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Frequently Asked Questions

Vice-Principal and Director of Studies, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, provides some answers.

(Picture: Photo of Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood)

‘The Academy’s ensemble dispatched it with palpable glee… the Academy’s orchestra sounded wonderfully zingy and spry… this really was a premiere to remember.’
The Times, November 2006
(Royal Academy Opera: Rameau Dardanus)

Who gets into the Academy?

Anyone—wherever they’re from—so long as we think they have the talent and potential to succeed as professional musicians.

How do you cater for so many different student backgrounds and cultures?

We offer a uniquely diverse range of disciplines and programmes underpinned by a team of academic and ‘pastoral’ tutors, counsellors, mentors and a special officer for international students. We ensure that our students—from over 50 countries—get the very best guidance and support according to individual needs.

Does the Academy prepare students for the real world?

Recent Higher Education Statistics Agency’s results show that well over 90% of recent alumni successfully work in music. We pride ourselves in creating stimulating study programmes for an ever-broadening and fast-changing musical environment. We also prepare students to present performances in a wide range of contexts, from schools, clubs and festivals to all kinds of concert venues.

What’s special about the Academy?

Quite simply, we have an international teaching and coaching staff second-to-none - and the calibre of students to match them. The friendly atmosphere is a renowned and exceptional feature of Academy life.

What has the Academy done recently?

The last 10 years have seen the most momentous period of change in the Academy’s 185-year history. We have:

Almost doubled the size of the Academy’s space with new and refurbished facilities

Become the only conservatoire to be made a member of the renowned University of London, which awards our degrees

Led the way in Europe with our challenging BMus, MMus and PhD programmes — degrees which have helped to redefine the field of performance studies and research

Introduced and developed Media Music, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Opera courses

Created ‘Open Academy’, expanding access with new programmes and initiatives into the widest community

Released outstanding and innovative CDs

Invested in state-of-the-art technology to enable creative collaborations.

What else is important?

That you find lifelong friends and colleagues and make the most of this unique time in your life, through collaboration, exploration, reflection—and discovering your own identity as a musician.

Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood BMus, MPhil, Hon RAM
Studied at University of Toronto and Christ Church, Oxford. Recording producer for many independent record labels, including Channel Classics, BIS, Chandos, Naxos, ASV, Hyperion, Simax etc., many of which have won major awards and prizes. Broadcaster for BBC, New Grove contributor, reviewer for Gramophone, and performance research for numerous publications. As a trumpet player, he has performed widely with solo recitals and discs of sonatas, concerti, including ‘The Trumpets That Time Forgot’ with JohnWallace and, in 2007, ‘La Trompette Retrouvée’.

GRSMTutor 1990–1. As Dean of Undergraduate Studies 1991–5, he directed the first phase of the BMus programme. Vice-Principal and Director of Studies since 1996. Appointed a Professor of University of London, 2001.