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Kurt Cobain Unplugged exhibition
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A man wearing a black suit, shirt and dark tie, holding a pair of drum sticks, smiling at the camera.
Welcome to Summer Season!

As nature springs to life, the Royal College of Music embraces a festival feel this season, showcasing the very finest talents from our students.

Joyful festivals

We see the return of our Festival of Percussion, this year headlined by legendary jazz drummer Gregory Hutchinson. The Eclectic Guitar Orchestra features in the HÂþ»­’s inaugural Strings Festival, while our Recorder Festival celebrates the instrument’s diverse repertoire.

Prestigious venues 

This season you can hear our talented musicians performing across the city and even further afield, with concerts at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall, as well as the Aldeburgh Festival.

Guitar fame

One of the most famous acoustic guitars in rock history – Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E – goes on display in the HÂþ»­ Museum, in a unique exhibition exploring Nirvana’s groundbreaking MTV Unplugged performance. 

Love, conflict, renaissance 

Established star of the great opera houses of the world Sir Thomas Allen directs a unique opera production pairing dramatic madrigals by Monteverdi and Strozzi, alongside Jonathan Dove’s meditative Seven Angels, joined by dancers from the Rambert School.

Pioneering sounds 

New music pervades the season, from our Composition for Screen concert to the multi-sensory sonic world of Electric Dreams, and much more.

A collage of four musicians holding their recorders and smiling

Shakespeare in Music Festival: HÂþ»­ Renaissance Recorder Quartet

02 May 2025, 2:00pm

Celebrate the soul of Shakespeare’s England with a lineup of the UK’s finest musicians, masters of interpretation from Elizabethan to contemporary music.

Bram van Sambeek crouches holding his bassoon, a pink sunset behind him

Bassoon Masterclass with Bram van Sambeek

02 May 2025, 2:00pm

The Royal College of Music is delighted to welcome the acclaimed international bassoonist and multiple award winner, Bram van Sambeek.

Viktor Hartobanu rests his harp on his shoulder and smiles

Harp Masterclass with Viktor Hartobanu

02 May 2025, 2:00pm

Learn more about the process behind the performance in a captivating masterclass with Viktor Hatobanu and HÂþ»­ harpists.

Two saxophonists wear all black and perform on stage

Faculty Showcase: Saxophone

02 May 2025, 6:00pm

Hear the very best solo and ensemble arrangements performed by HÂþ»­ saxophonists.

A singer wearing a red dress performs on stage, a pianist accompanying behind her

Brooks Van der Pump English Song Competition Final

02 May 2025, 6:00pm

Experience the talent of exceptional vocalists from the Royal College of Music as they compete at the highest level for coveted HÂþ»­ prizes.

A close up of a performer's hands playing the organ in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall

Organ Interludes

02 May 2025, 6:00pm

Pingping Chen performs in the Royal College of Music’s Organ Interludes series, exploring a variety of works on the HÂþ»­â€™s majestic Flentrop Orgelbouw organ.

Irena Radić rests her head on her hand

Classical Coffee Mornings at the Royal Albert Hall: Irena Radić

03 May 2025, 11:00am

HÂþ»­ pianist Irena Radić takes to the Elgar Room stage to perform Chopin's Piano Sonata no 3 in B Minor and more.

A man in a black shirt conducts a chamber group of violin, viola, flute and harp in the Performance Hall

Chamber Tuesdays

06 May 2025, 1:05pm

Enjoy a varied programme of chamber music from HÂþ»­ musicians at this lunchtime concert.

Ian Watt sits in a dark room wearing a dark grey blazer, resting his hands on his guitar

Guitar Masterclass with Ian Watt

06 May 2025, 6:00pm

Hear an invigorating masterclass with Scottish guitarist Ian Watt, described by Classical Guitar Magazine as ‘a guitarist of outstanding skill and originality’.

Lars Anders Tomter rests his hand on his viola and chin on his hand, smiling

Viola Masterclass with Lars Anders Tomter

06 May 2025, 6:00pm

Violists from the HÂþ»­ Strings Faculty learn from Lars Anders Tomter, one of today’s most outstanding violists, in this evening masterclass.

Three people look attentively at a historical musical instrument in a display case

Museum Guided Tour

07 May 2025, 12:30pm

Enjoy a tour of the HÂþ»­ Museum led by our knowledgeable team.

Malcolm Martineau wears a white shirt and black blazer and laughs broadly

Vocal and Collaborative Piano Masterclass with Malcolm Martineau

07 May 2025, 4:00pm

Internationally renowned collaborative pianist Malcolm Martineau leads a masterclass working on French song repertoire with HÂþ»­ singers and pianists.

Héloïse Werner and Colin Alexander stand in front of a light grey wall wearing blue and black respectively

Duo plus One

07 May 2025, 6:00pm

Hear six new works by HÂþ»­ composers, who have been working closely with star musicians Héloïse Werner and HÂþ»­ alumnus Colin Alexander.

A close up shot of two hands playing a piano

Kendall Taylor Beethoven Piano Competition

08 May 2025, 10:00am

Experience the talent of exceptional pianists from the Royal College of Music as they compete at the highest level for coveted HÂþ»­ prizes.

A string quartet performs in the Carne Room

Carne Room Elevenses

08 May 2025, 11:00am

This season the HÂþ»­ continues its late-morning chamber performances in The Carne Room, which offers spectacular views of the Royal Albert Hall.

A violinist performs expressively on stage in front of an orchestra

Music and Ideas: Highlights of the HÂþ»­ String Collection

08 May 2025, 5:15pm

The HÂþ»­ serves as the custodian to a significant collection of fine string instruments – hear Katherine Hainsworth explore the development and use of this exceptional and historic resource.

Martyn Brabbins conducts an orchestra, holding his baton and pointing animatedly

Orchestral Masterworks: Tannhäuser

08 May 2025, 6:00pm

Martyn Brabbins, Prince Consort Professor of Conducting, is joined by two HÂþ»­ conductors in a programme of orchestral music depicting two very different stories.

Claude Delangle plays his saxophone in a dark room

Claude Delangle Saxophone Masterclass

09 May 2025, 10:00am

Soloist, researcher and pedagogue Claude Delangle, one of the greatest contemporary saxophonists, stands out as the master of the French saxophone.

A violist and cellist perform in the HÂþ»­ Museum

Friday Music in the Museum

09 May 2025, 12:30pm

Enjoy polished chamber performances amongst a beautiful collection of historic artefacts and instruments.

A pianist performs in the ornate St Mary Abbots Church, an audience watching from the pews

HÂþ»­ at St Mary Abbots Church

09 May 2025, 1:05pm

Enjoy a varied programme of chamber music from Royal College of Music musicians at this lunchtime concert at St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington.

Paul Ellison holds his double bass, smiling

Double Bass Masterclass with Paul Ellison

09 May 2025, 2:00pm

Learn more about the process behind the performance with HÂþ»­ Visiting Professor Paul Ellison in this invigorating masterclass.

Claude Delangle plays his saxophone in a dark room

Claude Delangle Saxophone Recital

09 May 2025, 3:30pm

Following his masterclass this morning, Claude Delangle performs an exciting recital of contemporary works for saxophone.

A singer performs on stage in the Britten Theatre, a pianist accompanying behind him

Lies Askonas Competition Final

09 May 2025, 6:00pm

Experience the talent of exceptional vocalists from the Royal College of Music as they compete at the highest level for coveted HÂþ»­ prizes.

Jazz musicians performing on stage in the Britten Theatre

HÂþ»­ Jazz Orchestra at Jazz °ä²¹´Úé POSK

09 May 2025, 8:00pm

Hear vibrant contemporary groove-based tunes alongside funky classics at Jazz °ä²¹´Úé POSK, one of the top jazz clubs in London.

A young girl plays the cello in an orchestra

HÂþ»­JD Baroque Ensembles

10 May 2025, 5:30pm

HÂþ»­ Junior Department Baroque and recorder ensembles present works by a range of composers.

Gregory Hutchinson sits holding percussion mallets and smiles

Daytime ticket – HÂþ»­ Festival of Percussion

11 May 2025, 11:00am

The Royal College of Music’s spectacular annual celebration of percussion returns, headlined by internationally renowned drummer Gregory Hutchinson.

A young girl plays a drum and smiles

HÂþ»­ Sparks at the Festival of Percussion

11 May 2025, 11:00am

Join us for an exciting selection of family friendly activities as part of the HÂþ»­'s popular Festival of Percussion.

The HÂþ»­ Jazz Orchestra perform on stage in the Britten Theatre

Evening ticket – HÂþ»­ Jazz Orchestra at the Festival of Percussion

11 May 2025, 7:15pm

Join us for the grand finale of the College's annual Festival of Percussion: a vibrant evening concert with the HÂþ»­ Jazz Orchestra and special guest Gregory Hutchinson.

A woman shows students something on a computer with a piano keyboard in front of it

Electric Dreams

12 May 2025, 7:30pm

Immerse yourself in a multisensory experience in the latest instalment of the Royal College of Music’s regular Electric Dreams series.

Thomas Kelly plays the piano on stage, an orchestra behind him

HÂþ»­ at Wigmore Hall: Brahms, Liszt and Schumann

13 May 2025, 1:00pm

As HÂþ»­ 2023/24 Benjamin Britten Piano Fellow, Thomas Kelly performs a solo recital of three extraordinary works, two of them arranged by Busoni.

A man in a black shirt conducts a chamber group of violin, viola, flute and harp in the Performance Hall

Chamber Tuesdays

13 May 2025, 1:05pm

Enjoy a varied programme of chamber music from HÂþ»­ musicians at this lunchtime concert.

A chamber group perform on a dark stage lit up by candles on the floor

Human Artistry Versus Machine

13 May 2025, 6:00pm

Doctoral candidate Ananya Panwar explores the relationship between human artistry and machine creativity, challenging the role of technology on the creative process and highlighting its possibilities.

A conductor leads a chamber group animatedly on stage

New Perspectives: Living Toys

13 May 2025, 6:00pm

New Perspectives, the Royal College of Music’s flagship new music ensemble, performs an eclectic programme of works.

Three people look attentively at a historical musical instrument in a display case

Museum Guided Tour

14 May 2025, 12:30pm

Enjoy a tour of the HÂþ»­ Museum led by our knowledgeable team.

A woman holds her cello and laughs

Chamber Spotlight: Folk Focus

14 May 2025, 6:00pm

The timeless, intimate – and often raucous – world of folk music comes to the HÂþ»­ via arrangements of traditional folksong alongside music inspired by this distinctive style.

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