1. ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC

4.  Since 1822 the Royal Academy of Music, Britain's senior music conservatoire, has prepared students for a successful career in music according to the evolving demands of the profession. Many famous musicians - singers, players, conductors and composers - have studied at the Academy. Some have returned as teachers to stimulate new generations of musicians, and others have settled world-wide and become leaders in their chosen branch of the music profession.  The Academy is a kind of 'family' with its open and friendly atmosphere, something pretty apparent to people from the moment they walk into the foyer. We may be steeped in a strong sense of tradition but, actually, we are dedicated above all to transforming and developing these traditions to mean something really exciting for the 'here and now'. We're always debating how to match education to professional reality. What are we if our training doesn't reflect, daily, the life around us?

5. HISTORY  1822 The Royal Academy of Music was founded by Lord Burghersh, at the first premises in Tenterden Street, Hanover Square (pictured above right).  1830 King George IV granted a Royal Charter.  1856 Arthur Sullivan (later Sir Arthur Sullivan) entered the Academy.  1880 The Academy had more than 340 pupils by this time. A system of metropolitan examinations for teachers began.  1911 The Academy moved to new custom-built premises in Marylebone Road.  1923 Sir Henry Wood, a former student, joined as a professor.  1935 Foundation of the Junior Academy.  1953 The Coronation of the Academy's Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: the co-ordination of choral and orchestral arrangements was entrusted to Hugh Marchant and David Martin, both of the Academy.  1957 Harrison Birtwistle studied at the Academy from 1957-58.  1961 Sir John Barbirolli, a former student, joined the Academy as Conductor of the First Orchestra.  1968 The new Library was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.  1971 Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor/Artistic Director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002, studied at the Academy from 1971-4.  1976 The Sir Jack Lyons Theatre was opened in the presence of HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, the Academy's President.  1984 The Academy's first International Composer Festival devoted to the work of a distinguished living composer - Witold Lutoslawski - in his presence.

6.  1991 Introduction of the unique BMus degree course. First overseas orchestral tour, by the Sinfonia, to the Republic of Korea.  1992 Re-opening of the refurbished Duke's Hall.  1993 The Da Capo Composers Festival, featuring over 60 composers who studied at the Academy.  1996 The British and American Film Music Festival - four concerts conducted by Ron Goodwin, Michael Nyman, Michael Kamen and John Williams.  1998 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester becomes the Academy's President. First orchestral visit, by the Sinfonia, to Beijing and Tokyo.  1999 The Academy becomes the first conservatoire to be admitted as a full member of the University of London, Britain's largest university.  2001 Opening of the York Gate Collections and David Josefowitz Recital Hall. Introduction of the new two-year postgraduate Royal Academy Opera course.  2002 Elton John performs at the Royal Opera House with the Academy's Symphony Orchestra and musical theatre choir, raising nearly £1million for the Academy's Elton John Scholarship Fund.  2004 The Academy, with generous assistance from the Foyle Foundation, acquires Yehudi Menuhin's archive. 2005 A collaborative orchestra of students from the Academy and Juilliard School perform under Sir Colin Davis at the BBC Proms.  2006 In the final events of the Academy's Paganini in London festival, violin professor Maxim Vengerov plays Paganini's Cannone violin - the instrument's first visit to London since Paganini himself played it here.  Royal Academy of Music Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT  Nearest underground stations: Regent's Park (Bakerloo line) or Baker Street (Bakerloo, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines).  The Academy is at the heart of London, providing easy access to and from all parts of the city and beyond.

7.  There are some departments of academy:  Accordion Accordion  Brass Brass  Choral Conducting Choral Conducting Choral Conducting  Composition Composition  Conducting Conducting  Guitar Guitar  Harp Harp  Historical Performance Historical Performance Historical Performance  Jazz Jazz  Musical Theatre Musical Theatre Musical Theatre  Opera Opera  Organ Organ  Piano Piano  Strings Strings  Timpani and Percussion Timpani and Percussion Timpani and Percussion  Vocal Vocal  Woodwind Woodwind

8.  "If you want to be a musician, come to the Academy. It has been a hoot. "  Extract of student comment on Bulletin Boards, June 2005