Collection of Historic Musical Instruments

The collection now comprises in excess of 300 instruments: European wind, strings and keyboard; Non-European wind, strings and percussion. It includes a number of keyboards by Broadwood; viols by Barak Norman and Collingwood; violins by Stradivarius and Guarnerius together with some wind instruments from the 18th and early 19th centuries. The items of non-European ethnic origin are also of interest.

May 2010. As part of the RNCM Keyboard weekend, the Chopin death mask and hand cast was display in the College foyer. 

14 March 2010. The Catalogue of the Collection, compiled by William Waterhouse, is now available in print. For details of how to purchase a copy, click here.

Visit the RNCM Collection of Historic Musical Instruments

The Collection is open to visitors prior to some concerts and during special events such as festivals  - for details of these general dates see below. It is also open at other times by appointment; specialist researchers and group visits can be accommodated with notice and by appointment – please contact Anna Wright, Librarian, on T 0161 907 5241 or E This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

When you can visit the Collection

New for Autumn term 2010: opening 12 noon - 1pm before Monday lunchtime concerts

SEPTEMBER
Monday 27  6pm – 7.15pm

OCTOBER
Monday 4      12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 7    12 noon - 1pm
Monday 11    12 noon - 1pm 
Thursday 14  12 noon - 1pm
Monday 18    12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 21  12 noon - 1pm 
Monday 25    12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 28  12 noon - 1pm

Wind and Brass Weekend
Saturday 30 1pm – 2pm
Sunday 31 12.30 – 1.30pm; 3pm – 4pm

NOVEMBER
Monday 1     12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 4   12 noon - 1pm
Monday 8     12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 11 12 noon - 1pm
Monday 15   12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 18 12 noon - 1pm
Monday 22   12 noon - 1pm
Wednesday 24  6pm – 7.15pm
Thursday 25 12 noon - 1pm

DECEMBER
Thursday  2  12 noon - 1pm
Friday 3       12 noon - 1pm
Monday 6     12 noon - 1pm
Thursday 9   12 noon - 1pm
Monday 13   12 noon - 1pm
Tuesday 14    6pm – 7.15pm
Thursday 15  12 noon - 1pm

Location of the Collection

The Collection is located in the basement of the Library part of the College building (to the left of the main entrance on Booth Street West). It can be accessed using the staircase behind the Box Office or by the lift situated opposite the Library door. Please note that outside advertised opening hours access is restricted. For information on the location of the College see the Find Us page