This term our Music Scholars had their annual visit to one of the UKs leading music colleges.  This time we ventured further afield than any previous music college visit, all the way to the ‘rainy city’, Manchester, to see the Royal Northern College of Music.

 

Upon arrival the 12 music scholars enjoyed their first evening in the big city with a night at the Opera.  The students at RNCM were performing three scenes from famous Operas as part of their third year assessment and the Music Scholars were lucky enough to be able to sit in as part of the audience.

 

After a good sleep the students returned to Royal Northern for the second day of their trip;  enjoying an entire day of workshops, tours, concerts and talks.  First up was an improvisation workshop with their Head of Jazz, Steve Berry.  Steve did an amazing job of bringing out the students’ musical voices and by the end of the session they had constructed a fantastic piece of music that all 12 students had helped to create.  Next up was a tour of the amazing facilities at RNCM.  The vast library, performance spaces and practice rooms were all alive with music making.  We then moved into one of the college theatres for an afternoon concert by the RNCM Brass Ensemble.  The 30+ strong brass group made a huge sound that shook the theatre!  It was great to see the musicality, discipline and sense of community of the Royal Northern Brass Ensemble.  Truly inspirational.  After lunch some of their student ambassadors spoke about college life and the application process.  It was great to hear the young college students talk so passionately about their experiences and so proudly about their college.  A big ‘thank you’ to the staff and students at RNCM who put on such an amazing day for us.

 

It was then time to hit the town for a spot of shopping at the Arndale Shopping Centre, followed by dinner, topping off the trip with a night at the theatre to see Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi award-winning cultural phenomenon Hamilton. The students were blown away by the talent on stage, the engrossing music and the mesmerising production.  For some of the students this was their first time seeing a major musical production and what a great introduction into the world of musical theatre! 

 

This year’s trip was one of our most musically diverse and inspiring to date. The team at RNCM did a great job at showing us everything the college has to offer in an immersive way; and the city of Manchester was vibrant and welcoming.  Well done to the Music Scholars for being so open to such a broad range of musical cultures and getting involved in what was on offer.  We look forward to seeing what inspiration the students have taken away from their experiences.