Royal College of Music

Kensington and Chelsea

  • Location: City

About us

The RCM is one of the world’s great conservatoires,  bringing together gifted, elite musicians from all over the world to develop their international careers as performers, conductors and composers. Our professors are musicians with worldwide reputations and extensive professional portfolios of inspirational work.

Established in 1883, our iconic building is located in beautiful South Kensington. Advanced facilties and technologies include a new Digital Innovation Lab, numerous practice and performance spaces.

Alumni include composers such as Holst, Vaughan Williams, Turnage and Britten; conductors such as Leopold Stokowski, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Roger Norrington; singers include Dame Joan Sutherland, Sir Thomas Allen and Alfie Boe, instrumentalists like Sir James Galway, Gervase de Peyer, and Natalie Clein.

A truly international College, RCM students study at undergraduate, masters or doctoral level. You will join a vibrant community of collaborative, artistically progressive musicians.

Music means everything

Expresses how the RCM places performance opportunities at the heart of everything they do. Every student receives intensive, individual tuition alongside faculty classes and creative sessions with collaborating faculties to encourage and prepare every student to embrace the incredible experience of live performance. The video captures this exciting journey from start to finish.

What makes us different

The Royal College of Music (RCM) is ranked Global No. 1 for Music and Performing Arts in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024/2023/2022). 

The RCM fuses heritage with innovation, nurturing exceptional musical talent for over 140 years. Performance is at the heart of the student experience with over 500 performance opportunities taking place every year including masterclasses led by extraordinary visiting artists such as Lang Lang and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, solo and chamber recitals, large orchestral concerts and fully staged operas. Student-led in-demand groups include five orchestras, two jazz bands and an International Opera School.

The RCM focuses on giving every student individual and intensive one-to-one sessions, its leadership in extraordinary and innovative research, amazing library resources and unique on-site museum have all contributed towards amazing achievement that over 95% of our graduates take up careers in music or continue to progress in their studies.

 

In my time at the RCM, I've experienced the happiest moments in my musical journey...propelling me further on my path, giving me confidence to face any challenges.

Siping Guo
Master of Performance student

Course locations

Main Site

Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BS