The Royal Academy of Music in London, the oldest British Conservatoire, was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1882. Musical education in the Academy embraces every traditional branch of music in its departments, which include instrumental, vocal, historical performance, jazz, composition, media and applied music, musical theatre. International students community numbers some 570 students from more than 50 countries. More than 90 percent of graduates continue their career in music which shows a high standard of professional training for European music schools. In 1999 the Academy became the first and the only Conservatoire attached to the London University.

Beginning with 1981 the Academy became a platform for the Annual International Composer Festival, introducing the music of contemporary composers. First of these Festivals showed the music of Witold Lutoslawski, the Polish composer who himself was the guest of honour in the event. Then followed the Festival of Music by Michael Tippett, Krzysztof Penderecki, Olivier Messiaen, Hans Werner Henze, Luciano Berio, Elliott Carter, Alfred Schnittke, Gyorgy Ligeti, Galina Ustvolskaya and Arvo Part.

The Academy students take an active part in the rich musical life, appearing with the outstanding performers of our day. They have every opportunity to be present at the concerts of world-famous performers on the plarforms of the Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Covent Garden, London Coliseum, St John’s Smith Square.

In 2001 the Academy opened now world-famous Museum of Instruments and Manuscripts. In 2001–2003 the Academy was nominated the best British musical educational establishment by the Guardian newspaper’s Good University Guide.