A student view of life at RNCM

The atmosphere at the RNCM is like no other conservatoire in the UK. The location of the refectory just inside the main entrance makes for a warm friendly welcome, as it is often busy with people breaking from rehearsals, checking their emails on the free Wi-Fi and more commonly students just having a chit chat with a cup of tea!

In terms of College orchestras and operas, I have been involved playing in Offenbach’s La Belle Helene as well as recently performing the second suite from Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe.

Masterclasses are open to all even if it’s not for your principal study instrument. Most recently I attended a conducting masterclass with Sir Mark Elder, but have also taken part in masterclasses with international soloists including Michael Collins and Tony Pay. Chamber music is a key way of developing your learning, and emphasis is put on this at the RNCM. Creating your own chamber ensembles and entering competitions is encouraged at Solo and Chamber levels and I have found the experience invaluable.

One of the other great things about the RNCM is that there are so many different projects going on at any given time. Outreach and community projects, which include amongst many things, taking music into local schools as well as showing off our talents on a larger scale within the city. Most recently the College put on a performance at Manchester Piccadilly railway station.

With the RNCM being a friendly place there is a great bond between international students and UK based students, recently I have created an ensemble consisting of Clarinet (myself), Flute (an Australian MMus student), Piano (a Belgium MMus student) and a Soprano (a South African MMus student).

With such a variety of musical endeavours available, you will no doubt find yourself, either by obligation or desire, in college every day. But whether you have a full day of rehearsals for wind orchestra or opera, lectures or the odd hour or two of personal practice there is always a place to find time to yourself, be that in the Refectory or the Students’ Union’s JCR. The refectory is a great place just to come and sit back and have a catch up with your mates, oh an did I mention that the bar is open on a daily basis from 6pm and is located in the refectory also!

Oli Barnes, VP Students’ Union, 4th year Clarinet.