51³Ô¹Ï

President’s Visit 2019

Wednesday 6 March 2019

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales today visited the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï’s new building development during an annual visit to the institution, of which he is President.

The President’s Visit to the 51³Ô¹Ï is always a significant occasion, but this year The Prince witnessed the physical transformation taking place at the heart of the 51³Ô¹Ï’s iconic home in South Kensington. The More 51³Ô¹Ï development will create two new performance spaces, a new home for the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Museum and additional practice rooms and social spaces. In January 2019 the new building development reached the milestone of ‘topping out’ and the project has an exciting year ahead as UK construction contractor Gilbert-Ash continues to transform the 51³Ô¹Ï's east courtyard and the structure is fitted out. 

Entering the space that will become the new 150-seat Performance Hall, The Prince of Wales was greeted by a performance from 51³Ô¹Ï musicians, including 51³Ô¹Ï Director, Professor Colin Lawson. The Prince of Wales stood with the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï’s Chairman, Lord Black of Brentwood, as Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï musicians performed Haydn's March for the Prince of Wales (March in E flat major HobVIII:3bis). The piece was composed in 1792 as a tribute to the heir to the British throne, the future King George IV who was an admirer of the composer.

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Professor Colin Lawson CBE, Director of the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï, said: ‘The Prince of Wales has been our President for over 25 years and it was a great privilege to show him the new facilities taking shape at the heart of our iconic campus. It was also a great pleasure to perform with 51³Ô¹Ï students in what will soon become a state-of-the-art performance venue. The 51³Ô¹Ï is safeguarding the future of music for generations to come with our More 51³Ô¹Ï development.’

As well as touring the new building development, The Prince of Wales conferred honours to some leading names in music during a ceremony held in the 51³Ô¹Ï’s historic Blomfield Building. Those honoured included internationally acclaimed violinist Maxim Vengerov, who has been the Polonsky Visiting Professor of Violin at the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï since 2016. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (HonDMus) in today’s ceremony.

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As part of the ceremony, The Prince of Wales heard a performance featuring some of the 51³Ô¹Ï’s exceptional talent: soprano and President’s Award winner Julieth Lozano Rolong, flautist Sirius Chau Kei Lok and violinist Emily Sun, both Tagore Gold Medal recipients, and pianist Martin James Bartlett who was awarded the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Rosebowl.

The More 51³Ô¹Ï: Reimagining the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï building development has been made possible through the generosity of many supporters. In particular, the 51³Ô¹Ï would like to thank Founding Patrons including the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Kingdom 51³Ô¹Ï Education Group, Rena Lavery Hon51³Ô¹Ï & Sandro Lavery, Ruth West Hon51³Ô¹Ï & Dr Michael West and the Garfield Weston Foundation for their significant contributions.