Elsie April (1884-1950) 10 September 2020 Musical theatre historian Sarah Whitfield investigates the life of Elsie April, a Royal Manchester College of Music pianist and long-time collaborator with Noël Coward. Women’s roles in professional music making… Read more
River of Work 22 March 2016 Have you ever wondered how to be successful? Walter Carroll mapped out sources of inspiration you must nurture in his River of Work. Walter Carroll (1869-1955), was a champion of… Read more
Snow wonder they’re shocked… 9 December 2013 Very little is known about these two ladies and why they find themselves tucked into some draft pages of ‘The Pageant’ magazine within the RNCM Archives collections (ref Man-Mus/32). Are… Read more
Christmas is coming… 5 December 2013 Over the next few weeks, I will post images with a Christmas or winter theme from the RNCM Archives, to help get us all in the mood for the upcoming… Read more
The Gaskell family and the Royal Manchester College of Music 14 December 2012 On 15 December, as part of its RNCM in the City series, the College is putting on a concert at the Gaskells’ house, 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester. Interestingly, the College… Read more
Sir Harrison Birtwistle: where it all began 4 December 2012 Congratulations to Sir Harrison Birtwistle, who has collected his fourth British Composer Award (here). Birtwistle began his studies at the Northern School of Music (NSM) in 1949, before continuing his… Read more
Musicians and ambassadors 22 November 2012 Seventy years ago today, on the 22 November 1932, Hilda Collens, founder and Principal of the Northern School of Music (then the Matthay School of Music), delivered a speech to… Read more
Violist from 1972 recalls the RNCM’s first concert, 40 years on 21 November 2012 Following on from last Thursday’s 40th anniversary concert, Clare Scott, Manager of the Principal’s Executive Office here at the RNCM, recalls performing in the RNCM’s inaugural concert on 7 November… Read more
Spot the difference 19 November 2012 Thursday 15 November’s fabulous 40th anniversary opening concert at the RNCM marked the beginning of the College’s birthday celebrations by reproducing the programme from the College’s opening concert, 40 years… Read more
A concert with a difference… 15 November 2012 Tonight the RNCM will host a very special event, recreating the programme from the first ever concert given by the College 40 years ago (7 November 1972). However, the key… Read more