WHAT'S ON AT THE RNCM, MANCHESTER
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.
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
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 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, Manchester
Saturday 7 March 2026
On sale Fri 3 Oct 2025 at 10amAboutGRAMMY award-winner Madison Cunningham returns with Ace, her third record for Verve Forecast. Depending on the game, an Ace can be the highest or lowest card, zero or infinity. A breakup feels similar ? on...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...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...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...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...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...Thursday Lunchtimes: Strauss' Four Last Songs
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 26 March 2026
ProgrammeGloria Xia New workRichard Strauss arr George Strivens Four Last SongsPerformersBonnie Staude sopranoKaylee Bontrager violinFinn Smith hornLiana Storey pianoAboutDrop in during your lunch break and discover a wide range of performa...RNCM MIUAWGA Ensemble
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 27 March 2026
PerformersSteve Berry directorRNCM MIUAWGA EnsembleAboutThe RNCM?s innovative Make-it-up-as-we-go-along (MIUAWGA) Ensemble delves into the collective intentions and imaginations of RNCM composers and performers, creating music entirely in t...Spotlight: Handel's Hercules
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 27 March 2026
ProgrammeGeorge Frideric Handel Hercules (abridged version)PerformersGeorge Elson bassNia Edwards mezzo-sopranoEllie Astridge sopranoAaron Peters tenorSam Yuen countertenorAnna Turner, Imogen Morris oboesConnor Huss bassoonCharlie Roberts, ...The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 18 April 2026
About?Join The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain for an unforgettable evening of world-class music-making from over 90 of the UK?s most talented young brass and percussion players. Conducted by world-renowned Professor Nicholas Chi...Sounds of Mumbai
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 2 May 2026
AboutStep into a night of musical magic as the London Bollywood Orchestra brings the spirit of Mumbai to life. With a high-energy mix of unforgettable classics and hidden gems, this show is a tribute to the golden age and modern era of Boll...Manchester Collective x Thick & Tight - Papillons
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 9 May 2026
Dissolving the boundaries between classical music and other art forms, Manchester Collective join forces with radical dance-theatre company Thick & Tight to present a searing live performance like no other. Drawing on queer culture, Thick &...Rickie Lee Jones
RNCM Theatre
Saturday 30 May 2026
Iconic American musician, storyteller, and two-time Grammy winner, Rickie Lee Jones is best known for her groundbreaking self-titled debut in 1979 - which spawned the UK Top 20 hit "Chuck E.'s in Love" - and the seminal "Pirates" in 1981, h...Music of the Mystics
RNCM, Manchester
Saturday 6 June 2026
AboutExperience the timeless tradition of Sufi Qawwali ? live in concert. Now in their 26th year of international touring, Fanna-Fi-Allah remains one of the foremost traditional Qawwali ensembles in the world today. With thousands of perfor...Timothy Ridout (viola) and Federico Colli (piano)
RNCM, Manchester
Tuesday 16 June 2026
ProgrammeRobert Schumann Three Romances Op 94Johannes Brahms arr Timothy Ridout Cello Sonata No 1 in E minor Op 38Dmitri Shostakovich Viola Sonata Op 147PerformersTimothy Ridout violaFederico Colli pianoAboutPart of Inspirational ArtistsWhe...Timothy Ridout (viola) and James Baillieu (piano)
RNCM, Manchester
Tuesday 16 June 2026
ProgrammeRobert Schumann Three Romances Op 94Johannes Brahms arr Timothy Ridout Cello Sonata No 1 in E minor Op 38Dmitri Shostakovich Viola Sonata Op 147PerformersTimothy Ridout violaJames Baillieu?pianoAboutPart of Inspirational ArtistsWhe...RNCM Big Band with Zoe Rahman (piano)
RNCM, Manchester
Thursday 25 June 2026
AboutOne of the most exciting artists on the contemporary jazz scene, the multi award-winning Zoe Rahman is known for her powerful playing and distinct compositional voice. Her unique musical background, grounded in classical training, coup...Big Big Train
RNCM Theatre
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Following the tragic death of lead vocalist David Longdon in 2021, the award-winning British progressive rock band Big Big Train take to the stage with new frontman Alberto Bravin (ex-PFM). Formed in Bournemouth in 1990, they have retaine...Joan As Police Woman
RNCM Theatre
Saturday 7 November 2026
Described by The Guardian as having "a voice so wondrous and moving that it makes everyone else's seem ordinary and mundane", highly acclaimed Connecticut songwriter Joan Wasser returns to Europe performing key songs from throughout her ca...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.
Most Popular Shows and Events at RNCM, Manchester
