Royal Academy of Music facts for kids
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1822 |
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Parent institution
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University of London |
| Affiliation | |
| Endowment | £58.3 million (2023) |
| Budget | £32.5 million (2022/23) |
| President | The Duchess of Gloucester |
| Principal | Jonathan Freeman-Attwood |
| Students | 760 (2015/16) |
| Undergraduates | 400 (2015/16) |
| Postgraduates | 420 (2015/16) |
| Location |
Marylebone Road, London, England
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The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) is a famous music school in London, England. It is one of the oldest music schools in the UK. It was started in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa.
In 1830, King George IV gave it a special royal approval. This was with help from the first Duke of Wellington.
The Academy teaches music to students of all ages. They learn about playing instruments, writing music, jazz, musical theatre, and opera. Students come from over 50 countries around the world.
The school has a museum with many old musical instruments. It also has original music papers from famous composers like Purcell and Handel. The Royal Academy of Music is part of the University of London.
Many famous musicians studied here. Some well-known alumni include Henry Wood, Simon Rattle, Elton John, and Annie Lennox.
Contents
History of the Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music began in 1822. It was founded by John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland. He had help from a French musician named Nicolas Bochsa.
King George IV officially approved the Academy in 1830. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, a keen violinist, strongly supported its creation. He wanted the school to be a big success.
In 1866, the Academy almost closed down. This led to the creation of the Royal College of Music nearby. But then, a former student named William Sterndale Bennett became the Principal. He helped fix the Academy's money problems and improve its reputation.
The first building was on Tenterden Street. It was a confusing place with many tunnels and passages. In 1911, the Academy moved to its current location. This new building was designed by Sir Ernest George. It cost £51,000 to build.
In 1976, the Academy added more buildings. They built a new opera theatre, recital rooms, and a recording studio. These additions were funded by Sir Jack Lyons.
The Academy expanded again in the late 1990s. They added a building designed by John Nash. This new space holds the museum and a musical theatre studio. An underground passage and a recital hall were also built to connect the buildings.
Location and Campus
The Royal Academy of Music is located on Marylebone Road. This is in central London, right next to Regent's Park.
Learning at the Academy
The Royal Academy of Music offers music training for all ages. The Junior Academy teaches young musicians up to 18 years old. The main Academy offers degrees like the Bachelor of Music (BMus) and higher degrees.
Most students at the Academy are classical musicians. They study instruments like strings, piano, brass, and woodwind. They also learn about singing, conducting, and writing music. There are also departments for jazz and musical theatre.
The Academy works with other music schools around the world. It was the first UK music school to offer a fully approved degree in performance. In 1999, it became a full part of the University of London.
Students come from over 50 different countries. They study many different music programs. The Academy also works closely with King's College London. Music students from King's College can take instrumental lessons at the Academy.
Library and Archives
The Academy's library has over 160,000 items. This includes old printed music, handwritten music, and audio recordings. The library also keeps special collections about Sir Arthur Sullivan and Sir Henry Wood.
Some of the most valuable items are original music papers. These include Purcell's The Fairy-Queen and Sullivan's The Mikado. There are also works by Vaughan Williams and a recently found piece by Handel.
The library also has the Robert Spencer Collection. This includes old English songs and lute music. It also has a great collection of lutes and guitars. The Academy's museum shows many of these items.
After the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin passed away, the Academy received his personal collection. This includes his marked sheet music, letters, and photos. It also has original music papers and portraits of Paganini.
Harriet Cohen, a famous pianist, left many paintings and photos to the Academy. She asked for the room with the paintings to be named the "Arnold Bax Room." She was a friend of Arnold Bax and performed music by Vaughan Williams.
Famous composers like Franz Liszt and Felix Mendelssohn also had connections to the Academy. Liszt performed there in 1886. Mendelssohn became an honorary member in 1843.
Student Performances and Festivals
Students at the Academy perform often. They play in the Academy's own concert halls. They also perform in other places in London and around the world. Famous conductors like Sir Colin Davis and Sir Simon Rattle have worked with them.
In 2012, students from the Academy and New York's Juilliard School performed together. They played at The Proms in London and Lincoln Center in New York. Other famous conductors have also led the Academy's orchestras. These include Carl Maria Von Weber in 1826 and Richard Strauss in 1926.
For many years, the Academy has held festivals for living composers. These festivals celebrate the work of important composers. The composers often attend the festivals themselves.
In 2006, the Academy held a festival for the violin player Niccolò Paganini. A professor named Maxim Vengerov played Paganini's favorite violin. Academy students have also performed with alumnus Sir Elton John.
Students and groups from the Academy perform in many London venues. These include Kings Place and the South Bank Centre.
Museum and Collections
The Academy's public museum is in the York Gate building. This building is connected to the main Academy building. The museum shows off the Academy's collections.
It has a large collection of stringed instruments. These include violins made in Cremona between 1650 and 1740. There are also old English pianos from 1790 to 1850. The museum also displays original music papers by Purcell, Mendelssohn, and Vaughan Williams.
People at the Academy
Famous Alumni
Many talented people have studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Some of them include John Barbirolli, Jacob Collier, Evelyn Glennie, Katherine Jenkins, Elton John, and Annie Lennox. Other famous alumni are Simon Rattle, Arthur Sullivan, Maxim Vengerov, and Henry Wood.
Leaders and Staff
The current head of the Academy is Jonathan Freeman-Attwood. He became Principal in 2008. The Patron of the Academy was Queen Elizabeth II. The current president is the Duchess of Gloucester. Diana, Princess of Wales, was also president from 1985 to 1997.
Awards and Honors
The Royal Academy of Music gives out special awards each year. These awards honor people who have done great things in music. Some awards are for former students who are very successful. Others are for musicians who are not alumni but are very important.
The Academy also gives awards to people who have helped the institution. The highest honor is the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music (Hon FRAM). The Academy can also nominate people for an honorary doctorate from the University of London.
The Royal Academy of Music also manages the Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize. This award honors musicians or scholars who have made a big impact on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Gilbert Betjemann Prize is a gold medal given for opera singing.
See also
In Spanish: Royal Academy of Music para niños
