History of RWCMD
A History of Arts - 1176-1948
1176 - Known as the land of song, Wales has a
deep history of artistic performance with traditions such as the
Eisteddfod dating as far back as 1176 and more recently the
prevalence of the Welsh Male Choirs born from the mining
communities of South Wales.
1947 - People are beginning to regain their
quality of life after the end of the Second World War, enjoying
cultural and leisure activities. The Welsh National Opera is
established and Cardiff Castle is donated to the people of Cardiff
by the Bute Family.
1948 - Harold C. Hind, Director of Music to the
City of Cardiff, submits a proposal on behalf of the Cardiff
Education Authority, for the castle to be used as teaching
facilities for Music and Drama. The College application receives
strong support from the Director of Education and the application
is approved.
The Early Years - 1949-1969
1949 – The College is opened on the 19th
September with 250 students and 62 members of staff. Dr Harold Hind
is appointed Principal of the College.
The National College of Music & Drama enjoys close
links with the BBC Welsh Orchestra. Many of the academics have
joint roles with both organisations.
The News Chronicle reports on the opening of the College, the
headline reading ‘Cardiff’s College in a Castle’. This reference
sticks and the college becomes known as the Castle.
1950 - Raymond Edwards is appointed Head of
Drama. He initiates the Student Theatre Company, giving students as
much audience experience as possible.
A two-year full-time undergraduate drama course is set up to
give complete training for the stage. Classes are also available in
Stage Makeup, Welsh Drama and Stagecraft.
In music, a complete two year undergraduate course with first
and second study is established, an Opera Class and a College
Orchestra is formed.
53 full-time students are enrolled.
1957 – Sir Anthony Hopkins studies acting at
the College.
1959 - Raymond Edwards is appointed as
Principal.
1960 – The Symphony Orchestra and Wind
Orchestra are established - quite an achievement with such a small
number of full-time students, but members of staff and freelance
players are often recruited in order to make up numbers and ensure
regular concerts take place.
The number of full-time students rises to 120.
1967 - A new site in the castle grounds is
allocated to accommodate a new building to meet the increasing
demands of the growing college.
Realising a Vision – 1970-1999
1970 - With the hard work of the principal the
College is finally granted National status and re-named the
Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Work begins on the College’s brand new building.
1974 - The College relocates to the new site,
the Raymond Edwards building. Postgraduate courses are established
and Stage Management and Stage Design are introduced.
1977 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
officially opens the Bute Theatre.
1984 - By now all four of the drama courses are
accredited by the National Council of Drama Training (NCDT).
After 25 years as Principal, Raymond Edwards, retires. His
successor is Peter Flecter.
1989 - Edmond Fivet, previously Head of
Department at The Royal College of Music, replaces Peter Flecter as
Principal. He is the first of the College’s Principals to have had
experience at a London Musical Conservatoire.
1992 - The College becomes accountable to the
new Higher Education Funding Council.
1996 - The Junior Music and Access Studies
(JMAS) course is launched for children aged between four and
eighteen years.
1998 - Oscar-winning actor, Anthony Hopkins,
donates money to help meet the renovating costs of the original
mews building, which is renamed, the Anthony Hopkins
Building.
1999 - The refurbishment is opened by the
recently announced College Patron, HRH the Prince of Wales.
150 children are now enrolled in JMAS.
New courses are set up in Arts Management and Music Therapy.
A Royal Welcome – 2002-2007
2002 - Her Majesty the Queen visits Wales
during her Golden Jubilee and announces that the College will be
known as the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
This accolade is shared by only four other conservatoires in the
United Kingdom.
2007 - On the 1st January the Royal Welsh
College of Music & Drama forms a strategic alliance with the
University of Glamorgan, providing further opportunity for the
growth of resources.
Edmond Fivet announces his retirement from the College after 18
years as Principal, making him the longest serving Principal in
Wales.
The College forms a strategic partnership with Classic FM, the
UK's largest commercial radio station with 5.9 million
listeners.
On the 4th November Hilary Boulding begins her role as Principal
of the College. Hilary was previously the Director of Music
Strategy for the Arts Council of England, leading national policy
and strategy in music within the publicly funded arts sector.
A View to the Future – 2008-2010
2008 - The Royal Welsh College of Music and
Drama has been granted planning permission for its £22.5 million
development to build a new concert hall, theatre, drama rehearsal
spaces and exhibition gallery to complement and enhance its
existing high-quality performance facilities.
2009 - The College begins a year of
celebrations to mark its Diamond Jubilee.
Construction work begins on the College’s state of the art
redevelopment.
A ground breaking deal is signed with Steinway and Sons, making
the RWCMD the UK’s first All-Steinway Conservatoire. On
4th March 62 new pianos are delivered from Steinway and
Sons.
2010 - The new facilities are fitted out and
ready for acoustic testing.
2011 - The new buildings are officially opened
to students and the public.