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Become the best musician you can possibly be, with world-class tuition and facilities.

Acting

Drama school training for aspiring performance industry professionals since 1936.

Student information

Key facts about student life including accommodation, finance and social activities.

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1ST FOR STUDENT SATISFACTION

For the second successive year our music provision has achieved the highest score for overall student satisfaction. The 92% score puts BCU 8% higher than the second placed music college. Our BA Acting also received a perfect score of 100% for overall satisfaction. Source: National Student Survey 2019

CONSERVATOIRE BLOG

Browse the online home for our community of musicians, actors, applied theatre performers and stage managers. Here we'll be sharing our experiences, stories and the latest news from our Music and Acting Departments.

The Conservatoire of the Future

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s £57 million teaching and performance facility is the first of its kind in the digital age and is the perfect fusion of traditional and contemporary.

Featuring 9,000 sq m of purpose-designed teaching, rehearsal and state of the art performance space, it offers world-class facilities for our music students.

Learn more

Latest News

In August 2018, outside the Swedish parliament building, Greta Thunberg started a school strike for the climate Image Anders Hellberg

A new choral work, featuring the words of ‘climate striker’ Greta Thunberg set to music, will receive its w...

Ethan Lowry, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ella Stokes, Julian Lloyd Webber

Ella Stokes and Ethan Lowry, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholar and Technician respectively – both based...

Well-respected as a composer around the world and former Head of Composition at the Conservatoire (1990-2005...

Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Ensemble at The Spotted Dog in Birmingham crop

A sixty-strong band of Birmingham-based young musicians are to perform at the European Parliament in Brussels...

Bulgarian pianist Emanuil Ivanov – currently studying at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – has been awarded fi...

Nile Rodgers and Merck Mercuriadis at the Songwriting Studies Research Network credit Louis Coupe

Ivor Novello Award-winning musician and producer Nile Rodgers surprised a room full of songwriters, music ind...

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduate Samantha Oxborough has been announced as one of 12 artists selected ...

Dr Laura Mvula in hat and gown credit Birmingham City University

The acclaimed British singer and composer Laura Mvula has paid tribute to her family in a heartfelt acceptanc...

The 2019 Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters, jointly run by the Philip Bates Trust and Royal Bi...

Laura Mvula, the acclaimed singer and composer, will receive an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City Unive...

Actors trained at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will soon be travelling to Edinburgh to join thousands of pe...

The secrets behind traditional folk music from across the globe and dating back thousands of years are likely...

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Eastside Jazz Club acted as one of just three venues hosting the world’s fir...

Students at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, competed for our esteemed Con...

French Horn superstar Sarah Willis recently made her first official visit as our International Chair in ...

Education and training for musicians

In the heart of England, Birmingham Conservatoire is a place where talent develops, individual creativity flourishes and successful careers begin. We educate and train musicians to the highest professional standards in solo performance, composition, chamber music, orchestral playing and jazz.

The first UK music college to have an active research programme, established in 1993, we are now an internationally recognised centre for research into composition, performance with live electronics and musicology.

Julian Lloyd Webber

Welcome from the Principal

Julian Lloyd Webber welcomes you to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Spain

Leadership and Governance: Who’s who

Professor Julian Lloyd Webber became our Principal in July 2015 after he retired from his career as an internationally celebrated cellist.

Dr Shirley Thompson has achieved an international reputation as a musicologist, specialising in French Baroque music, particularly that of Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

Stephen is a Professor of Actor Education, the only person to hold this position in the country. He directs and teaches on our acting courses.

Lamberto is a Professor of Music and Technology, and also responsible for our international presence, external relations, and targeted strategic projects.

HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO, became our first ever Royal Patron in March 2016.

Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and President of Birmingham Conservatoire since 1989.

One of the foremost pianists of our time, Peter has an Honorary Doctorate from the University.

Graduate Success

Nominated for British Female Solo Artist & British Breakthrough Act at The BRITs.

Since his graduation Harry's career in composition has gone from strength to strength.

Harriet is now entertaining audiences as a bestselling children’s author.

A former vocal training student, Pamela is now Vice President of the Live Music Now! charity.

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1ST FOR STUDENT SATISFACTION

CONSERVATOIRE BLOG

The Conservatoire of the Future

Latest News

New music featuring words of ‘climate striker’ Greta Th...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire actor and technician joi...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Andrew Downes Performance Prize

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Sixty young musicians to demonstrate music’s power to u...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

RBC pianist awarded first prize at Busoni International...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Nile Rodgers delivers surprise keynote speech to Univer...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

RBC graduate selected for 2019/20 National Opera Studio...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Dr Laura Mvula pays tribute to family in heartfelt univ...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Acclaimed singer and composer Laura Mvula to receive ho...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

RBC set for another strong year at Edinburgh Fringe

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Artificial intelligence may be used to reveal secrets b...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Eastside Jazz Club hosts the world’s first ever 5G musi...

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Percussionist wins prestigious Concerto Prize

UNIVERSITY NEWS

67 French Horns flash mob New Street Station

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Education and training for musicians

Welcome from the Principal

Leadership and Governance: Who’s who

Julian Lloyd Webber: Principal

Shirley Thompson: Vice Principal - Music

Stephen Simms: Vice Principal - Acting

Lamberto Coccioli: Associate Principal - Music

HRH Prince Edward: Royal Patron

Sir Simon Rattle: President

Peter Donohoe CBE: Vice-President

Graduate Success

Read more about Laura...

Read more about Harry...

Read more about Harriet...

Read more about Pamela...