Meet our professional partners

Orchestral Partners
The RNCM’s relationship with Manchester Camerata is unique in the UK, as it involves the residency of a professional orchestra within a conservatoire environment. This relationship offers students the chance to experience at first hand the workings of a high profile chamber orchestra, and to make important contacts with players and the staff who support them. Camerata’s vibrant outreach programme provides important opportunities for students to work in the community, whilst the presence on site of a fully-functioning management and administrative team offers work placements in support roles.

In addition to the residency of Manchester Camerata, the College has established strong links with prestigious larger-scale symphony orchestras based in the North West region, namely the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. These relationships provide invaluable work experience for students through the College’s Professional Experience Schemes, and add enormous value to the student experience. Many students who are successful in securing a placement opportunity through audition go on to forge successful orchestral careers.  In addition to orchestral placements, partners provide high quality opportunities for outreach training as well as work placements in support roles. In the case of the Hallé, the College has developed a unique course enabling a small number of UK string graduates to pursue their orchestral ambition through a collaborative continuing professional development Diploma in String Leadership.

As well as placements with regional orchestras, the RNCM has a residency arrangement with Black Dyke Band, offering placement opportunities to accomplished students with one of the world’s leading brass bands. 

Education Partners
The College values highly its close relationship with ABRSM, one of the most prestigious international music examination bodies.  Through collaboration with ABRSM, RNCM students have the opportunity to study concurrently for the LRSM and FRSM Diplomas whilst undertaking their degrees. Keyboard students also have the possibility of preparing and submitting for the CTABRSM (Certificate of Teaching) course in their fourth year of undergraduate studies.  These internationally-recognised qualifications play an important part in expanding and enhancing student CVs, further enhancing their future employability.

The College’s partnership with Artis, a dynamic training organisation developing much sought after artist-practitioners to work with primary school children, reflects its commitment to preparing students for a wide range of education settings.  Artis practitioners are trained to work across the performing arts (music, dance, drama, circus, story-telling and puppetry), and RNCM students have opportunities to become involved in an intensive training process, many gaining employment with Artis as a result.  Artis has developed in association with the RNCM a new PGDiploma in Performing Arts Leadership, which enables practitioners to gain a recognised qualification for their work.

Access to Music (part of Armstrong Learning) provides training for musicians who wish to work in the commercial world. An innovative Foundation Degree in Popular Music Practice, developed and delivered in partnership with the RNCM, is the first course of its kind to deliver conservatoire-style training to aspiring session musicians. The focus on business skills and entrepreneurship that underpins this programme provides opportunities for sharing of good practice across the RNCM, thus enhancing the employability of all students.

In addition to vibrant partnerships with a wide range of organisations working in music and health environments, the RNCM is pleased to provide a North West home for the internationally-renowned music therapy provider Nordoff-Robbins.  Ever closer collaboration with Nordoff-Robbins is presenting exciting new opportunities for the College and its students, especially with regard to masters level provision in music therapy, and research and enterprise.

The national Children’s University (CU) is a UK-wide initiative to provide quality out of school hours learning through its growing number of local CUs. Seven to 14 year olds use their Passport To Learning to gain national certificates and celebrate their achievements. CU learning varies from ‘Bees in Space’ to sports, art and music in places ranging from museums, schools, clubs and universities.

Technology
In order to enhance the opportunities available to its students to record their performance and composition work and gain experience in a professional studio environment, the College has recently established an exciting new partnership with the School of Sound Recording (SSR). SSR is situated only 10 minute walk away from the College and has state-of-the-art recording facilities to which RNCM students have access. Working in a reciprocal arrangement alongside trainee recording engineers and their tutors, RNCM students have the opportunity to learn about the recording process, and to make important contacts for the future. 

In addition to the professional partnerships outlined above, RNCM has established equally significant working relationships with in excess of 30 other music-related organisations from the public and private sectors, all of whom provide innovative placement opportunities for students, and/or contribute to curriculum design and delivery.  It is through such partnership activities that the College can ensure the ongoing currency of its provision, and optimise the potential for its students to secure successful and fulfilling careers in the music industry.

International Partners
The RNCM has vibrant partnerships with a significant number of conservatoires in mainland Europe and internationally, facilitating sharing of best practice, project-based work and staff and student exchanges. A full list of international partners can be found here.