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 | £68.5 million (2024) |
| Budget | £37.5 million (2023/24) |
| President | The Duchess of Gloucester |
| Principal | Jonathan Freeman-Attwood |
| Students | (2015/16) |
| Undergraduates | (2015/16) |
| Postgraduates | (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, started in 1822. John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa founded it.
In 1830, King George IV gave the academy a special document called a royal charter. This made it officially recognized by the King. The first Duke of Wellington also supported it.
The academy teaches music students from all over the world. They learn about playing instruments, writing music, jazz, musical theatre, and opera. Students come from more than 50 different countries. The school also helps people of all ages learn music. This includes young musicians up to 18 and community projects for everyone.
The academy has a museum with amazing musical instruments and old items. You can see instruments made by famous makers like Stradivari. There are also old music papers from composers like Purcell and Handel. The Royal Academy of Music is part of the University of London. It is also a charity, which means it helps people and does not make a profit.
Many famous musicians have 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. John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland started it with ideas from French musician Nicolas Bochsa. In 1830, King George IV gave the academy its royal charter. This made it an official and important institution.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington strongly supported the academy. He loved playing the violin himself. He worked hard to make sure the school would be a success.
Changes and Growth of the Academy
In 1866, the academy almost closed down. This led to the creation of the Royal College of Music nearby. Luckily, a former student named William Sterndale Bennett became the Principal. He helped fix the academy's money problems and improved its reputation.
The academy's first building was on Tenterden Street. It was a bit like a maze inside! In 1911, the school moved to its current location. This new building was designed by Sir Ernest George. It cost a lot of money to build.
Later, in 1976, the academy added more buildings. They built a new opera theatre, recording studios, and practice rooms. These new spaces helped students learn and perform even better.
In the late 1990s, the academy grew again. They added a building designed by John Nash for their new museum. They also built an underground passage and a new concert hall. This connected the main building to the museum.
Campus and Location
The Royal Academy of Music is located in central London. It is on Marylebone Road, right next to Regent's Park. This is a beautiful and easy-to-reach spot in the city.
What Students Learn at the Academy
The Royal Academy of Music offers many different music programs. They have classes for young children in the Junior Academy. Older students can earn music degrees like the Bachelor of Music (BMus) and even higher degrees. All undergraduate students now earn their degrees through the University of London.
Music Studies and Performance
Most students at the academy study classical music. They learn to play instruments like strings, piano, brass, and woodwind. They also study singing, including opera, and how to conduct music. There are also departments for older music styles, musical theatre, and jazz.
The academy works with other music schools around the world. They have exchange programs where students can study in different countries. In 1999, the academy became a full part of the University of London. This was the first time a UK music school did this.
Students come from over 50 countries to study here. They learn about playing instruments, conducting, writing music, and more. The academy also works closely with King's College London. Music students from King's College can take instrument lessons at the academy.
The Junior Academy is for students under 18. They meet every Saturday to learn and play music.
Library and Archives
The academy's library has over 160,000 items. This includes many old printed music and handwritten notes. It also has audio recordings. The library keeps special collections about famous musicians like Sir Arthur Sullivan and Sir Henry Wood.
Treasures in the Collection
Some of the most valuable items are original music papers. These include pieces by Purcell, Sullivan, and Vaughan Williams. They even have a newly found piece by Handel called Gloria. The library also has a great collection of old English songs and instruments like lutes and guitars.
After the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin passed away, the academy got his personal collection. This includes his sheet music, letters, photos, and even some of his own music notes.
Harriet Cohen, a famous pianist, gave many paintings and photos to the academy. She asked for a room to be named the "Arnold Bax Room" after her friend. She was known for playing Bach and modern English music.
In 1886, Franz Liszt performed at the academy. This was to celebrate a new scholarship named after him. In 1843, Mendelssohn became an honorary member of the academy.
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 played together. They performed at the Proms in London and in New York. Other famous conductors like Daniel Barenboim and Christian Thielemann have also led the academy's orchestras. Even Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Strauss conducted here long ago.
Composer Festivals
For many years, the academy has celebrated the work of living composers. They hold special festivals where the composer is present. These festivals have honored composers like Witold Lutosławski, Michael Tippett, and Olivier Messiaen.
In 2006, the academy held a festival for the violin genius Niccolò Paganini. He first visited London 175 years earlier. A professor named Maxim Vengerov performed on Paganini's favorite violin. Academy students have also performed with famous alumnus Sir Elton John.
Students from the Royal Academy of Music also perform in other London venues. These include Kings Place and the South Bank Centre.
Museum and Collections
The academy has a public museum in the York Gate building. This building is connected to the main academy building. The museum shows off the academy's amazing collections.
Highlights of the Museum
The museum has a large collection of stringed instruments. These were made in Italy between 1650 and 1740. It also has old English pianos from the 1790s to 1850s. You can see original music papers by Purcell, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Vaughan Williams. The museum also displays other musical items and memories.
People at the Royal Academy of Music
Famous Alumni
Many talented people have studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Some of them include:
- John Barbirolli (conductor)
- Jacob Collier (singer, songwriter)
- Evelyn Glennie (percussionist)
- Elton John (singer, songwriter)
- Annie Lennox (singer)
- Simon Rattle (conductor)
- Arthur Sullivan (composer)
- Henry Wood (conductor)
Leaders and Staff
The current leader of the academy is Jonathan Freeman-Attwood. He became the 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.
Prizes and Awards
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 have made important contributions. There are also awards for people who have helped the academy itself.
The academy can also nominate people for an honorary doctorate degree from the University of London.
Special Music Prizes
The Royal Academy of Music also manages the Royal Academy of Music Bach Prize. This award is for musicians or scholars who have made a big impact on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. It is sponsored by the Kohn Foundation.
The Gilbert Betjemann Prize is a gold medal. It is given by the Royal Academy of Music for excellent opera singing.
See also
In Spanish: Royal Academy of Music para niños
