RNCM announces key autumn appointments in School of Composition

Internationally renowned composers Anna Appleby and Nina Whiteman will join the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) this September as Professors of Composition.

Dr Anna Appleby – an RNCM alum and Associate Artist of the College, who also performs live under the alter-ego Norrisette – has earned a global reputation for her contemporary classical and electronic music. Her work has been commissioned by the likes of BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Klang, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Glyndebourne Youth Opera, and in collaboration with choreographers, new music ensembles, soloists, and choirs. She holds a master’s and PhD in Composition from the RNCM. 

Dr Nina Whiteman is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera and has worked extensively in music education. Her multisensory, multimedia approach – in which she also investigates sonic and visual use of AI – has led her to work with ensembles and festivals in the UK and abroad, including Manchester Camerata, Quatuor Danel, Psappha, Cheltenham Music Festival, World Music Days, and Manchester International Festival. She is also the co-director of, and mezzo-soprano in, contemporary mixed-ensemble Trio Atem.  

The School of Composition has been led by Dr Larry Goves since 2023, following the retirement of Professor Adam Gorb. He is only the third person to hold the post of Head of School since the RNCM launched in 1973 with founding Head Dr Anthony Gilbert in the role.  

Anna and Nina join a growing team of composition tutors at the School from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. In 2024/25, Larry also welcomed multi award-winning composer Tom Coult and Hong Kong-born British polymath Raymond Yiu to the RNCM as Professors in Composition. 

Tom Coult has been Composer-in-Association with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Composer-in-Residence at Aldeburgh Festival, Switzerland’s Musikdorf Ernen Festival, and Oxford Lieder Festival. He has written for BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Arditti Quartet, Britten Sinfonia, Marian Consort, Hermes Experiment, and Dunedin Consort, and his work has been performed by London Philharmonic, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Ernen Festivalorchester, Scottish Ensemble, Ensemble Resonanz, and Trondheim Soloists, as well as premiered at the BBC Proms. 

Raymond Yiu is a composer, jazz pianist, conductor, and writer, and the winner of a BASCA British Composer (now Ivors Classical) Award. He has worked with ensembles and artists including BBC Singers, BBC Philharmonic, Chroma, Concorde Ensemble, Ensemble 10/10, London Sinfonietta, Lontano, London Symphony Orchestra, and Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, and been nominated for multiple Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards. 

Speaking about the appointments, Larry said: ‘Last year we appointed two new members of staff to the School of Composition, and Raymond and Tom have been a resounding success who have made a substantial contribution to the teaching and ethos of the School. We are now enlarging our team with two new appointments with the composers Nina Whiteman and Anna Appleby.  

‘I am delighted to be offering our students the chance to learn from and work with these renowned composers and artists, who will further support the eclecticism and curiosity fundamental to our activity. With interests in all kinds of concert music, experimental composition, experimental pop, musical theatre, and more, these musicians will enhance and expand our core teaching practice. Here at the RNCM, we have a wonderful learning and artistic environment in what is an increasingly plural compositional environment.’

From left to right: Raymond Yiu photo credit Roman Mellah, Tom Coult photo credit Matthew Johnson, Anna Appleby photo credit Mike Plunkett, Nina Whiteman.

10 September 2025