From inventive student showcases to uplifting lunchtime performances, the RNCM’s autumn programme of free concerts invites audiences to experience world-class music-making by renowned musicians and supremely talented undergraduates in the heart of Manchester.
A much-loved fixture in Manchester’s musical calendar, the RNCM’s Monday Lunchtimes features a stellar rotation of students across a series of informal recitals, with a programme spanning centuries of timeless music from Bach, Brahms and Puccini to thrilling electronic arrangements and brand new works.
Billed as a perfect midday escape from the urban chaos, this longstanding initiative celebrates both technical brilliance and the joy of live performance in a serene, accessible atmosphere.
Promising the perfect early afternoon tide-over ahead of the weekend, the RNCM’s Thursday Lunchtimes bring together an eclectic mix of performances that highlight the depth and versatility of the students across various departments.
Featuring contemporary chamber music, vocal showcases and innovative cross-genre collaborations, each of the six concerts offers a relaxed, welcoming way to experience the next generation of musicians in full creative flow. This autumn’s lineup sees the Juna Quartet performing Haydn and Max Richter (16 Oct), followed by vibrant RNCM Wind Ensembles (23 Oct), and a chamber programme pairing Haydn with Smetana from NOVO Quartet (30 Oct). November’s events include the RNCM Chamber Choir delivering spellbinding renditions of Elgar and Jonathan Dove (13 Nov), before the Dovestone Quartet take on Beethoven and Gabriella Smith’s Carrot Revolution (20 Nov).
The series concludes on 4 Dec with exquisite soundscapes from Takemitsu and Debussy, alongside a new work by Helena Zyskowska.
Book below.
RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
rncm.ac.uk
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Tue 14 Oct 2025
Brimming with creativity and fresh ideas from the vanguard of musical innovation, RNCM Spotlights gives student musicians complete freedom to curate and perform their own unique programmes.
Taking place in the early evening, whether you’re on your way into town or coming back from a long day at the office, these events offer the perfect bite-sized escape into live music. From chamber works and experimental collaborations to daring new compositions and genre-blurring compositions, Spotlights are a captivating glimpse into the future of music. Running across eight dates throughout the autumn, the series features everything from Mozart, contemporary vocal explorations and lush, jazz-infused folk to Chinese cultural heritage, a whistlestop tour of the European Renaissance and entrancing sonic voyages inspired by naval travel.
Check out the full programme and book below.