WHAT'S ON AT THE RNCM, MANCHESTER
RNCM – The Royal Northern College Of Music is a conservatoire of The Royal Schools Of Music based in Manchester. As well as an education establishment, it also houses two venues. With a history dating back to the 1800’s, its current home on Oxford Road Manchester opened in 1973, with a refurbishment of the concert hall completing in 2014.
RNCM Concert Hall (capacity 443 - 710) and the RNCM Theatre (capacity approx. 600) have hosted many professional artists and organisations including Adele, BC Big Band, English Youth Ballet, Hugh Laurie, Jarvis Cocker, Manchester Jazz Festival, Rob Brydon and even Question Time.
RNCM has music programmes and series, shows, events, festivals, productions, concerts, comedy and ballets to look forward to including regular Monday and Thursday lunchtime showcase, Manchester Camarata, BBC Philharmonic, Chamber music, RNCM Christmas Family Day, Justin Hawkins Rides Again, Cabaret Extreme, and Coleen Nolan. See what's on at the RNCM below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at RNCM, Manchester
What's On at the RNCM, Manchester
Thursday Lunchtimes: RNCM Baroque Ensemble - Relaxed Performance
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 29 January 2026
ProgrammeGregor Werner Sonata primaNicola Porpora Veggo la selva *Joseph Haydn Symphony No 44 in E minorPerformersRoger Hamilton directorFrancis Bamford countertenor *RNCM Baroque EnsembleAboutDrop in during your lunch break and discover a ...RNCM Opera Scenes
RNCM Theatre
Friday 30 January 2026
FREE EVENT. RNCM vocal and conducting students present excerpts from some of opera's greatest moments in this free series of staged scenes. A perfect way to feed your curiosity! Click on tickets link for the perfromers and excerpts presente...BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 30 January - Friday 1 May 2026
ProgrammeB?la Bart?k DivertimentoPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for StringsPerformersZo? Beyers directorBBC Philharmonic OrchestraAboutTonight, the string section takes centre stage. Written in 1939 as Europe teetered on the brink of war...Spotlight: RNCM Songsters
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 30 January 2026
PerformersRNCM SongstersAboutJourney deep into the heart of European folklore and myth with the RNCM Songsters as they perform songs exploring a world of mythical beasts, forgotten gods, and ancient tales. The Erlking will be making a terri...KNDS Fairey and Whitburn Bands present Brass Across…
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 31 January 2026
ProgrammeIncluding:Dean Goffin Rhapsody in BrassGilbert Vinter VizcayaPaul Lovatt-Cooper Power and the GloryAram Khachaturian arr Howard Snell LezghinkaCamille Saint-Sa?ns arr Howard Snell Finale from Symphony No 3 ?Organ Symphony?Performer...Reflection Tour 2026
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 31 January 2026
AboutStep into an unforgettable evening of modern South Asian music as Salman Shahid, Shae Gill, H Dhami, Roach Killa, Saloni, and Metz N Trix come together for the spectacular REFLECTION Tour 2026 hosted by BBC renowned Noreen Khan. Backed...Superstar Tour 2026
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 31 January 2026
Step into an unforgettable evening of modern South Asian music as Bilal Saeed, Shae Gill, and Salman Shahid come together for the spectacular SUPERSTAR Tour 2026. Backed by a full live band, this exclusive concert blends soulful melodies, e...Manchester Annual Choral Competition 2026
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 1 February 2026
AboutEstablished in 2008, the Manchester Annual Choral Competition (MACC) is an annual competition in which choirs from across the UK and overseas are invited to compete in a spirit of creativity and community. The competition is not solely...RNCM Monday Lunchtime Showcase
RNCM Concert Hall
Monday 2 February - Monday 23 March 2026
Drop in during your lunch break and discover a wide range of performances for free with the RNCM's Monday and Thursday Lunchtime concerts. Witness the next generation of musicians in this intimate lunchtime solo and chamber music series,...Cabaret Extreme
RNCM, Manchester
Monday 2 February 2026 - Monday 15 February 2027
AboutFrom the creative visionaries behind the world?s most iconic circuses comes?CABARET EXTREME?a beautifully bizarre blend of burlesque, daring drag, extreme stunts, and contemporary circus. This one-of-a-kind production reimagines entert...RNCM Research Forum: Global Music Training
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 4 February 2026
SpeakersDr Robert Gardiner and David Bullock Royal Northern College of Music and Olympias Music FoundationBryony Simcox and George Webster BroadenAboutThe event will spotlight the Olympias Music Foundation: it will feature a screening of th...Thursday Lunchtimes: RNCM Chamber Orchestra with Royal Northern…
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 5 February 2026
Programme??Maria Theresia von Paradis Overture to Der SchulkandidatJoseph Haydn Symphony No 104 in D major ?London??Performers?RNCM Chamber OrchestraPrincipal Musicians from Royal Northern Sinfonia?AboutDrop in during your lunch break and d...RNCM Chamber Choir and Edvard Grieg Vokalensemble: Tales…
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 6 February 2026
ProgrammeKim Andr? Arnesen Lux illuxitKim Andr? Arnesen Even when he is silentGeirr Tveitt arr H?kon Berge V? no velkomne med ?raTrad arr Paul Robinson Jeg lagde mig s? sildigGustav Holst Hymn to Vena (from Rig Veda)Theodore Maher-Williams ...Spotlight: Kumori Quartet plays Liszt and Wagner
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 6 February 2026
ProgrammeFranz Liszt arr Sandor Devich Mephisto Waltz No 1Richard Wagner arr Piers Serna Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and LiebestodPerformersAmit Segev, Fabio Gonzales Zavala violinsMae Baker-Tuxworth violaImmie Harpin celloEllie Forrester s...RNCM Day of Percussion
RNCM Various Venues
Sunday 8 February 2026
Now in its 32nd year, the RNCM Day of Percussion continues its mission to engage, educate, and entertain all who have an interest in the wonderful world of percussion. Led by artistic director Simone Rebello, our internationally renowne...Evening Concert: Kai Strobel with RNCM Percussionists
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 8 February 2026
On sale Thu 13 Nov 2025 at 10amAboutPart of RNCM Day of Percussion. Kai Strobel is one of the most exciting and influential percussionists of his generation, and his artistry has earned him top honours at the TROMP Percussion Competition an...RNCM Day of Percussion (Day Ticket)
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 8 February 2026
On sale Thu 13 Nov 2025 at 10amAboutRNCM Day of Percussion returns for another inspiring day of rhythm and creativity. We?re throwing open our doors for percussionists of all ages and abilities to participate in a day packed with workshops,...RNCM Day of Percussion (Percussion Discovery Morning Ticket)
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 8 February 2026
On sale Thu 13 Nov 2025 at 10amAboutPart of RNCM Day of Percussion.A relaxed, family-friendly morning to explore all things percussion. This is ideal for children aged five to 11, although older or younger children are very welcome to join ...Between Jobs
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 12 February 2026
AboutBetween Jobs is a a bilingual stand-up comedy night presented by StellaLink Talent, featuring Xi Huang?s UK debut, blending humour, culture, and career stories that connect audiences across languages and laughter.6.30pm / Doors7pm / Ma...The Sunday Boys: A Decade of Song
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 15 February 2026
ProgrammeMichael Betteridge (lyrics Andrew McMillan) HymnAnna Appleby (lyrics Rachel Mann) 1967 in the Red HouseMichael Betteridge (lyrics Andrew McMillan) The Body is A Choir Room, Movement IVJohn Grant (arr Michael Betteridge) GlacierDomi...Rafael Humberto Rojas Rea (tenor)
RNCM, Manchester
Monday 16 February 2026
AboutThe International Artist Diploma (IAD) represents the highest level of performance achievement at the RNCM, welcoming a select group of exceptional artists each year who are poised to embark on international careers. In this series, ea...Manchester Camerata & RNCM: Fanny Mendelssohn Mozart Beethoven
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 18 February 2026
ProgrammeFanny Mendelssohn Overture in C major *Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Concerto No 3 in G major K 216Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony No 2 in D major Op 36PerformersG?bor Tak?cs-Nagy, Student tbc * conductorsCaroline Pether violinAbout...RNCM Research Forum: Imagining Unsung Voices at Erddig
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 18 February 2026
SpeakersProfessor Wiebke Thorm?hlen Royal Northern College of MusicProfessor Jeanice Brooks University of SouthamptonSarah Cleave Manchester Metropolitan UniversityAboutDuring an afternoon of poetry reading, music, and sound immersion, we w...RNCM Research Forum: Richard Hageman - The Becoming…
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 19 February 2026
SpeakersDr Nico de Villiers Royal Northern College of MusicAboutAs an important contributor to the arts in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century, Richard Hageman (1881?1966) is recognized as one of the Academy Awa...Thursday Lunchtimes: Morelia Piano Trio
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 19 February 2026
ProgrammeRobert Schumann Piano Trio No 1 in D minor Op 63PerformersElio Gaviria pianoJack Callaghan violinRhys Nicholson celloAboutDrop in during your lunch break and discover a wide range of performances for free with our Monday and Thursd...RNCM Session Orchestra: Songs in the Key of…
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 21 February 2026
PerformersTroy Miller guest directorRNCM Session OrchestraAboutCelebrating 50 years since its release, the RNCM Session Orchestra transforms Stevie Wonder?s iconic Songs in the Key of Life into powerful orchestral creations. Uplifting, radi...Campbell Diamond (guitar)
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 25 February 2026
ProgrammeTo include:Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco Caprichos de Goya (selections)Silvius Leopold Weiss Sonata No 29 in A minor ?L?Infid?le?Francisco T?rrega/Julian Arcas Fantasia on Themes from Verdi?s La traviataHans Werner Henze Royal Winter M...RNCM Research Forum: Some Paradoxes of Time in…
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 25 February 2026
SpeakersDr Samuel Wilson Guildhall School of Music and DramaAboutIn this talk I?ll examine some aspects of contemporary British ?new music? and suggest that this can tell us something about the paradoxical time that is ?the contemporary?. I...The Frederic Cox Award for Singing
RNCM Concert Hall
Thursday 26 February 2026
Discover the world of classical singing with the Royal Northern College of Music's talented vocal students. This annual competition first began in 1986 as a memorial to one of the leading figures in the founding of the College, Frederic...Thursday Lunchtimes: RNCM Percussion Ensembles - Relaxed Performance
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 26 February 2026
ProgrammeLeonard Eto arr Simone Rebello Lion *Marimba Suite A selection of music arranged for Marimba Ensemble ^John Psathas KyotoMark Ford Head TalkJim Cassella Joaquin on Sunshine *PerformersRNCM Percussion Ensemble * and RNCM Marimba Ens...Coleen Nolan
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 27 February 2026
From a child star, as the youngest of the 'Nolan Sisters' to TV Personality/Presenter, Best Selling Author and Agony Aunt, Coleen Nolan has done it all, or so it would seem. However, there is still one thing that that needs ticking off the ...Ron Sexsmith
RNCM Theatre
Saturday 28 February 2026
Ron Sexsmith is a three time Juno award winning songwriter from Ontario, Canada. He has written and recorded an extensive and acclaimed catalogue of studio albums and original songs, beginning with his self titled debut in 1995 through t...Lucy Rose
RNCM Concert Hall
Sunday 1 March 2026
Lucy Rose is an elfin 20 year old songwriter with a voice that people instantly fall for. In her slight frame she combines purity of musical purpose, a beautifully grainy voice and a passionate, narrative songwriter's instincts with a thirs...RNCM Research Forum: Tebogo Monnakgotla's Compositions
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 4 March 2026
SpeakersTebogo Monnakgotla ?rebro UniversityAboutComposer and teacher Tebogo Monnakgotla presents her work with three solo concertos centred on environmental themes, with particular attention to a violin concerto derived from a scientific a...RNCM Guitars
Carol Nash Recital Room
Thursday 5 March 2026
Curated by internationally acclaimed classical guitarist and RNCM Professor Craig Ogden, this evening of performances showcases the artistry of RNCM guitar students. ...RNCM Symphony Orchestra: Scheherazade
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 6 March 2026
ProgrammeBernd Alois Zimmermann Marchensuite (Fairy Tale Suite)Anton?n Dvo??k The Noon Witch *Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade Op 35PerformersChristoph Altstaedt, Junior Fellow * conductorLouise Wallwein poetRNCM Symphony OrchestraAbout...Spotlight: Cello to the Metal
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 6 March 2026
ProgrammeNirvana Smells Like Teen SpiritMetallica MedleySystem of a Down AerialsSlipknot PsychosocialIron Maiden The TrooperPerformersTom Ellison, Maisie McLoughlin, Rhys Nicholson?cellosAboutThis energetic performance pushes the cello into...Madison Cunningham
RNCM Concert Hall
Saturday 7 March 2026
Acclaimed guitarist, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, GRAMMY award-winner Californian folk rocker Madison Cunningham returns. Rolling Stone described her music as "a new spin on West Coast folk-rock, with classical tendencies, e...RNCM Young Explorers: Michael Rosen's Aesop's Fables
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 8 March 2026
AboutWe?re delighted to welcome legendary children?s author and performer Michael Rosen (We?re Going on a Bear Hunt) as he passes on the wisdom of Aesop?s timeless fables, retold with his signature humour and warmth. These classic stories a...Cheadle Hulme School Easter Concert
RNCM, Manchester
Monday 9 March 2026
AboutAn evening of music from the students of Cheadle Hulme School.?TicketsFull Price ?13Under 18s ?11? Book Now Monday 9 March 2026, 7.30pm ? Ti...RNCM Chopin Prize
RNCM Concert Hall
Tuesday 10 March 2026
An evening of exceptional piano music, the Royal Northern College of Music's annual Chopin Prize sees finalists from the RNCM School of Keyboard Studies showcase their skills in honour of the virtuoso pianist and his compositions. Chopin ...Spotlight: Oscar Navarro's Game of Thieves
RNCM, Manchester
Tuesday 10 March 2026
ProgrammeOscar Navarro Juego de LadronesPerformersNatalie Ngai fluteImogen Morris oboeAbigail Martin clarinetConnor Huss bassoonBarry Lo French hornEdward Wenborn narratorAboutStep into the shadows of 15th-century Spain, where comedy, crime...European Chamber Music Academy Showcase
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 11 March 2026
AboutRenowned as Europe?s leading training institute for young professional chamber musicians, students from the European Chamber Music Academy join the RNCM for an intensive week of rehearsals and masterclasses, culminating in an exception...RNCM Research Forum: Inclusive Pedagogy in Music Education
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 11 March 2026
SpeakersProfessor Jennie Henley Royal Northern College of MusicAboutBook launch: Inclusive Pedagogy in Music Education?TicketsFree admission, no ticket requiredThis event will end at approximately 5.30pm. ...Spotlight: Coleridge-Taylor's Clarinet Quintet
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 11 March 2026
ProgrammeSamuel Coleridge-Taylor Clarinet Quintet in F sharp minor Op 10PerformersAnthony Arias clarinetKaylee Ramella, Emily Ampt violinsMaria Morris violaRuaraidh Williams celloAboutInspired by the folk influences of Dvo??k?s music, disco...Thursday Lunchtimes: RNCM Harps
RNCM Concert Hall
Thursday 12 March 2026
Drop in during your lunch break and discover a wide range of performances for free with the RNCM's Monday and Thursday Lunchtime concerts. ...Edward Johannes Gray (cello)
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 12 March 2026
AboutThe International Artist Diploma (IAD) represents the highest level of performance achievement at the RNCM, welcoming a select group of exceptional artists each year who are poised to embark on international careers. In this series, ea...Abel Selaocoe & The Bantu Ensemble
RNCM Concert Hall
Friday 13 March 2026
Manchester-based South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is a rapidly rising star who is redefining the parameters of the cello. The RNCM alumnus and Honorary Associate Artist moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from col...Spotlight: Mendelssohn's Concert Pieces
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 13 March 2026
ProgrammeMax Bruch 8 Pieces Op 83 (excerpts)Felix Mendelssohn Concert Piece No 1 Op 113Felix Mendelssohn Concert Piece No 2 Op 114PerformersOliver Charles-Lee clarinet and basset hornNathan Kenworthy clarinet and basset hornHanna Csermely p...Manchester Camerata: One Damn Thing After Another
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 15 March 2026
ProgrammeDoreen Carwithen Piano ConcertoRuth Gipps Jane Gray Suite (solo viola)Antoinette Kirkwood Suite for StringsElizabeth Maconchy Life StoryMorfred Owen Beatific SeaWilliam Alwyn Autumn LegendWilliam Alwyn Tragic InterludePerformersJoh...Spotlight: Britten's Canticle II ‘Abraham and Isaac'
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 15 March 2026
ProgrammeBenjamin Britten The Holy Sonnets of John Donne Op 35 (excerpts)Benjamin Britten Canticle II ?Abraham and Isaac? Op 51PerformersArhan Kumar tenorMerel Magali Cox mezzo-sopranoAboutTwo contrasting works of sacred song and stories co...RNS Moves with Candoco Dance Company
RNCM, Manchester
Tuesday 17 March 2026
PerformersRNS Moves (Royal Northern Sinfonia)Candoco Dance CompanyAboutPart of Inspirational ArtistsMinimal. Meditative. Bursting with life. This is a performance that pulses and glows. That loops, shifts, and builds ? creating something po...RNCM Research Forum: Opera in Extended Reality
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 18 March 2026
SpeakersDr Toby Young Guildhall School of Music and DramaAboutThis talk explores the interaction between operatic form and extended-reality (XR) storytelling, investigating how opera?s heightened affect and sustained emotions can function a...Thursday Lunchtimes: RNCM Saxophones - Relaxed Performance
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 19 March 2026
ProgrammeRoddy Skeaping Cries, Bells, Chats and WhispersAndrew Ball ChimeraHildegard von Binen Columba AspexitJoel Love 3 ImagesPerformersNaomi Sullivan directorRNCM SaxophonesAboutDrop in during your lunch break and discover a wide range o...Towards the Stars
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 21 March 2026
ProgrammeJonathan Dove Seek him that maketh the seven stars?riks E?envalds STARSPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Fantasy OvertureJean Sibelius Symphony No. 7 in C majorLili Boulanger Psalm 130 ?Du fond de l?ab?me?Alexander Borodin ...MILOŠ
RNCM Concert Hall
Sunday 22 March 2026 - Monday 22 March 2027
Born in Montenegro, Milos Karadaglic is one of the world's most celebrated classical guitarists. His career began its meteoric rise in 2011, with the release of his international best-selling Deutsche Grammophon debut album Mediterraneo. S...Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 22 - Saturday 28 March 2026
OverviewCast & CreativesProgrammeLeo? Jan??ek The Cunning Little VixenReduced Orchestration by Jonathan Lyness?Libretto by Leo? Jan??ek?based on the novella ?Li?ka Bystrou?ka? by Rudolf T?snohl?dekEnglish Translation by Sir David PoutneyAbo...Spotlight: Laurence Crane's European Towns
RNCM, Manchester
Sunday 22 March 2026
ProgrammeLaurence Crane European TownsKuba Williams New workPerformersK?mea N?meth mezzo-sopranoEd Chua, Elena Edwards, Tom Ellison cellosAboutLaurence Crane?s poetic and lyrical European Towns is paired with a new work by composition stude...Jason Wong (percussion)
RNCM, Manchester
Monday 23 March 2026
ProgrammeChristos Hatzis Fertility Rites for marimba with digital audioHeng Liu Autumn OrchidBrian Blume Rooted for solo percussion with audio accompanimentZhao Liu and Jason Wong New workHei-man Choy?All day ClimaxPierre Jodlowski Time and...RNCM Research Forum: Art Song of Aotearoa New…
RNCM, Manchester
Wednesday 25 March 2026
SpeakersDr Morag Atchison University of AucklandAboutThere is a long tradition of Western Art Music in Aotearoa New Zealand. Singers who travel from these islands in the South Pacific are frequently asked to perform ?traditional? music by M...How to get to the RNCM, Manchester
RNCM Frequently Asked Questions
124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
The two closest public car parks to the RNCM are Booth Street West and Booth Street East.
Visitor parking is available in the RNCM underground carpark weekdays and Saturdays 5pm - 11.30pm and Sundays 6am - 11.30pm.
Please note that general traffic along Oxford Road is no longer permitted to use the route between 6am and 9pm, 7 days a week.
The nearest train station to the RNCM is Manchester Oxford Road and is approximately a 13 minute walk (0.5 miles).
Manchester Piccadilly is 0.8 miles/20 minute walk. Deansgate is 0.9 miles/21 minute walk and Manchester Victoria is 1.5 miles/33 minute walk.
The nearest tram stop to the RNCM is St Peter’s Square and is approximately a 15 minute walk (0.8 miles).
The RNCM Concert Hall has a seating capacity of between 443 - 710 depending on the layout.
The RNCM Theatre has a seating capacity of 600.
Click here for seating plans.
Please contact The RNCM directly. For further information on ticketing, please visit their how to book page.
If you would like to buy a ticket in person from RNCM Box Office, they open one hour prior to the event starting, and can only facilitate in person bookings for the performance showing on the day.
Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.
When we know of a duration of a show, we add it to the description of the show on our event pages. For example, on our Wicked event page, after the description of the show we have added the duration of the show in large capital letters. If the time isn't listed, we do not have the information yet. We update our pages daily so it maybe a case of knowing closer to the performance itself, so keep checking.
The RNCM curfew is 11pm. More precise timings are often confirmed close to the performance date.
Please visit the RNCM's Access Page for further information and to find out how to get in touch.
Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to feedback to RNCM, please click here for more contact information.
If you have lost an item during a visit to RNCM Manchester, click here to contact the venue.
With loads of great places to eat in Manchester and decent pre-theatre menus, you should check out our Manchester Restaurant site here!
Manchester is full of great bars and pubs and some decent ones close to the venue. Check out our Manchester Bar site here!
Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for hotels in Manchester.
f you need further information about your visit to The RNCM, click here for further information or contact the RNCM team directly.
Please note that ManchesterTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the RNCM and all other venues in Manchester and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.