The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD)
Description
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) is Wales’ national conservatoire and provides high level practical training which allows you to enter and shape the future of the music, theatre and related professions.
The college offers music students a full range of courses at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Principal Study options include all instrumental disciplines as well as Voice and Opera, Composition, Creative Music Technology and Jazz. In certain courses you may also choose to specialise in Conducting or Historical Performance.
As a vocational college, performance opportunities will form the basis of your training. The RWCMD Symphony Orchestra enables all our instrumentalists and conductors to gain vital full orchestral experience alongside our Historical Performance orchestra directed by the former leader of the Kings Consort and the Millennium Ensemble, for contemporary music. Students may also play alongside leading musicians in the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, WNO and RWCMD’s Brass Band in Residence, the Cory band.
Our Jazz, Creative Music Technology and Composition departments have established links with organisations such as Brecon Jazz Festival and the BBC, to ensure students gain maximum exposure to various performance situations.
The performance aspect is supported by one-to-one tuition representing approximately 45 hours over the duration of the course. Additional accompaniment sessions for performance students mean that the level of tuition on offer at RWCMD is high, preparing you for a life in the music profession.
Student Profile
‘Since I arrived at the College, I feel that I have received an outstanding level of support from my tutors, which has enabled me to find the confidence I needed to take on lots exciting new musical challenges. I have been able to work with some really inspirational musicians and develop a network of contacts in the professional world. I would say that, if you are willing to work hard and share the responsibility for your own development, you will be amazed by the progress you are able to make during your time at RWCMD.’ – Rebecca Nash
