Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music has seen two of its projects shortlisted for prestigious Times Higher Education Awards: After the Silence: Music in the Shadow of War for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts, and the Children’s Opera Into the Labyrinth for Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year.

The shortlisting comes off the back of excellent results for the RNCM in the National Student Survey and the Research Excellence Framcework, which rated the institution as the UK’s top independent music college of overall student satisfaction and the UK’s leading music college for research.

After the Silence: Music in the Shadow of War was the hugely successful three-day event run in collaboration with the Imperial War Museum North, commemorating the centenary of the First World War.  It was an event which was 85 works performed, including 25 world premieres as 300 students transformed the museum in to a living installation.

Artistic Director of the Royal Northern College of Music, Dr Michelle Castelletti, commented ‘After the Silence was a great example of the exciting and innovative work the RNCM produces. In complete contrast to a traditional concert experience, we worked with the Libeskind architectural statement to create a curated soundscape that allowed people to make their own path through an ever-changing musical art gallery. I am thrilled for everyone involved that this specific event has been recognised by the Times Higher Education Awards.’

RNCM production Into the Labyrinth has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Award for Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year

RNCM production Into the Labyrinth has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Award for Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year

The shortlisting in the category Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year came for the Children’s Opera Into the Labyrinth, which saw RNCM students, a professional composer and designer work alongside pupils from Manchester primary schools to create and perform a new opera.  The news clearly delighted Dr Castelletti who added ‘To also be shortlisted in this category is very exciting news, and a wonderful acknowledgement of the work the RNCM does in the community each year. The Children’s Opera Project has been part of our annual Artistic Programme, and a key element of our Engagement work, since 2009. It enables us to reach a diverse range of children who may not otherwise have access to live music, building on the positive impact of music on self-confidence, social development and the health and wellbeing of our local communities.’

The winners will be announced on Thursday 26 November 2015 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.


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