Inside the Contemporary Conservatoire: Critical Perspectives from the Royal College of Music, London

Drawing on the expertise of a wide range of professionals, Inside the Contemporary Conservatoire: Critical Perspectives from the Royal College of Music, London presents fresh perspectives on the work of music conservatoires today through an in-depth case study of the Royal College of Music (RCM), London. Problematising the role and purpose of conservatoires in the context of changing cultural and societal conditions, the contributors reframe the conservatoire as a vehicle for positive change in the performing arts and society at large.

Organised into three main sections, the volume covers conservatoire identities and values, teaching and learning music at a conservatoire, and reflections on the conservatoires of the future. Diverse voices from inside and outside the RCM reflect viewpoints from professional musicians, academics, industry, and the student community, spanning topics such as arts practice, music pedagogy and education, technology, inclusion, employability, entrepreneurship, performance science, material culture, and philanthropy.

With chapters that combine interviews, case studies, analysis, critical reflection, and perspectives from inside and outside the RCM, this book offers an in-progress model for the forward-thinking conservatoire, underpinned by renewed emphasis on equitable, innovative, sustainable, and technologically enabled artistic practice.

Colin Lawson was Director of the Royal College of Music from 2005 to 2024. He has an international profile as a period clarinettist and has published widely on performance and performance practice.

Diana Salazar is Director of Programmes at the Royal College of Music. A conservatoire trained flautist and composer, her research interests combine practice research in electroacoustic composition with exploration of conservatoire pedagogies and technology-enhanced learning in higher music education. She is a founder of the Global Conservatoire consortium.

Rosie Perkins is Professor of Music, Health, and Social Science at the Royal College of Music. She leads the RCM’s Master of Performance Science programme and has published extensively on music and mental health, including musicians’ career development.