A space for everyone

As a community, RWCMD expects each and every member to respect each other. That also extends to the welcome we extend to all, and the way we push ourselves to be better in future. We are on a journey to truly be a space for everyone, and we are making progress.

Joining forces to make a difference

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) and the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) launched the Cardiff NOYO Centre in July 2022, a major partnership offering the first progression route for talented young disabled musicians in the region.

Aiming to reduce the musical exclusion and develop the skills of talented young disabled musicians, the partnership will also increase sector support for artists. As the world’s first disabled-led national youth ensemble open to both young disabled and non-disabled musicians, NOYO lays the foundations for a more diverse orchestral sector.

There aren’t other youth orchestras who are as passionate about showing disabled people can play on the same stages as non-disabled people. Lots of the music we play, you wouldn’t really get that in a stereotypical classical music concert – you wouldn’t have the instruments! We believe that it’s best if disabled and non-disabled musicians can integrate together, and then we can come up with fresh new ideas and be more creative, explore different parts of music.

Noyo Harpist, Holli Pandit

Targeting support where it's most needed

The richness and vibrancy of the performing arts is dependent on ensuring that exceptionally talented young people from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to develop, express and contribute their creative voices. This year we re-shaped our approach to scholarships and bursaries. Scholarships are now prioritised for talented students who are in the most financial need, from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds and with protected characteristics. As a further move to enable the widest possible access to our training, we have introduced a new sectorleading Bursary Scheme that makes automatic annual awards to every student who joins RWCMD from a household with a below-average income. Both initiatives are helping us to achieve our goals of enriching our community through wider representation and re-balancing opportunity to ensure that those with talent and potential can train with us.

When we asked recipients what difference it had made:

+ 100% of survey respondents strongly agreed that the Bursary Fund helped relieve financial pressure during their studies.

+ 67% of students said it was a factor in deciding to accept their place at the College.

+ Almost 30% of new students qualified for an automatic bursary of £1200 because their household income is less than £30,000.