Royal Academy of Music
/ About
Britain's first conservatoire has occupied its Marylebone Road building since 1911, and the Edwardian interiors have aged into something more interesting than grand: a sweeping staircase, stained glass and marble mosaic floors, hung throughout with the Academy's portraits. The Duke's Hall sits at the centre of it, a 319-seat concert room in deep red and gilt with an organ installed behind the stage in 2013.
Six performance spaces hire to third parties, and they span a century of building. The Susie Sainsbury Theatre and the rooftop Angela Burgess Recital Hall both opened in 2018, the first a 309-seat house with a flying system and an orchestra pit, the second a pale timber room lit by an oculus. Below ground, the David Josefowitz Recital Hall takes natural light through a semicircular window above the performance area, and the Concert Room holds two grand pianos. The Forsyth Room, refurbished in 2022, seats forty.
Access is genuinely restricted. Student activity holds the building through the week, so the venue hire diary runs to Saturday evenings, Sundays and the periods outside term. The Duke's Hall takes 200 for a standing reception or 100 seated at round tables; an in-house caterer works the building, and external caterers can be discussed. Every space has a piano. Plan a long way ahead.
/ Rooms Available
The Duke's Hall
PrivateThe Academy's flagship concert hall, seating 319 across stalls and balcony with three wheelchair spaces. Deep red walls, a coffered and gilded ceiling, the Academy's portrait collection, and an organ installed behind the stage in 2013. It takes 200 for a standing reception or 100 seated at round tables, and a control room on a mezzanine at the rear of the auditorium can be opened up for recording.
The David Josefowitz Recital Hall
PrivateA recital hall at basement level between the main building and York Gate, opened in 2001. Natural light falls through a semicircular window above the performance area. Seating is 108 (88 in the central block, 20 on side benches) plus two wheelchair spaces, and 90 stand for a reception. Step-free access is via the main building lift.
The Angela Burgess Recital Hall
PrivateA rooftop room between the second and third floors, opened in 2018 and lined in pale timber, with an oculus overhead that can be covered for a full blackout. It seats 94 and holds 80 standing, and the atrium immediately outside works as a breakout for refreshments. Curtains on the side walls alter the acoustic.
The Forsyth Room
PrivateOn the first floor of the 1911 building and refurbished in 2022. Tall windows down two walls, soft lighting and a wall-mounted screen; 40 seated and 40 standing. A harpsichord is available by arrangement with the venue hire team.
Teaching, Practice and Meeting Rooms
PrivateA selection of teaching and practice rooms for auditions, rehearsal or warm-up, most of them with grand pianos, plus two meeting rooms that can be fitted with portable and hybrid conferencing equipment. Capacities are quoted on enquiry.
The Concert Room
PrivateOn the lower ground floor, with two grand pianos. The Academy uses it for orchestral rehearsals, movement calls, auditions, workshops, lectures and informal performances, with an audience capacity of 80. Step-free access is via a dedicated lift.
The Susie Sainsbury Theatre
PrivateOpened in 2018, a 309-seat theatre with a ten by eight metre stage, a flying system and an orchestra pit, built for fully staged productions. Nine single or dual-occupancy dressing rooms are shared with the Duke's Hall.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
AV Equipment
- – PA System
- – Microphone
- – Projector
- – Stage
- – Lighting Rig
Catering
- – In-House Luxury Dining
- – External Catering Allowed
Venue Specs
- – Wheelchair Accessible
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Green Room
/ Getting Here
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