Royal Northern College of Music celebrates its 50th birthday with a series of musical performances

Manchester's prestigious conservatoire, the Royal Northern College of Music is hosting a series of music events to celebrate its 50th birthday.

The college runs undergraduate and postgraduate courses in classical and popular music, and June 28 this year marks 50 years since the building was opened by the Duchess of Kent in 1973.

Located in the heart of Manchester one mile outside of the city centre, RNCM houses two major performance spaces and offers its 900+ students opportunities to perform to public audiences and work alongside professional musicians and visiting artists.

To mark its 50th birthday, the college will be putting on four events beginning with an evening staged in three parts tonight (June 22), including the RNCM string, symphony and session orchestras, the chamber choir and special guest alumni.

On Wednesday June 28 there will be a night of opera from several vocal alumni who have carved out incredible careers on the operatic stage to mark the exact date 50 years from the college’s opening.

On Thursday June 29 staff will be playing alongside a student ensemble as part of the RNCM Wind Orchestra.

Oh Saturday July 8 RNCM’s Festival Orchestra will support composer Anna Meredith in a greatly-anticipated performance of her Mercury Prize-shortlisted album at Depot Mayfield.