RNCM Endangered Instruments Appeal

Safeguarding instruments in critical decline

Some instruments are at risk of disappearing forever, as fewer children and young people are able to study them. Without intervention, the music we all know and love will sound very different.

Our public campaign kickstarted the conversation around this crisis and has raised £40,000 so far. We will continue to keep this campaign open and want to encourage philanthropic support to ensure the issue remains one of our strategic priorities over at least the next decade as part of our annual fundraising target.

Endanged instruments: bassoon, viola, tuba, double bass, French horn, oboe, bass trombone.

Thanks to our wonderful community of supporters, we are proud to have raised £40,000 during the winter of 23/24 to help ensure that talented young musicians continue to play these at-risk instruments.

Donations will help us to deliver a range of targeted initiatives to support young musicians in playing the viola, double bass, oboe, bassoon, French horn, bass trombone and tuba at all levels, ensuring a steady and continued pipeline of talent from the point of first access right through to conservatoire study and beyond.

Funds raised will support under-18s to overcome barriers to studying endangered instruments through RNCM Engage, provide tailored financial support to ensure students can continue their studies (including entrance scholarships starting from September 2024), and allow us to continue to offer world-class tuition and training from some of the world’s very best musicians.

Maintaining a balanced musical ecology is fundamental for our students’ training, for the survival of orchestras and ensembles, and in ensuring the music we all know and love can continue to be performed, listened to and enjoyed.

We are still accepting donations to support this vital initiative, so please do consider a donation today and help us support the next generation of endangered instrumentalists.

Donate Now

Hear our students explaining why they love playing their endangered instruments:

You can also donate over the phone by calling 0161 907 5480. For larger donations, or if you are having any trouble with the online donation form, please do give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

If you would prefer to make a donation by cheque, please make it payable to ‘RNCM’ and send to the following address:

FAO Development
Royal Northern College of Music
124 Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9RD

Thank you.