Season’s Greetings from the Royal College of Music 2022

Thursday 1 December 2022

The Royal College of Music (RCM) wishes you a festive season full of joy and music with a special performance of Silent Night filmed in our 1851 Courtyard, part of the RCM’s wonderful new campus.

This year’s filmed card features brass students playing a jazzy arrangement of Franz Gruber’s popular carol. The piece was arranged by RCM alumnus Ryan Linham, who found inspiration in Harry Connick Junior’s album, Harry for the Holidays.

[video1]

Ryan was an undergraduate trumpet student at the RCM from 2010–14, during which time his compositions and arrangements were performed in recital exams, chamber music concerts and graduation ceremonies.

Since graduating, Ryan has pursued a stimulating portfolio career. He holds a position with the New European Ensemble in the Netherlands, teaches, and is Composer in Residence for the National Children’s Orchestra.

This arrangement of Silent Night was originally written for Kensington Brass, an ensemble formed at the RCM in 2011.

When asked about being involved with this project nearly a decade later, Ryan said: ‘I am excited to still have a connection with the institution where I spent four happy years!’

The performers in this video are Josh Cusworth (third year undergraduate) and Amy Ronson (second year masters) on trumpets; Beatriz Vila (first year masters) on horn; Millie Deering (second year undergraduate) on trombone; and Josh Allen (first year masters) on tuba.

The audio for the performance was recorded and mixed in the RCM’s professional-grade studio facilities. This was a valuable experience for Josh, who told us: ‘There are so many different opportunities at the RCM, and recording this piece really opened my ears to how small changes can have a big impact on the overall sound’.

The video was filmed in the College’s recently opened 1851 Courtyard, which is a light and airy space for students, staff and visitors to spend time during the day. It was transformed for this intimate evening performance with sparkling lights, creating the perfect backdrop for this arrangement.

With special thanks to Martin Phillips (Videographer), Rachel Astall (Lighting) and Head of Brass, Jason Evans.