Community Outreach
As a musician, working in the community continues to be an integral part of most careers. In the Outreach Department at the RNCM we explore the possibilities open to musicians in this area of work. From the conventional to the extraordinary, students can be involved from the conception of an idea through to the planning and delivery.
We aim to equip students with the necessary skills to work in the community, be it with an orchestra, opera company or as a freelance musician. Most importantly, we encourage them to make music accessible and relevant to all those they come into contact with.
We believe music is an integral part of the community and we have established strong partnerships with schools, colleges and community groups across the North West. We have a range of projects that take place on an annual basis and we also design bespoke projects for all types of community groups.
The RNCM benefits from a close partnership with Aimhigher Greater Manchester. Aimhigher is a national initiative that seeks to encourage children from families with little or no tradition of higher education to consider applying to university. It aims to maximise their potential through raising attainment and aspirations.
Projects 2009/10
Legacy Groups
In January 2009 we launched our new performance groups funded by Aimhigher Greater Manchester. These groups are open to children aged 13 – 19 year olds who have a passion for performance. Membership is free and all we ask is that you miss no more than two rehearsals per term. Contact Fiona Stuart or Louise Godfrey for more information,T 0161 907 5281 or
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Sound Ideas
Now in it's fifth year, Sound Ideas focuses on composition, presenting it in a variety of ways to enhance Music GCSE. RNCM students work alongside composers Eve Harrison and Matt Sergeant in helping the pupils produce pieces specially written for the student’s instruments. At the end of the project all the pieces are recorded at the RNCM and a selection are performed in a concert at the RNCM in the summer term.
There is also a Song-writing for Bands strand to our Sound Ideas programme through which pop music specialist K Michael works with existing bands in schools on writing their own material and performing it in a gig at a Manchester venue.
Themed Days
We run special themed days throughout the year. In 2009-2010 these are as follows: Jazz Day, Academic Music Day, World Music Day and Urban Day. The aim of these days is to enhance music in secondary school and we also try to relate them to specific performances in the RNCM performance programme.
Primary Project
Autumn 2009 will see our second annual project for primary school children. Four local primary schools will work alongside composer Kate Pearson and a team of RNCM students to produce a mini-opera, this year based on the theme ‘a Greek Odyssey’. All four schools will then join forces with an RNCM orchestra to perform this work to family and friends in the RNCM theatre.
Visit Days
We hold visit days throughout the year to give young people the chance to experience a day in the life of an RNCM student. As well as tips on university learning, financial advice, lunch in the student café and a tour of college and halls or residence there will be chance to focus on something specific, such as performing arts or sound recording. These days aim to give a taste of student life and to equip young people with the skills and confidence to present themselves well at interview.
Summer School
Each summer we run a ‘Summer University’ for Aimhigher Greater Manchester. 26 young people spend four days on a residential course preparing for a concert on the final evening. As well as composing and rehearsing all the music for the performance, they work alongside RNCM professionals on the programming, marketing and staging the concert. The week is lead by a team of RNCM students who not only take care of the daytime workshops but organise evening activities too, from samba nights to curry and laser quest.
For more information please contact Michelle Robinson or Fiona Stuart on T 0161 907 5281 or E This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
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