51³Ô¹Ï

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales unveils new Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Campus

Thursday 2 December 2021

On Thursday 2 December, the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï welcomed His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as he officially opened the new facilities created by the More 51³Ô¹Ï: Reimagining the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï development. His Royal Highness, President of the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï, saw some of the exceptional new facilities for the very first time and cut a ceremonial ribbon in front of a specially invited audience.

The 51³Ô¹Ï’s More 51³Ô¹Ï development was funded by a £40 million philanthropic campaign, of which HRH The Prince of Wales is the Patron. Whilst visiting the 51³Ô¹Ï’s iconic South Kensington campus, His Royal Highness was given a tour of some of the new spaces designed by architect John Simpson and met some of the key personnel who delivered this momentous project. His Royal Highness also toured the new Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Museum designed by ZMMA and listened to performances by some of the 51³Ô¹Ï’s current students.

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Professor Colin Lawson, Director of the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï, comments: ‘We are delighted that close royal connections have continued to illuminate our work ever since our foundation in 1883 by the then Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII. We were thrilled that our President played such an active role in the initial approval of architect John Simpson’s visionary plans, and we fully anticipate that these additional resources will further enhance our reputation as a natural first choice for students from around the globe.’

The landmark redevelopment made possible through the More 51³Ô¹Ï Campaign has almost doubled the footprint of the iconic South Kensington site, enhancing opportunities for students and visitors alike. Additions to the campus include the creation of two new performance spaces, a brand-new home for the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Museum, practice rooms for students and a new courtyard and café for students, staff and visitors to enjoy. Each of these additions contributes to an inspirational environment in which students can create, research and perform for generations to come.

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The More 51³Ô¹Ï development has touched all aspects of the 51³Ô¹Ï. It has also enabled an expanded scholarships programme to support the most talented students, regardless of their means; improved research and digital capabilities; innovative academic initiatives; and more opportunities to widen access to classical music through a flourishing community engagement programme.

The More 51³Ô¹Ï: Reimagining the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï building development was possible thanks to the generosity of many supporters, with one third of the development funded through gifts in wills. In particular, the 51³Ô¹Ï would like to thank the Campaign’s Founding Patrons including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kingdom 51³Ô¹Ï Education Group, Rena Lavery Hon51³Ô¹Ï and Sandro Lavery, More 51³Ô¹Ï Campaign Chairman Geoffrey Richards Hon51³Ô¹Ï, Ruth West Hon51³Ô¹Ï and the late Dr Michael West and the Garfield Weston Foundation for their significant contributions.