Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

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Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Welsh: Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru
TypePublic
Established1949
Parent institution
University of South Wales
PrincipalHelena Gaunt
Students779 (2017/18)[1]
Undergraduates514 (66%, 2017/18)[1]
Postgraduates265 (34%, 2017/18)[1]
Location
Cardiff
,
Wales

51°29′08″N 3°11′01″W / 51.4856°N 3.1836°W / 51.4856; -3.1836
CampusUrban
Affiliations
Websitewww.rwcmd.ac.uk

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (Welsh: Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru) is a conservatoire located in Cardiff, Wales. It has three theatres: the Richard Burton Theatre, the Bute Theatre, and the Caird Studio. It also includes one concert hall, the Dora Stoutzker Hall, and the Anthony Hopkins Centre, housed in the former Cardiff Castle Stables.

History and description

During the construction of the renovation and expansion of the college in 2011

The college was established in 1949 as Cardiff College of Music at Cardiff Castle, but in 1973 moved to purpose-built accommodation within the castle grounds of Bute Park near Cardiff University. In 1970 it changed its name to the Welsh College of Music & Drama before being awarded its royal title during Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee in 2002, making it the fifth conservatoire to be awarded this title.

From 1973, the college's degrees BA, BEd, MA, were awarded by the University of Wales and in 2004 the college became part of the federal university. In 2007, however, it left the university and agreed to a merger (referred to as a "strategic alliance") with the University of Glamorgan.[2][3] The University of Glamorgan merged with the University of Wales, Newport, in 2013 to form the University of South Wales, so RWCMD is now part of the University of South Wales Group.[4]

The college provides education and training in the performing arts and technical theatre, including music, acting, design, stage management and arts management. It was the first, and is one of only two All-Steinway conservatoires in the UK, along with Leeds College of Music. The College has approximately 800 students.

A £22.5m expansion of the college was opened in 2011, including two new performance venues (Richard Burton Theatre and Dora Stoutzker Hall), a new front of house area and rehearsal studios.[5] The Anthony Hopkins Centre, housed in the former Cardiff Castle Stables, was opened in 1999.[6]

In 2010, as part of the college's 60th anniversary celebrations, students from the college performed in a gala concert at Buckingham Palace, attended by the college's patron, the Prince of Wales.[7] A second gala evening was presented at Buckingham Palace in 2016 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the college's new facilities.[8]

It is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools.[9]

NATO Foreign Ministers' dinner held at the Dora Stoutzker Hall, in the college on 4 September 2014

Undergraduate degrees

The college offers undergraduate degrees in the following areas:

  • BMus (Hons) Music
  • BMus (Hons) Jazz
  • BA (Hons) Acting
  • BA (Hons) Stage Management & Technical Theatre
  • BA (Hons) Design for Performance
  • BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
  • Foundation Degree Scenic Construction
  • Foundation Degree Scenic Arts

Postgraduate degrees

The college also offers postgraduate degrees in the following areas;

  • MA Acting for Stage, Screen & Radio
  • MA Advanced Opera Performance
  • MA Arts Management
  • MA Design for Performance
  • MA Jazz
  • MA Musical Theatre
  • MA Opera Directing
  • MA Stage & Event Management
  • MMus Brass Band Conducting
  • MMus Choral Conducting
  • MMus Collaborative Piano
  • MMus Composition
  • MMus Historical Performance
  • MMus Music Performance
  • MMus Multi Instrument Woodwind Performance
  • MMus Orchestral Conducting
  • MMus Orchestral Performance
  • Postgraduate Diploma Advanced Professional Practice
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Brass Band Conducting
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Choral Conducting
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Collaborative Piano
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Composition
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Historical Performance
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Jazz
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Multi Instrument Woodwind Performance
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Orchestral Conducting
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Orchestral Performance

Alumni

Anthony Hopkins Centre
For a full list, see Category:Alumni of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

References

  1. ^ a b c Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July2018 (PDF) (2018 ed.). Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. p. 3. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama". University of Glamorgan. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Merger deal signals £13m windfall". Wales Online. 6 January 2007.
  4. ^ "Corporate Information". Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama revamp unveiled". BBC News Online. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Bute Park - Castle Mews". Cardiff Parks. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  7. ^ Evans, Gareth (5 May 2010). "RWCMD students perform at Buckingham Palace". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  8. ^ Stubbs, Hannah (8 February 2016). "Gala evening celebrates Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  9. ^ Granger, Rachel. "Rapid Scoping Study on Leicester Drama School" (PDF). De Montfort University Leicester. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Graduation and Honorary Fellows 2007". Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.