Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to expand community opera programme

Forget chandeliers and red velvet seats, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is taking opera out to the streets of Birmingham.

Backed by a £210,000 grant from The Linbury Trust, the RBC will spend the next three years transforming community venues, schools and public spaces into unexpected stages for sopranos, contraltos, tenors and baritones. 

The Opera Outreach programme will reach more than 9,000 audience members, 3,000 schoolchildren, 240 young people and 200 RBC students.

Stephen Maddock, Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said: “This generous support from The Linbury Trust is a powerful endorsement of our vision to make opera accessible for all.

“This will enable us to continue to nurture talent, champion diversity and bring world-class opera into under-served communities across our city and region.”

The grant will fund initiatives such as:

• Securing Artists Who Shape the Future – attracting leading UK conductors and directors to work with RBC students, embedding industry insights and best practice into the curriculum.
• From Stage to Street – transforming community venues into vibrant performance spaces, bringing opera to new audiences in unusual and unexpected public spaces.
• Opera in the Making – engaging students and local young people in designing costumes, sets and props to create visually stunning productions.
• Access All Arias – delivering workshops and outreach projects in Birmingham’s most deprived and culturally under-served schools.
• The Voice Within – expanding RBC’s Young Singers project to uncover untapped talent, champion diversity, and provide life-changing opportunities for aspiring performers.

Paul Wingfield, Head of Vocal and Operatic Studies at RBC added: “This significant resource will be used to nurture all aspects of our staged projects, from hiring creative teams to community work.

“This renewed support from The Linbury Trust recognises the impact that has been achieved by our opera programmes for local communities and our students since 2023 and can continue to build on that momentum for the next three years.

“We look forward to working with students and communities in the West Midlands to make opera accessible and open to all.” 

In addition, the programme will commission one new children’s opera composition each year, giving school pupils the chance to collaborate with RBC composition students to co-create their own family-friendly opera.