Royal Northern College of Music launches partnerships to support ‘modern careers’

The Royal Norther College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester has launched three new creative partnerships to support ‘modern careers’ in the music industry.

Working with English National Opera (ENO), BBC Radio 3 and the Manchester Collective ensemble, the college aims to provide students and recent graduates with opportunities to develop their skills in opera, contemporary performance and broadcast media.

The new schemes form part of the college’s RNCM Innovate initiative. The year-long ENO scheme will support early-career artists to write new operas, and opens in 2026 to Greater Manchester-based recent graduates.

It will offer mentoring and financial support, as well as workshop and performance spaces for artists to compose and present their work.

Annilese Miskimmon, artistic director of ENO, said: “By co-creating this scheme, we hope to amplify the voices in the city-region and create new work that speaks to the diverse experiences of the creators and audiences in Greater Manchester.”

Also over one year, Manchester Collective will provide support to postgraduate strings students, encouraging them to take a “holistic approach to contemporary performance, including composing new music”.

Linda Begbie, chief executive of Manchester Collective, said: “We will be looking for emerging artists who are brave and ready to push their own boundaries – thinkers and explorers, as well as fine instrumentalists.”

The BBC Radio 3 partnership will take place at its base in Audio North, Salford and will offer undergraduate students studio production and presenting experience.