Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, the National Conservatoire of Wales, and part of the University of South Wales Group, competes alongside an international peer group of conservatoires and specialist arts colleges for the best students globally, enabling students to enter and influence the world of music, theatre and related professions.

The College educates some of the most talented students from around the world, aiming to give them not just the technical and craft skills they’ll need to succeed at the top levels of the profession, but also to help them to develop their individual artistic ‘voice.’

The College’s events calendar encompasses over 300 public performances every year including orchestral concerts, recitals, drama, opera and musical theatre. The creative diversity of the college ensures a stimulating environment and broad experience for students of all disciplines.

Our dedicated teachers have a wealth of professional and industry experience and the college collaborates with a number of high-profile arts organisations, including Welsh National Opera, BBC NOW, visiting artists and directors, to ensure that the unique vocational nature of our training programmes reflect the current practices and conditions of the professional world.

The College is constantly pushing boundaries with innovative and exciting programmes of study tailored to the demands of contemporary arts and creative industries. In 2009, its 60th anniversary year, the College became the UK’s first All-Steinway Conservatoire. The focus is always on the future and we take immense pride in the world-class talent of our students.

Set in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, bordering one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the UK, the College is well known for its distinctly warm and welcoming character. With just over 600 students there is a real sense of community and we are able to offer our students an outstanding level of support.

Our ambition is to make an ever more central contribution to the cultural life of Cardiff, to Wales, and through our graduates, to the international arts industry.

In June 2011, the Royal Welsh College’s dream of having its own world-class performance and rehearsal spaces became a reality as it opened its doors to new £22.5 million facilities. From this year, students will be learning in a performance arts centre that will be a hub of cultural life in the city.