RNCM 50th Birthday Celebration

For over five decades, the RNCM has been home to amazing musicians who’ve forged incredible careers in all areas of the industry, and in an evening that celebrates the college's past, present and future, they've pulled out all the stops for this spectacular 50th anniversary event.

Journey through three innovative performances, each paying tribute to the many ways our ideas, experiences, and emotions can be expressed through live music in the 21st century.

The first event of the evening immerses audiences in a uniquely curated performance that breaks the traditional barriers of the concert hall, incorporating movement, improvisation, new music and old, and bringing together our past and present with alumni and current students playing and singing side-by-side.

In a nod to the RNCM's roots, the second event showcases the sheer power and excitement that only a symphony orchestra can deliver, in a programme packed with joy, dance and drama.

Rounding off the evening is the RNCM Session Orchestra, promising an electrifying performance that turns up the dial on some of popular music’s most iconic tunes from the college's founding year, 1973.

6.30pm – 7.10pm / RNCM Concert Hall
RNCM String Orchestra and Chamber Choir

Katy Lavinia Cooper Cattle Call
Trad (Danish String Quartet) O Fredrik, O Fredrik
Edvard Grieg Holberg Suite (Movements 1, 2 and 3)
Shruthi Rajasekar * Heart of Earth
Lucy Hale* Four Folk Tunes
Shruthi Rajasekar * Bahaari Baarish
Trad (Danish String Quartet) Jasspodspolska
Shruthi Rajasekar * To Manc, with Love
Edvard Grieg Holberg Suite (Movement 5)
Katy Lavinia Cooper The Shepherd’s Wife

Guest Leaders:
Caroline Pether violin (Manchester Camerata) *
Lily Whitehurst violin (BBC Philharmonic) *
Alex Mitchell viola (Manchester Camerata) *
Stephanie Tress cello (Solem Quartet) *

* RNCM alumni

–

8pm – 9pm / RNCM Concert Hall
RNCM Symphony Orchestra

Thomas Adès Three-Piece Suite from Powder Her Face
Florence Price Andantino-Allegretto from Piano Concerto in One Movement
Leonard Bernstein Glitter and Be Gay from Candide
Ottorino Respighi Roman Festivals

Alpesh Chauhan conductor (Principal Guest Conductor, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Associate Conductor, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Birmingham Opera Company) *
Agata Zajac conductor (RNCM Junior Fellow in Conducting)
Alexandra Dariescu piano (RNCM Associate Artist and Tutor in Piano) *
Soraya Mafi soprano (RNCM Associate Artist) *

* RNCM Alumni

–

9.30pm – 10pm / RNCM Theatre
RNCM Session Orchestra

1973 Playlist:

Wings Live and Let Die
Elvis Presley Always on My Mind
Billy Joel Piano Man
Shirley Bassey Never, Never, Never
Diana Ross Touch Me in the Morning
Steely Dan Reelin’ In the Years
David Bowie Life on Mars?
Dolly Parton Jolene
Stevie Wonder Higher Ground

Andy Stott director