Summer is here and it's festival time!

Atmospheres, RWCMD’s annual festival of new music returns from 3 - 5 May, featuring the world premiere of Mark Boden's new song cycle and a vast array of performances and installations from students and staff of the RWCMD composition department.

NEW, the College’s new writing festival, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and moves to a prestigious new London venue. Four new plays, from some of the UK's most exciting playwrights - Rhiannon Boyle - Simon Longman - Isley Lynn - Paula B Stanic - will premiere at the College’s home in Cardiff from 24-31 May before heading to the Young Vic. NEW’24 also features three RWCMD final year acting students presenting their own work in NEW VOICES.

RWCMD’s annual AmserJazzTime Festival returns from 6-8 June, with new music from some of the most exciting jazz artists from the UK and beyond:

Multi award-winning saxophonist Binker Golding brings his quartet featuring the cream of the London jazz scene, Welsh trumpeter and RWCMD grad Tomos Williams returns with the third and final iteration of his extraordinary 'Cwmwl Tystion' (Witness) project, and renowned jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE reunites with her accomplished Swedish trio, led by the exceptional pianist and arranger Martin Sjöstedt, as they give the Welsh launch of their latest album 'Almost in Your Arms' (Stunt Records). There are free performances from RWCMD jazz students to enjoy throughout the festival, including the ever-popular AmserJazzTime Friday night session in the Carne Foyer.

Also in music, WNO and RWCMD orchestras join forces to present Masquerade, a sublime evening of music celebrating some of the world's leading women composers including music by Anna Clyne and Welsh composer Rhian Samuel. Llŷr Williams returns with the third in his six-recital series exploring the genius of Haydn to Schumann, and the 23/24 Steinway International Piano Series concludes with Yulianna Avdeeva who plays Beethoven’s shattering ‘Hammerklavier’. The College is also delighted to host Penarth Chamber Music Festival, with a day of guest artists including Maestro Carlo Rizzi and Rebecca Evans.

In design, our annual puppetry production is back with a new visual and musical story, ‘Spawn’, and the RWCMD Designers showcase their work in the free Balance exhibition. And don’t miss the Giant Props Exhibition which will bring giant cakes to the Linbury Gallery to celebrate our big birthday!