Life at the RNCM & in Manchester
Manchester is without doubt one of the most energetic and cosmopolitan cities in the UK, and has a well-deserved reputation as an educational, media, and cultural capital within Europe.
Manchester’s history is closely linked with music and culture; it is here that Britain’s longest established permanent professional symphony orchestra was formed, and where the country’s first public library was established in 1653. The city enjoys a modern day status as a hotbed for classical and contemporary music.
Manchester’s musical history began in earnest when the Hallé Orchestra was formed. Charles Hallé arrived in Manchester in 1858, and was asked to assemble an orchestra for the Art Treasures of Great Britain exhibition. After the exhibition he decided to keep the musicians together, and so began the Hallé Orchestra.
In 1893 Hallé founded the Royal Manchester College of Music where he was Principal and Professor of Pianoforte. 
During the 1950s the Royal Manchester College of Music became home to Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Alexander Goehr and John Ogdon. They were known as the New Manchester Group; avant-garde musicians, who were to leave their mark on the world of classical music. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Sir Harrison Birtwistle continue to enjoy strong links with the College and regularly visit to work with student composers and RNCM ensembles.
In 1973 the Royal Manchester College of Music merged with the Northern School of Music, and so the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) was born. From the very beginning the College attracted a wealth of visiting musicians to showcase their works. Northern Dance School, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra), the Nash Ensemble, and London Sinfonietta were the first in a long line of world-renowned ensembles to bring their work to RNCM.
The opening of the RNCM coincided with a larger Manchester renaissance, with the beginning of a new chapter for the Hallé Orchestra under a new director; new theatres in Manchester which were attracting fresh and talented actors and musicians, and Chetham’s School becoming established as a specialist music school.
Manchester: a city of culture
Manchester is home to three professional orchestras; the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, and Manchester Camerata, which is resident at the College. There is a wealth of live classical music events across the city at venues such as The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester’s stunning state-of-the-art international concert venue. The College also has a packed schedule of events throughout the year.
Manchester is renowned the world over as a breeding ground for musical innovation and talent. Its track record of producing illustrious contemporary musical talent spans many decades and includes 10cc, The Hollies, The Bee Gees, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Fall, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Oasis and Autechre. Doves, Elbow and Delphic have now taken over the mantle of Manchester’s musical heroes.
Of course there are plenty of opportunities to see Manchester’s finest performers, alongside artists from across the world, in the city’s many live music venues – from the imposing Manchester Evening News Arena which holds 21,000, to more intimate venues scattered across the city. There are also many music festivals that take place throughout the year, such as Manchester International Festival - a biennial, artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual arts and popular culture; FutureEverything - a global festival of art, music and ideas, and Proms in the Park.
The city has more than its fair share of art galleries and museums, all housing collections of international importance. You can see classic masterpieces at Manchester Art Gallery, The Whitworth Art Gallery and The Lowry, or modern art at the Cornerhouse, Cube, the Chinese Arts Centre, and the many independent galleries across the city. The Manchester Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) have an ever-changing timetable of exhibitions, and the imposing architecture of the Imperial War Museum North hosts changing exhibitions around how war shapes lives.
Weekends can be spent at one of the city’s hundreds of bars, cafes and restaurants, which cater for every taste in décor, ambience, and food. Or for some breathtaking landscapes you can escape to the nearby Peak District or a little further afield to the Lake District. No mention of Manchester would be complete without reference to its renowned sporting prowess. As well as its two outstanding premiership football teams, Manchester United and Manchester City, the city has world-class cycling at Manchester Velodrome, premiership rugby in Sale, national and international cricket at Old Trafford, and the international swimming venue Manchester Aquatics Centre.
There is a myriad of sporting associations across the city, from archery to volleyball, enabling you to take part in your sport of choice. Whatever you’re looking for, Manchester has it. Ranked in the top 20 of the New York Times’ 2011 List of Worldwide Places to Go, it’s a great place to live as a musician and a student, and you would be hard pressed to tire of its spirit, attitude and creativity.
To find out more visit www.visitmanchester.com
