Royal Philharmonic Society

TREE The Hermes Experiment’s TREE blends commissions & reimaginings into luminous soundscapes of nature, memory & change with their unique ensemble.

Our weekend listening recommendation? The Hermes Experiment's recent @delphianrecords.com release 'Tree', featuring music by RPS Composer @fergushallmusic.bsky.social. 'Look what I found' was commissioned by the RPS as part of the RPS Composers programme.
www.delphianrecords.com/collections/...

Just some of the many women composers through history whose music should be better known today: Germaine Tailleferre, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Elizabeth Maconchy, Avril Coleridge-Taylor, Ruth Gipps / Florence Price, Louise Talma, Augusta Holmès, Madeleine Dring, Grace Williams, Cacilda Borges Barbosa / Ina Boyle, Leonora Duarte, Grażyna Bacewicz, Morfydd Owen, Margaret Bonds, Ingebord Bronsart.

Applications are open until Tuesday 31 March for the RPS Ambache Fund, offering grants of up to £5,000 to support performers, ensembles, venues and festivals putting music by historic women composers at the heart of their programming. Find out more: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/performers/r...

We are looking forward to seeing these performances of brand-new works and of Thea’s music captivate audiences across the UK. We are so grateful for the support of composer Thea Musgrave and her husband, conductor Peter Mark, without whom these grants wouldn’t be possible. (4/4)

Recipients of RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants (clockwise): Marsyas Trio and Lotte Betts-Dean; London Symphony Orchestra; Hebrides Ensemble; Elgar Festival.

RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants help performers, ensembles, festivals and venues put Thea’s music at the heart of their UK programming. This year's recipients are: Elgar Festival, @hebridesensemble.bsky.social, @londonsymphony.bsky.social, and Marsyas Trio with Lotte Betts-Dean. (3/4)

Recipients of RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants (clockwise): Carla Rees and David Gorton; Jennifer France and Emma-Ruth Richards; Peter Brathwaite and Robert Laidlow; Fretwork and Samantha Fernando; Beth Taylor and Stuart MacRae.

Receiving RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants for composer-performer partnership are: David Gorton and Carla Rees, Emma-Ruth Richards and Jennifer France, Robert Laidlow and Peter Brathwaite, Samantha Fernando and Fretwork, @stuartmacrae.bsky.social and Beth Taylor. (2/4)

Collage showing the 2025 RPS Thea Musgrave Fund recipients, with a central band of text in purple reading: 'Thea Musgrave Fund', alongside the RPS logo - top half of image shows recipients of RPS Thea Musgrave Composition Grants (clockwise): Carla Rees and David Gorton; Jennifer France and Emma-Ruth Richards; Peter Brathwaite and Robert Laidlow; Fretwork and Samantha Fernando; Beth Taylor and Stuart MacRae. Bottom half shows recipients of RPS Thea Musgrave Performance Grants (clockwise): Marsyas Trio and Lotte Betts-Dean; London Symphony Orchestra; Hebrides Ensemble; Elgar Festival.

We are delighted to announce almost £50,000 of grants awarded through the RPS Thea Musgrave Fund, supporting composers and performers dedicated to contemporary music. You can find out more about this year's grants recipients here: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/ne... (1/4)

Swaledale Festival logo, in green, blue, and orange, on a white background. Text reads: 'Swaledale Festival', with graphic lines above it depicting rolling hills.

A warm welcome to Swaledale Festival, joining the RPS as an Advance Corporate Member. Based in the three most northerly Yorkshire Dales, this annual festival celebrates music and arts alongside the extraordinary landscape and rich history of its home. www.swalefest.org

Scenes from recent RPS Awards, including shortlistees, supporters, audience members and performers enjoying the evening.

Public booking for the 2026 #RPSAwards is now open! You can book tickets from £10 (plus venue fees) to join us for 'the biggest night in UK classical music’ (The Sunday Times), Thursday 12 March at @southbankcentre.bsky.social's Queen Elizabeth Hall: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards/rps_m...

Applications for @soundandmusic.bsky.social's In Motion programme close on Monday 3 November! Sound and Music strongly encourage applications from under-represented composers, and offer access support to submit an application. Find out more on their website: soundandmusic.org/programmes/i...

The Choral - exclusive screening and conversation

There's still a few tickets for our exclusive screening of Alan Bennett's 'The Choral', with Q&A with Alexander Armstrong, Nicholas Hytner, Natalie Murray Beale and @hilaryjcampbell.bsky.social. Join us Monday 3 November at The Ham Yard Hotel, London:
royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/whats_on/the...

Join us for this exclusive screening, which includes a champagne reception and Q&A session with Alexander Armstrong, Nicholas Hytner, Natalie Murray Beale and Hilary Campbell, discussing the film and its enduring message about the power of music in all our lives.

The Choral - exclusive screening and conversation

Limited tickets available for a very special screening of Alan Bennett's new major motion-picture, The Choral!
6.45pm Monday 3 Nov
The Ham Yard Hotel, London W1D 7DT
£50 including champagne reception and canapés.

royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/whats_on/the...

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If you want to receive captivating articles and newsletters about classical music direct to your inbox, while also supporting the music and musicians you love, consider becoming an RPS Member from only £5 a month: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/support-our-...

Image of article from RPS magazine. Full text can be found here: https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/assets/files/RPS-Magazine-Winter-2024-Stephen-Dodgson-article.pdf

We love sharing musical discoveries and musicians' stories with RPS Members in our magazine. Last year, we explored the life and work of composer Stephen Dodgson, one of the earliest winners of the RPS Composition Prize. Read the full article here:
royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/assets/files...

Derwent Brass: Remember

2024 RPS Inspiration Award winners and RPS Corporate Members Derwent Brass will come together with Southwell Choral Society on for a remembrance concert featuring Faure's Requiem on 15 November at @southwellminster.bsky.social. Find out more and book: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/whats_on/der...

The RPS Awards are generously supported by organisations and individuals. This year’s Principal Supporters include BBC Radio 3, ABRSM, @doricoofficial.bsky.social from Steinberg, @prestomusic.bsky.social, @prsformusic.bsky.social, Sir Simon and Victoria, Lady Robey CBE, and BBC Music Magazine.

RPS Members will have first pick of the best seats with priority booking from 10am on Monday 27 October. Public booking opens at 10am on Tuesday 28 October. Find out more about RPS Membership and how you can support our charitable cause here: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/support-our-...

Graphic with the RPS Awards Lyre logo, and text reading: 'Royal Philharmonic Society Awards 2026.' Text is navy blue and light teal against a gradient background form dark to lighter blue/teal.

Announcing our presenters for the 2026 RPS Awards: BBC Radio 3’s Georgia Mann and @petroc.bsky.social! We’ll be at @southbankcentre.bsky.social's Queen Elizabeth Hall on Thursday 12 March 2026, celebrating musical achievements across the UK: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/awards/rps_m... 🧵

Join Us

We are so grateful to RPS Members and a range of trusts and individual donors, without whom the RPS Composers programme could not happen. Discover how you can help change the prospects of promising composers by becoming an RPS Member: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/support-our-... (4/4)

...and they'll each collaborate with a performance partner, including: 12ensemble, @liverpoolphil.bsky.social's Ensemble 10:10, @hebridesensemble.bsky.social, Manchester Camerata, @musicatmalling.bsky.social, Onyx Brass, Presteigne Festival, and Swaledale Festival. (3/4)

The 2026 RPS Composers are: Amelia Clarkson, Atefeh Einali, Crystalla Serghiou, Elif Karlıdağ, George Stevenson, Natalie Roe, Nneka Cummins, and Vivek Haria. Over the next year we'll support them with workshops and mentoring...(2/4)

The 2026 RPS Composers (clockwise): Natalie Roe, Nneka Cummins, Elif Karlıdağ, Vivek Haria, Atefeh Einali, Amelia Clarkson, Crystalla Serghiou, George Stevenson.

Announcing the 2026 RPS Composers! We are excited to commission eight composers writing engaging new music for audiences nationwide. We look forward to sharing their stories and invite you to discover more of their music. 🧵
(1/4)
royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/ne...

Join Us

If you, or your organisation, want to be a valued part of a connected community in classical music, united by a shared love of music and belief in the worth of classical music in society, explore RPS Membership and how you can make a difference: royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/support-our-...

Music-lovers and music-makers gather at the 2025 RPS Conversation.

Music-lovers and music-makers gather at the 2025 RPS Conversation.

Music-lovers and music-makers gather at the 2025 RPS Conversation.

Music-lovers and music-makers gather at the 2025 RPS Conversation.

The RPS Conversation yesterday brought together music-lovers and music-makers to share their passions and convictions, reflecting on the national conversation around classical music. Thank you to all who joined us, reminding us all why classical music is so worth talking about.

Reigate and Redhill Choral Society, gathered in a church for a concert, all wearing black and holding red music folders. Some participants are standing and others are sitting.

Join our friends and RPS Corporate Member Reigate and Redhill Choral Society at St Mary's Church, Reigate for Handel's Messiah on Sat 15 November. They'll be joined by Surrey Pro Musica Orchestra and soloists supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/whats_on/rrc...

Our friend and RPS Advance Corporate Member Ruth Cooper-Dickson has a range of wellbeing events coming up this Autumn: including a Beyond the Grief masterclass on 27 October, a Calm with Coops breathwork session in November, and grief awareness week in December. ruthcooperdickson.com/breathwork-w...

Just some of the many women composers through history whose music should be better known today: Johanna Müller-Hermann, Julie Candeille, Leokadiya Kashperova, Marie Grandval, Margaret Bonds, Yoshida Takako / Ester Mägi, Dorothy Howell, Elfrida Andrée, Maria von Paradis, Wilhelmine von Bayreuth, Doreen Carwithen / Undine Smith Moore, Pauline Viardot, Cécile Chaminade, Marianna Martines, Amy Beach, Helen Hopekirk.

Introducing the RPS Ambache Fund, supporting performers, ensembles, venues and festivals to put exceptional yet overlooked music by historic women composers at the heart of their programming. Applications are open until 31 March 2026. royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/ne...

The RPS Conversation

There are still a few tickets left for The RPS Conversation, 1-6pm on Tuesday 14 October at London's Rich Mix. It's a chance for music-lovers and music-makers to connect, refresh your outlook, and talk about the music you love – find out more here:
royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/whats_on/the...

RPS Composer @robertlaidlow.bsky.social's cosmic tone poem 'Exoplanets' will receive its first performance by the @lporchestra.bsky.social on 29 November at @southbankcentre.bsky.social. A collaboration with astrophysicists, Robert translates their inspiring research into musical ideas.

Poster for the Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition, including an image of a brass instrument bell, and the timetable for the competition. All information included is available at: https://pjbe.org/

Poster for the Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition, including images of the Jury, and details of the prizes - all information included is available at: https://pjbe.org/

Applications for the Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition are open until 1 March 2026. Brass quintets aged 18-30 can apply to take part in the competition, which takes place 13-18 July 2026 with prizes of up to £6,000. Find out more on their website here: pjbe.org