Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to end weekend youth provision

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama plans to close its weekly junior department, Young RWCMD. The decision means that in September the doors won’t open to over 300 young musicians and actors who were studying at the college over the past year, while 125 staff members will be affected.

Since news of possible closure first emerged in May, there has been a wide outcry in the arts community. An open letter from the Musicians’ Union was signed by famous figures including soprano Susan Bullock, Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman and cellist Steven Isserlis, while a petition to the Senedd reached over 10,000 names. As the petition noted, Young RWCMD is currently the only junior conservatoire in Wales, and the closure will make it the only Royal School of Music in the UK without a junior department.

The Cardiff-based college has cited ‘significant financial challenges’ as the reason behind its decision, blaming the impact of high inflation, capped undergraduate fees, and a 6 per cent reduction to higher education in Wales. A recent staff consultation process offered ‘no immediate viable financial solution,’ it has said, adding that the junior conservatoire is subsidised by the college and receives no direct funding from the Welsh government or the Higher Education Funding Council Wales.

‘After careful assessment, the College has concluded that the current model of weekly activity with Young RWCMD remains financially unsustainable and therefore will not continue in September 2024.’

However, in a press briefing, RWCMD adds that it will continue to work with under 18s, with a series of weekend immersive music workshops next year, the National Open Youth Orchestra Ensemble Residency and holiday courses in production arts. ‘The College remains fully committed to providing opportunities in music, theatre and drama for young people and to creating pathways into professional training.’