Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music will celebrate its 50th birth with four events across the summer.
The RNCM will bring together the past, present and future of the conservatoire through musical performances by RNCM alumni, current students and staff.
The RNCM formally opened for the first time on 28 June 1973, formed by a merger of the Royal Manchester College of Music (founded by Sir Charles Halle) and the Northern School of Music. Construction of the RNCM’s home on Oxford Road began in 1969.
The summer performances are the finale to a gala year at the RNCM:
22 June – RNCM’s 50th Birthday Celebration – a three-part event featuring a performance by the RNCM String Orchestra and RNCM Chamber Choir; the RNCM Symphony Orchestra accompanied by special guest alumni including conductor Alpesh Chauhan and soprano Soraya Mafi as well as pianist Alexandra Dariescu; and the RNCM Session Orchestra performing a 1973 playlist.
28 June – vocal and opera students join The Orchestra of Opera North for a spectacular Opera Gala. Conducted by alumnus Garry Walker, the evening also sees the return of several vocal alumni including Carolina Krogius, Soraya Mafi, Linda Richardson, Kathleen Wilkinson, Andrew Greenan, Philip Smith, Christopher Turner, Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Roland Wood. Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg are amongst the favourite operatic highlights to be shared.
RNCM Orchestra – image courtesy Robin Clewley
29 June – RNCM Wind Orchestra with Mikhail Nemtsov (cello) paying tribute to the legacy created by Tim Reynish MBE a pioneering figure in wind ensembles and in the development of the RNCM Wind Orchestra
8 July – in collaboration with Manchester International Festival 2023 the RNCM Festival Orchestra supports composer Anna Meredith in a performance of her Mercury Prize shortlisted album FIBS conducted by Robert Ames at Manchester’s Depot Mayfield.
