of talented RCM musicians at our lunchtime and early-evening concerts.
www.rcm.ac.uk/chamber
Pay What You Can (unless otherwise stated)
CHAMBER TUESDAYS
1.05pm | Performance Studio
21 and 28 April
5 and 12 May
23 and 30 June
7 July
CARNE ROOM ELEVENSES
11am | The Carne Room
This season the RCM continues its late-morning chamber performances in The Carne Room, which offers spectacular views of the Royal Albert Hall.
7 May
22 June
£6.50 (includes a hot drink in our café, The Carolean)
FRIDAY MUSIC IN THE MUSEUM
12.30pm | RCM Museum
Enjoy polished chamber performances amongst a beautiful collection of historic artefacts and instruments.
24 April 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 May 5, 12 and 19 June
£6.50
PRIZES & COMPETITIONS
Experience the talent of exceptional musicians from the Royal College of Music as they compete at the highest level for a series of coveted RCM prizes. Drop in between pieces or stay for the whole competition.
£6.50
Tuesday 5 May
LIES ASKONAS COMPETITION FINAL
6pm | Britten Theatre
Wednesday 6 May
KENDALL TAYLOR BEETHOVEN PIANO COMPETITION
10am | Performance Hall
Saturday 6 June
MICHAL KAZNOWSKI CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION (RCMJD)
5.30pm | Performance Hall
PARTICIPATORY EVENTS
FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Whether you are introducing children to classical music for the first time, or looking for inspiring ways to delve deeper, families and young people can experience the unforgettable thrill of workshops and performances run by RCM Museum and RCM Sparks, our learning and participation programme.
HOW TO BOOK: All events must be booked in advance through the RCM Box Office, unless otherwise stated. Free tickets are available subject to eligibility.
www.rcm.ac.uk/sparks/events
COURSES
Monday 27–Wednesday 29 July
LAUNCH PAD
10.30am–4pm | Various locations
Ages 6–9 and 10–13
Join RCM Sparks for a junior version of the Springboard Course, where participants collaborate with young RCM musicians and composers to imaginatively create a brand-new group piece. No music reading or notation skills are required – just curiosity, creativity and a willingness to make music with others. Open to beginners and more advanced players from all musical backgrounds, the course culminates in a performance and recording of the new work.
£125
Thursday 27–Saturday 29 August
SPRINGBOARD COURSE
10.30am–4pm | Various locations
Ages 13–15 (school years 9 and 10)
Join the first workshop in this year-long course, which runs from August to April and offers monthly workshops that bring young instrumentalists, singers, composers and songwriters together to experiment, collaborate and create new music in any style. No music reading skills are required – just curiosity and a love of making music with others. Participants must meet one of the RCM Sparks eligibility criteria.
Free, tickets required
CONCERTS
Wednesday 1 July
LUNCHTIME OPERA FOR SCHOOLS
12pm | Britten Theatre
Key Stage 2 school or home school parties only
Step into the exciting world of opera in the inspiring surroundings of the RCM’s very own theatre. Enjoy brand-new music written by RCM students, learn how opera singers use their voices, and enjoy the chance to try singing like an opera star yourself!
Free, booking required
Friday 31 July
FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERT
1pm | Performance Hall
Ages 5+
Discover the colourful sounds of the woodwind family in this relaxed, interactive concert.
£5 (child), £8 (adult)
Pre-concert Family-Friendly Tour 12pm | RCM Museum
Arrive a little early and enjoy an introduction to the Museum, exploring 500 years of music making.
Pay What You Can
FESTIVALS
Sunday 10 May
RCM FESTIVAL OF PERCUSSION
RCM Sparks From 10.30am | Parry Rooms
Ages 4+
An exciting selection of family-friendly hands-on activities, with taster workshops, crafting activities in the RCM Museum, the chance to try instruments, explore the gamelan and attend an interactive lunchtime concert.
£10 (child), £8 (adult)
Come and Play
The festival also includes specially tailored activities for young players including a marimba masterclass and orchestral percussion taster session.
For details and how to take part visit www.rcm.ac.uk/percfest
Included in Daytime Festival Ticket
Sunday 28 June
RCM STRINGS FESTIVAL
Come and Play
The festival includes specially tailored activities for viola players. For details and how to take part visit www.rcm.ac.uk/stringsfestival
Included in Festival Ticket
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)
APRIL
Tuesday 21 April Δ
6pm | Performance Hall
Saxophone: Manu Brazo
Tuesday 21 April
6pm | The Carne Room
Viola: Thomas Riebl
Tuesday 21 April
6pm | Performance Studio Double Bass: Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli
Friday 24 April
2pm | The Carne Room
Guitar: Göran Söllscher
Monday 27 April
3pm | Recital Hall
Trumpet: Mireia Farrés
Tuesday 28 April
6pm | Carne Room Harp: Sandrine Chatron
Thursday 30 April
10am & 2pm | Performance Hall
Collaborative Piano: Susan Manoff
Wednesday 29 April ^
2pm | Britten Theatre
VOCAL: NICKY SPENCE
RCM International Visiting Artist Nicky Spence’s exceptional skills have earned him accolades such as BBC Music Magazine’s Personality of the Year 2022, an OBE in 2023 and the RPS Singer Award in 2024. Nicky has secured major operatic roles, and is an Aldeburgh Festival Artist in Residence this summer. His concert work includes engagements with Bayerischen Rundfunk under Sir Simon Rattle and appearances at the BBC Proms. With his wealth of experience, the College is privileged to welcome Nicky to train and inspire emerging vocal and opera musicians at the RCM.
£6.50
Nicky Spence © Ki Price
MAY
Friday 1 May
10am | The Carne Room
Collaborative Piano: Susan Manoff
Tuesday 5 May + 6pm | Performance Hall
VIOLIN: TASMIN LITTLE
Tasmin Little is one of the UK’s most renowned classical musicians, with a long-standing and distinguished career. She returns to the College to offer her expertise and vast experience on the concert stage in a fascinating violin masterclass. With numerous appearances at the BBC Proms, including the Last Night to 100 million viewers, Tasmin has made extensive television and radio appearances. She has performed with major national and international orchestras and has released over 20 albums. She is a Classical Brit Award winner, was named BBC Music Magazine Personality of the Year 2019, and was conferred a CBE in 2023.
£6.50
Friday 1 May
2pm | Recital Hall
Cello: Zlatomir Fung
Friday 1 May +
2pm | Performance Hall
Woodwind: Alinde Quintet
Tuesday 5 May
10am | Performance Hall
Piano: James Giles
Friday 8 May
2pm | Performance Hall
Cello: Torleif Thedéen
Key for masterclass supporters
+ Belle Shenkman International Masterclass
^ Supported by the Rolando Fund for Visiting Professors at the RCM
Δ Supported by Selmer and D’Addario
Tasmin Little © Benjamin Ealovega
Alinde Quintet © Andrej Grilc
TALKS AND SEMINARS
Whatever your musical interests, we invite you to further your knowledge in a stimulating range of talks and presentations given by specialists from across the music profession.
www.rcm.ac.uk/talks Pay What You Can
Wednesday 22 April
Music & Ideas
THE MUSIC WE HAVEN’T HEARD YET
5.15pm | Performance Hall
In his inaugural professorial lecture, former RCM Head of Composition William Mival talks about composing today, looks forward to the future and introduces his new Signum recording from the Philharmonia and conductor Martyn Brabbins, released on 24 April 2026.
Wednesday 6 May
Music & Ideas
JOSEPH HOROVITZ CENTENARY
5.15pm | The Carne Room
Join us for this event in honour of Joseph Horovitz’s centenary year as the RCM Library launches a new website celebrating his rich musical life. Born in Vienna in 1926, Joseph emigrated with his family to the UK in 1938. Through his activities in composition, conducting and teaching, Joseph greatly enriched the lives of many and significantly enhanced the cultural life of the RCM and the UK. The celebration also includes selections of his chamber music, performed by members of the RCM community.
Wednesday 1 July
PERFORMANCE SCIENCE 25
5.15pm | Performance Hall
Celebrate 25 years of pioneering Performance Science research at the Royal College of Music.
The event will feature a roundtable discussion on Music in Health and Care, exploring music as a tool in supporting healthcare and community engagement.
Joseph Horovitz
OUT AND ABOUT
In addition to concerts at the Royal College of Music in South Kensington, RCM performers regularly appear at a number of venues across London and beyond.
Royal Albert Hall
11am | Elgar Room, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP
Classical Coffee Concerts
26 April (10am)
24 and 31 May (RCMJD)
14 June
11 July (10am)
£14 (including a hot drink and a pastry)
Late Night Jazz
9.30pm | Elgar Room, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP
2 July
Mornington Lockett director RCMJD Jazz Ensemble
The RCMJD Jazz Ensemble makes its eighth appearance in the RAH Late Night Jazz series, performing music from the swing era of the 1930s right up to the present day.
Supported by
The Victor Ford Swale Jazz Fund
£15 www.royalalberthall.com
Aylesbury Lunchtime Music
12.45pm | St Mary The Virgin, Aylesbury HP20 2JJ
23 April
18 June
£7 adults on the door (Under 18s & carers free)
www.aylesburylunchtimemusic.co.uk
Banstead Arts Festival
1pm | All Saints’ Parish Church, SM7 2NN
5 May
www.bansteadarts.org.uk
St Margaret’s Church, Westminster
St Margaret St, SW1P 3JX
20 May
£10
www.westminster-abbey.org/events
St Pancras Church
1.10pm | Euston Road, NW1 2BA
28 and 30 April
14 and 19 May
2 and 11 June
Austrian Cultural Forum
1.05pm | 28 Rutland Gate, SW7 1PQ
6 July
www.acflondon.org
St Mary Abbots Church
1.05pm | Kensington High Street, W8 4LA
1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 May
5, 12, 19 & 26 June
3 July
St James’s Piccadilly
1.10pm | 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL
17 and 22 April
8 and 20 May
3, 12 and 24 June
1 and 8 July
Jazz Café Posk
8.30pm | 238–246 King St, W6 0RF
8 May
RCM Jazz Orchestra
Supported by The Victor Ford Swale Jazz Fund
£15 on the door and Eventbrite www.jazzcafeposk.org
Great Exhibition Road Festival
12pm | South Kensington
6 & 7 June
greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk
BOOKING INFORMATION
HOW TO BOOK
BY PHONE Telephone 020 7591 4314, open weekdays 1–4pm
ONLINE Visit www.rcm.ac.uk/events to book and for the most up-to-date information
For the best online experience, we recommend using browsers such as Chrome or Firefox. Unfortunately, Safari is not optimised for use with our booking system.
A ticket fee of £1.50 is included in the price of all paid tickets. This change came into effect from December 2025 to comply with guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority. No other charges are added at the point of sale. This fee helps to cover administration and handling costs, allowing ticket income to support training and performance opportunities for our students. Thank you for your support.
Events starting at 6pm last approximately one hour (no interval). Events starting at 7.30pm last approximately two hours (including an interval). Masterclasses usually last approximately three hours. For more information on booking tickets, terms and conditions please visit www.rcm.ac.uk/ticketing
BOOKING OPENS FOR ALL EVENTS IN THE SUMMER SEASON on WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL
RCM Friends and supporters at Core Contributor level and above have priority booking from WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL
GROUP BOOKINGS of ten or more receive a 10% discount where applicable. Maximum group booking size is 33. School parties must be chaperoned at all times by school staff.
REFUNDS When an event is sold out, ticket returns may be possible at the discretion of Box Office staff. Tickets cannot otherwise be exchanged or refunded, unless a performance is cancelled.
TICKETS ON THE DOOR Tickets are available on the door for many RCM events. However, we recommend that tickets are purchased well in advance and cannot guarantee availability on the day.
LATE ARRIVALS To ensure that other audience members are not disturbed, latecomers’ admission cannot be guaranteed.
SECURITY Please note that all visitors to the RCM may be required to sign in on entry and bag searches may also be in operation.
LIVE STREAMS For further information and links to watch live-streamed events, please visit www.rcm.ac.uk/live
KEEP IN TOUCH
To stay up to date with events at the Royal College of Music you can register online to receive news and updates about our events, exhibitions, products and activities by email at www.rcm.ac.uk/subscribe
To receive event information by post, call the RCM Box Office on 020 7591 4314 or email your contact details to boxoffice@rcm.ac.uk
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FEEDBACK
We welcome comments and suggestions on information that can be found in this guide, online or following your visit to the RCM. Please email comments@rcm.ac.uk, or write to:
RCM Box Office
Royal College of Music Prince Consort Road London SW7 2BS
VISIT US
TRANSPORT
BY TUBE The nearest underground station is South Kensington, which is about ten minutes’ walk from the RCM. South Kensington is on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington stations are both approximately 15 minutes’ walk from the RCM.
BY RAIL The nearest mainline railway stations are Paddington and Victoria.
BY BUS Buses 9, 52 and 452 pass the Royal Albert Hall, whilst 70 runs along Queen’s Gate. The number 360 stops very close to the RCM on Prince Consort Road. Many other services run to South Kensington, Kensington High Street or Knightsbridge from surrounding areas.
BY ROAD There is metered parking on Prince Consort Road and the surrounding area. The College is in Zone A4 and parking is free after 6.30pm and on Sundays. There are a limited number of disabled parking spaces and designated motorbike bays in the surrounding area.
FOOD AND DRINK
Our café, The Carolean, serves barista-style coffees, sandwiches, snacks and hot food in the spectacular surroundings of the 1851 Courtyard and Cotes-Burgan Atrium, Monday to Friday 8.30am–4.30pm and Saturdays 8.30am–4.30pm (term time only). The Carolean also serves a range of wine and bottled beverages from 5pm for most mid-week concerts in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Britten Theatre and Performance Hall.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDINGS
Filming, recording and commercial photography are not permitted during concerts and events without prior written permission. Photographs may be taken during applause following a performance unless otherwise notified. Many events at the RCM are filmed and recorded. By attending a performance, you consent to any photography, filming or sound recording which may include you as a member of the audience. For further details, please see our Public Recording Policy at www.rcm.ac.uk/recordingpolicy
ACCESS
The Royal College of Music has easy access to most areas and is fully accessible via lifts and ramps. There are spaces for wheelchair users and seats for their companions in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Performance Hall and Britten Theatre. Please contact the Box Office in advance for bookings and directions. Guide and companion dogs may be taken anywhere on site.
MAIN ENTRANCE There are eight steps up from the pavement and two inside the main doors. A lift is available for wheelchair and disabled access assisted by RCM staff.
AMARYLLIS FLEMING CONCERT HALL There are ten steps down to the main seating area. A lift is available for wheelchair and disabled access assisted by RCM staff. The Balcony is accessible via 18 steps only. There is no induction loop installed.
BRITTEN THEATRE Access to the Britten Theatre is through the Main Entrance. A lift is available for wheelchair and disabled access assisted by RCM staff. The Dress Circle (auditorium left) is accessible to wheelchair users. There is currently no induction loop in the theatre.
PERFORMANCE HALL & PERFORMANCE STUDIO Situated in the sub-basement and basement accessible via atrium stairs and lift. Assisted listening facility is available on request.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC MUSEUM Situated in the basement and accessible via atrium stairs and lift. Please note that assistance is provided for lift access between basement and lower ground floors of the Museum gallery.
Please contact the Box Office in advance if you require step-free access or assistance to access a venue for public performance.
For more information or to request an alternative format of publicity or programmes, please contact the RCM Box Office on 020 7591 4314.
Cover photograph by Benjamin Ealovega. RCM photography by Chris Christodoulou (pages 7, 10, 12, 14, 18, 22, 24, 26), Phil Rowley (pages 2, 4, 14, 20, 21), Lee Thomas (page 5) and John Mitchell (page 15).
Designed by www.splashofpaint.com
All information was correct at the time of going to print.