Royal Academy of Music - Who's Who > Alumni

Famous names

Many famous musicians – singers, players, conductors and composers – have studied at the Academy. Some have returned as teachers to stimulate new generations of musicians, and others have settled world-wide and become leaders in their chosen branch of the music profession.

Amongst the Academy's most distinguished living alumni are:

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett
Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Lesley Garrett
Dame Evelyn Glennie
Sir Elton John
Graham Johnson
Annie Lennox
Dame Felicity Lott
Joanna MacGregor
Michael Nyman
Sir Simon Rattle
Jean Rigby
Sir John Tavener

Alumni from previous generations include:

Sir Arthur Sullivan
Sir Henry Wood, many of whose performance materials are on display in the Academy's museum
Dame Myra Hess
Dame Eva Turner
Dennis Brain, whose horn is on display in the Academy's museum
Sir John Barbirolli
Sir Clifford Curzon
Lionel Tertis
Dame Moura Lympany
Richard Lewis
Sir John Dankworth
Nicholas Maw
Philip Langridge

Recent graduates who have already made significant impact on the music profession and related media include conductor Edward Gardner, chart-topping mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, and animateur and broadcaster Gareth Malone.