History of RWCMD
The Beginning
In 1948, Harold Hind, the Director of Music to the City of
Cardiff, proposed that Cardiff Castle be used as teaching
facilities for the performing arts. One year later, the National
College of Music and Drama opened.
Two full-time undergraduate degrees in music and drama were
established, and 53 full-time students were enrolled.
Growth and Development
By 1960, numbers had almost doubled. The College continued to
grow and, a decade later, with Raymond Edwards as Principal, work
began on a brand-new, purpose built premises. The College moved
from the castle grounds to the Raymond Edwards building in
1974.
In 1998, one of the College’s most high profile alumni, Sir
Anthony Hopkins, donated money to renovate the neighbouring
original castle mews building. The Anthony Hopkins Building was
officially opened in 1999 by the College Patron, HRH the Prince of
Wales.
In her Golden Jubilee visit to Wales in 2002, Her Majesty the
Queen announced that the College would be known as the Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama – an accolade shared by only four other
conservatoires in the UK.
The College Today
Today the College has over 20 undergraduate and postgraduate
courses in everything from Acting to Arts Management and almost 650
students. It also has a successful Junior Music School and Young
Actors Studio, providing music teaching to young musicians from 4
years of age and drama training for young actors.
The Future
The College’s £22.5 million development, including a 450-capacity Concert
hall and the 160-seat Richard Burton Theatre, opens in June
2011
For students at the college, the new development means on-site
first class training facilities and top quality performance spaces
for musicians, actors, theatre designers and stage managers. For
the arts in Wales, it means brand-new state-of-the-art venues for
music and drama right in the heart of the Welsh capital. For the
people of Cardiff, it means a new gateway to the city from the
north and breathtaking impressive public spaces to enjoy.