Ensemble opportunities
“...The Oxbridge of the music world: the Royal Academy of Music. The UK’s oldest conservatoire is often — rightly — spoken of with reverence, training nearly 700 students from over 50 countries in more than 20 disciplines and having produced such esteemed alumni as Edward Gardner, Lesley Garrett and Harrison Birtwistle. For proximity to the upper echelons of the classical world, the Royal Academy of Music is nigh on unbeatable... A healthy professional development scheme means that students are regularly involved in numerous and varied external bookings — and, for many students, only the legacy and legend of London’s classical music scene will do.”Muso magazine
Students are encouraged to become versatile and experienced chamber musicians. String quartet coaching is led by Thomas Brandis. Matthew Souter and David Smith of the Alberni Quartet, Martin Outram of the Maggini Quartet and Garfield Jackson of the Endellion Quartet offer further coaching, along with visiting professors Hartmut Rohde and Aleksandar Pavlovic and the Škampa and Vanbrugh Quartets. Performances by chamber ensembles are an integral part of Academy life. In addition to their degree requirements, students are invited to perform in themed series, high-profile ‘free on Fridays’ concerts, composer festivals and numerous recital series in London and further afield. Coaching with eminent chamber musicians is provided for all concerts and projects.
Brass ensembles of all shapes and sizes, including Royal Academy of Music Brass Soloists, Symphonic Brass, Brass Band, Trombone Choir and Horn Ensemble are particularly active in the Academy’s performance diary with numerous projects every term. The ten-piece Academy Brass Soloists have performed around Britain and further afield, including concerts in Beijing leading up to the 2008 Olympics.
Wind ensembles, like brass ensembles, continue to produce a fine range of acclaimed recordings on the Academy's CD label of both seminal pieces and arrangements of major works. Termly concert projects give students the opportunity to explore the core symphonic wind repertoire.
Royal Academy Soloists, a string ensemble of fourteen players selected by audition and directed by Clio Gould, perform around the UK. Recent concerts have taken place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and Kings Place as well as Spitalfields, Norfolk & Norwich and Bury St Edmunds Festivals.
