Riam offers gifted young artists a nurturing musical experience in one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious conservatoires

About the RIAM

Founded in 1848, The Royal Irish Academy of Music is the foundation stone of musical development and innovation in Ireland. Our distinguished reputation resonates nationally and across the globe by staff, alumni, and students who demonstrate musical performance at the highest level in the field of Classical music performance.

 

Why study at the RIAM?

 

We can offer RIAM full-time students the following distinct benefits:

• With an enrolment of less than 100 at full-time level, RIAM students are part of a small but exciting and close-knit group
• Every student is guaranteed substantial individual tuition time with an instrumental/vocal professor of international calibre who will guide their progress with focus and passion
• RIAM students are guaranteed access to some of the world’s leading performers through our extensive masterclass programme
• All students are guaranteed frequent solo and concerto opportunities in Ireland’s leading performance venues
• RIAM students are guaranteed support in competing in international competitions and overseas orchestral auditions
• Orchestral players are guaranteed mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities with our national orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and the RTE Concert Orchestra
• Orchestral players are also guaranteed a position in one or more of the RIAM performing groups
• Composers are guaranteed performances of their works by RIAM staff and students
• Innovative Professional Practice seminars are incorporated in all programmes to equip our students for a successful and healthy portfolio career in the 21st century

 

Located in Dublin’s cultural centre

 

Located in a house of outstanding architectural beauty in the heart of The Georgian Quarter in Ireland’s capital city, RIAM is surrounded by major cultural attractions that include the National Gallery, Natural History Museum, National Concert Hall and National Library. This creates an inspiring and vibrant cultural community which hosts many RIAM student performances, attracting sell-out audiences.

 

Alumni successes

Our full-time performance programmes began in 1992 and we have since dedicated ourselves to nurturing our small number of students to ensure the highest levels of success.
International cooperation

RIAM is a member of the Association of European Conservatoires (AEC) and has inter-institutional agreements with over 30 of Europe’s leading conservatoires. Our students have undertaken ERASMUS exchanges with institutions such as the Sibelius Academy, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Universitat fur Musik and Darnstellende Kunst, Wien, and the Paris Conservatoire.

We are committed to offering exceptional masterclass opportunities in order to enhance the development of your own musical ideas with input from the world’s leading figures.
RIAM is an international touring institution, with recent critically acclaimed performances taking place in Carnegie Hall and the Seoul National Center, Korea.

Our students are encouraged and supported in their ambition to compete in international competition. Recent student successes include prizes in the Clara Haskil, Cardiff Singer of the World, Maria Callas, s’Hertogenbosch, Hamamatsu, Vienna Belvedere and Cologne Competitions.

 

Internal competitions

We run a number of annual competitions open only to RIAM students which carry substantial cash prizes and outside engagements. These include:

• Maura Dowdall Award for Senior Solo
• Dublin Philharmonic Award for Junior Solo
• Gaiety Bursary for Singers and Instrumentalists
• Irene Sandford Award for Singers
• Lucien and Maura Teissier Award for pianists
• RIAM Chamber Music Bursary

 

Faculty

RIAM faculty includes international performing artists, Principals with our national orchestras and teachers who have become synonymous with music education internationally. They include multiple international prizewinners and renowned recording artists. These talented musicians are deeply committed to passing their craft to students and are enthusiastic about making each student’s experience at RIAM unique and valuable. For details on each staff member, visit our website at www.riam.ie

Performing groups

RIAM’s most senior performing groups include:

• Symphony Orchestra

This 80-member ensemble maintains a busy performing and touring schedule, featuring concerto with RIAM students, major orchestral works, outreach and community programmes and broadcasts.

• Chamber Orchestra

Regarded as one of Ireland’s most exciting young chamber ensembles with a strong touring profile, the Royal Irish Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1997.The Orchestra usually performs standing up, without a conductor and soloists are generally drawn from within the orchestra.

• Chorale

This 50 member group is of the highest quality and performs a calendar of challenging works amongst the large scale choral repertoire. Frequently accompanied by the RIAM Chamber Orchestra, this group has performed in Ireland’s major venues.

• Symphonic Wind Band

Exploring the vast amount of repertoire available for this group, the Symphonic Wind Band performs in Ireland’s major venues

• Ictus Ensemble

This contemporary music ensemble chooses specific facets of contemporary music for intense study in addition to exploring the canon of modern classics and exploring music by living composers that includes the works of current RIAM composition students.

These dynamic and exciting groups perform challenging repertoire in leading venues nationally and internationally.

In addition, orchestral players are guaranteed opportunities to take part in mentoring and apprenticeships with our national professional orchestras, culminating in performances in Ireland’s National Concert Hall. For this reason, many of our recent graduates have won positions in our national orchestras and in orchestras internationally.

RIAM Touring

   
Opera

Our critically acclaimed fully staged annual opera features singing students across all bachelors, masters and doctorate programmes, playing to sold-out audiences. With a professional Conductor, Director and design team, the RIAM Opera is a challenging and inspirational experience for all singers. Additional opera scene performances and semi-staged works are presented during the year.

 
RIAM Library

The library contains about 35,000 items, comprising scores, books, orchestral sets, recordings, and manuscripts. It also provides access to a range of electronic journals, databases and audio-visual streaming services. Historical music collections date from c. 1720 – 1900, and hold the scores and parts of several Dublin-based orchestral and choral societies active in the 19th century.

 
The library also participates in the MusicPal scheme, allowing its users access to many other music collections in other Irish libraries.

RIAM Programmes

Access Programme- 1 year full-time

This is a one year programme aimed at gifted singers and instrumentalists who wish to take a gap year between secondary school (high school) and a bachelor’s degree. Students receive tuition on an instrument/voice and take history of music classes, compositional studies and aural training aimed at developing a fully rounded performing musician.

Diploma in Music (Teaching and Performance) - 1 year full-time

This one year Diploma focuses on the dual aspects of performance and teaching. In addition to instrumental/vocal lessons and history of music, compositional studies and aural training classes, students receive expert pedagogical training in their chosen area.

International Artists Diploma- 1 year full-time

This Diploma represents the highest level of attainment in a performance-based programme at RIAM. Graduation recitals will take place in one of Ireland’s major cultural institutions to reflect this importance.
The programme is designed for those singers and instrumentalists who can demonstrate a very high level of ability in performance and who wish to work intensively upon performance as a prelude to entering the music profession. An individual curriculum will be designed by the Head of Faculty to meet the student’s specific needs.

 
Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance – accredited by Dublin City University

This is a 4 year programme aimed at the highly gifted undergraduate instrumental student. With a maximum intake of 10 students per year, students receive 2 hours of instrumental tuition per week with a professor of international standing and will also receive regular access to accompaniment and chamber music coaching. Support studies include history of music, compositional studies, aural training, free composition and music technology.

This programme offers a wide range of performance opportunities, including mentoring with our national orchestras, solo recitals and concertos in our most prestigious national venues in additional to international touring opportunities.

In addition, our focus is on preparing musicians for a busy and successful career in 21st century, and our Professional Practice Seminars encourage students to reflect on their own unique performance ambitions, to stay healthy as a performer and to be prepared for the challenges of a portfolio career.

Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Studies- accredited by Dublin City University

This is the first 4 year programme in Ireland aimed at equipping the highly gifted post-secondary school singer with the skills needed to undertake the unique challenges of a singing career. With a maximum intake of 6 students per year, students receive 2 hours vocal tuition per week with a professor of international standing and will also receive regular access to accompaniment and chamber music coaching.

Support studies include history of music, sight-singing, keyboard skills, aural training, free composition and music technology.

This programme offers a wide range of performance opportunities, including professionally directed fully-staged operas, solo recitals and chamber pieces in our most prestigious national venues in additional to international touring opportunities. Singers will take additional classes in languages, phonetics, acting and movement, specialised classes across various genres: baroque, oratorio, song and operatic repertoire.

Bachelor of Arts in Composition- accredited by Dublin City University

This is a 4 year programme aimed at highly gifted post-secondary school composers. Students receive one-to-one attention with an internationally renowned composer and your support studies will include history of music, analysis and aural training.
As part of a vibrant and exciting performing community, students are guaranteed performances of their compositions by RIAM staff and students throughout the programme.
Professional Practice Seminars for composers focuses on building a network of contacts to ensure success in developing performance and funding sources. RIAM has an extensive range of contacts in new music groups and government agencies that can assist the young composer in developing a satisfying career. As one of only 4 composers accepted per year, exclusivity as part of such an exclusive group is a useful initial calling card.

Master of Arts in Music Performance- accredited by Dublin City University

This is a two year programme aimed at very gifted post-graduate performing musicians who wish to prepare for a performance career. On this programme, students receive 2 hours per week tuition with an internationally renowned professor in addition to chamber music coaching.

Support studies include a choice of music technology, thesis work, composition or analysis and students receive guaranteed opportunities to perform in Ireland’s leading performance venues and will be supported in their ambitions to enter international competitions.

Doctor of Music in Performance- accredited by Dublin City University

This four year programme represents the highest level of attainment in RIAM for gifted professionals who wish to undertake rigorous performance studies underpinned by research. This four year programme combines instrumental/vocal tuition with research and musicological studies.

The next steps

Please visit our website at http://www.riam.iewhere you will find online handbooks and application information.

If you are considering studying at RIAM, we would be delighted to answer any questions you might have and suggest you send us an e mail at info@riam.ie

How to find us

Royal Irish Academy of Music
36/38 Westland Row,
Dublin 2,
Ireland
Tel: + 3531 6325300