‘Students are encouraged to develop their musical voice through a wide range of opportunities to gain the confidence and knowledge needed to grow as an independent creative artist.’
Composition
The Composition Faculty at the Royal College of Music focuses on both the creative and commercial aspects of being a composer. We aim to build and sustain your craft, be it composition for the concert hall, the opera house or for film, television and media. Composers are offered a wholly exceptional performance environment in which they have the opportunity to hear their compositions played by resident and visiting musicians, RCM orchestras, ensembles and fellow students of the highest technical and musical ability.
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One-to-one lessons
One-to-one lessons are at the very heart of every RCM student’s learning experience. Our professors are some of the biggest names in their fields, including leading British composers George Fenton, Deirdre Gribbin, Simon Holt, Dani Howard, Mark-Anthony Turnage (pictured), Catherine Kontz and Errollyn Wallen, as well as Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize winners Jonathan Cole and Dai Fujikura.
Established composers of concert, film and television music (including electro-acoustic and studio-based work) visit regularly to teach, nurturing and developing your creative and technical skills.
RCM composers have recently enjoyed positions on the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Composer Scheme, Royal Scottish National Orchestra's Composers Hub, London Symphony Orchestra's Panufnik scheme and Soundhub Showcase, Britten Sinfonia's Opus One and Magnum Opus projects, the Royal Philharmonic Society Composers programme and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales' Composition: Wales 2025 scheme.
Composition for Screen
At masters level we offer Composition for Screen as a principal study option. This allows students to concentrate on developing the skills necessary for a demanding but rewarding profession. London is one of the busiest production centres in the world for the film, television and advertising industries. Studying Composition for Screen at the RCM will put you at the heart of a creative environment full of exciting potential.
’At the RCM you’re following in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest musicians. It’s incredibly inspiring to walk around and work in a building with so much history.’
’I have had the opportunity to study with great composers like Chaya Czernowin and Michael Finnissy. These experiences have encouraged me to pursue my dreams as a professional composer.’
’Collaborating with filmmakers from other schools has been one of the most relevant experiences for me. I have created good professional relationships essential for my future career.’
’I was thrilled to find myself part of a conservatoire offering a nurturing yet professional teaching environment, with exceptional musicians open to collaboration and thoughtful, encouraging peers.’
’The RCM offers me the highest quality of guidance and a wide range of practical opportunities, strengthening my own voice as a composer in today’s world.’
RCM's Tête à Tête: Revolution's Opera - Behind the scenes with the composers
Hear from the composers behind 'Revolutions': six brand-new short operas created by RCM composers and performed by RCM singers working in association with opera company Tête à Tête.
Performance opportunities
At the Royal College of Music you will have access to an exceptional performance environment, with the opportunity to hear your compositions played by resident and visiting musicians, RCM orchestras, ensembles and fellow students of the highest musical ability.
Projects 2024/25 RCM include writing for classical concerts, video games, experimental electronics, opera, chamber works, wind band as well as a multitude of chamber groups and ensembles. During 2024/25, we have projects with Kew Gardens, the Natural History Museum, Imperial College, Royal College of Art, Leeds Lieder, The Great Exhibition Road Festival, Ballet Rambert as well as with leading musicians such as Heloise Werner, Colin Alexander and the Explore Ensemble.
You are also able to make use of the RCM Studios with its facilities including the new Dolby Atmos suite, our Digital Innovation Lab for electro-acoustic and screen composition, immersive and virtual sound technology and platforms including Panopto for virtual performance.
Our alumni include many of the most successful composers working internationally across all areas of composition including concert music, sound art, music theatre, music education, film, tv and gaming.
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One to one lesson with Professor Jonathan Cole composing at the piano
Historical performance and composition students looking at composed music sheets
Head of Composition, Professor Jonathan Cole on stage talking to renowned composer, Joe Hisaishi
Dr Dimitri Scarlato interacting with RCM students
Composition student discussing their score with the conductor and students rehearsing their music
Students enjoying the RCM’s Great Exhibitionists event
Our students enjoy regular visits from world-leading professionals, including composers, arrangers and sound designers working in a number of fields. Recent visitors who have given talks, performances and masterclasses, have included:
- Chaya Czernowin
- Nainita Desai
- Tansy Davies
- Brett Dean
- Michael Finnissy
- Erika Fox
- Michael Giacchino
- Harry Gregson-Williams
- Joe Hisaishi
- Lisa Illean
- John Lunn
- David Lang
- Colin Matthews
- Anna Meredith
- Nico Muhly
- Steve Reich
- Howard Shore
- Mel Wesson
- Kate Whitley
- Debbie Wiseman
- Gary Yershon
- Hans Zimmer.
RCM composers have regularly won prizes at major international competitions, including:
- Royal Philharmonic Society Awards
- Emmy Awards
- Hindemith Prize
- Grammy Awards
- Oticons Faculty of International Film Music
- Ernst Von Siemens Composer Prize
- BMI Student Composer Awards
- lvors Composers Academy awards
- BAFTAS
- ASCAP Foundation Michelle and Dean Kay Award
RCM composers have also enjoyed prestigious composer in residence positions with institutions such as:
- Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
- Glyndebourne Opera
- Handel House Museum
- Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Recent commissions from students, current faculty and alumni include works for:
- Berliner Philharmoniker
- Dame Evelyn Glennie at the BBC Proms
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Cleveland Symphony Orchestra
- Ensemble Intercontemporain
- Ensemble Modern
- London Sinfonietta
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
- Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
- Malcolm Arnold
- Julian Anderson
- Helen Grime
- Luke Bedford
- Frank Bridge
- Benjamin Britten
- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
- Steven Daverson
- Anne Dudley
- Michael Finnissy
- Raquel García-Tomás
- Arne Gieshoff
- Gustav Holst
- Joseph Horovitz
- Dani Howard
- Lisa Illean
- Constant Lambert
- Nicola LeFanu
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Elisabeth Lutyens
- Elizabeth Maconchy
- Anna Meredith
- Ernest Moeran
- Nicholas Morrish
- Alex Paxton
- Barrington Pheloung
- Edmund Rubbra
- Roberto Sierra
- Michael Tippett
- Mark-Anthony Turnage
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
The RCM’s Creative Careers Centre, which is recognised internationally for its innovative approach to supporting young musicians, provides an unparalleled service to current students and recent alumni. The dedicated team partners with leading consultants, reputable arts organisations and local communities, delivering unique career-building opportunities and a direct route to the music industry.
The work of the Creative Careers Centre allows students to discover their professional identity, gain hands-on experience and new skills, develop an entrepreneurial mind-set and build a fulfilling professional portfolio.
Extensive performance and teaching opportunities are available, as well as valuable guidance on CV and biography writing, concert programming, communication skills, project management, marketing and publicity, online promotion, financial matters and how to develop a business idea.
The Royal College of Music is proud to offer its students fantastic practice and performance facilities with resources to support teaching and learning. We continually improve our facilities to ensure RCM students have the best opportunities.
Explore our facilities with a video tour of the RCM
Key facilities at the RCM include:
- The Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall - our primary performance venue for orchestras and large ensembles.
- Our 400-seat Britten Theatre, home to the RCM’s thriving International Opera School.
- A new Performance Hall, offering an alternative space for ensembles, with a retractable stage, Fazioli grand piano and variable acoustics.
- Intimate spaces for solo and chamber performance in our Performance Studio and Parry Rooms.
- Sound-proofed Amadeus Music Pods for private practice.
- A purpose-built percussion suite – you can watch a video tour on YouTube.
- Over 160 pianos, including 60 grand pianos and 20 early keyboards, as well as organ rooms.
- A Blüthner Practice Suite which holds ten Blüthner Model A upright pianos.
- Instrument surgeries including luthier services.
- RCM Studios: a commercial-grade facility, enabling live broadcasts around the world.
- Digital Innovation Lab: advanced recording and mixing suite.
- RCM Library with more than 200,000 scores, books and recordings in its lending collection, as well as access to more than 400 music journals.
- Recently refurbished RCM Museum, holding more than 14,000 instruments, portraits and images, as well as a climate-controlled performance space and the associated Wolfson Centre in Music & Material Culture | Royal College of Music (rcm.ac.uk)
Master of Composition (MComp) 2022 graduate, video and tabletop games composer blending east and west styles.
Master of Music in Composition (MMus) graduate 2019, Elgar Memorial Prize for Composition recipient and winner of the Bowdoin International Music Festival Composition competition.
From the Royal College of Music to the BBC Proms: RCM musicians at the 2025 festival
The BBC Proms have recently unveiled their 2025 season, which once again showcases the excellence of Royal College of Music (RCM) students, alumni and professors, who will perform at the world’s biggest classical music festival.
Royal College of Music wins 2025 RIBA London Award
The Royal College of Music (RCM) has been awarded a 2025 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) London Award, celebrating the College’s landmark redevelopment by John Simpson Architects.
Summer at the Royal College of Music: a season of festival spirit
The Royal College of Music (RCM) Summer Season brings a vibrant festival atmosphere, with performances at Aldeburgh Festival, Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall, alongside a rich programme of concerts at the College.
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The 2024 Big Give Christmas Challenge: a record-breaking success
Thanks to the great generosity of RCM Supporters, the Royal College of Music achieved record-breaking success in the 2024 Big Give Christmas Challenge
Inside the contemporary conservatoire: an in-depth new book from the Royal College of Music
Inside the Contemporary Conservatoire: Critical Perspectives from the Royal College of Music, London, provides fresh insight into the role, purpose and impact of a conservatoire, with the Royal College of Music (RCM) as a central case study.
Courses available
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Master of Music in Composition, MMus(Comp)
MMusEd Teaching Musician | Royal College of Music
Contact the Composition Faculty
If you have any general queries about composition at the RCM please contact our Composition Faculty Administration team. If you have any queries about interviews or the admissions process, please contact our Admissions team.
Composition Faculty Administration
General enquiries about the operation of the faculty and consultation lessons
Royal College of Music
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