Royal Conservatory joins Elton John-endorsed exchange program with London school

TORONTO —
The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School is joining a new exchange program endorsed by Elton John at London’s Royal Academy of Music.

The RCM says the new Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme begins in September 2022.

The Toronto-based institution is one of 12 conservatories to take part, including New York’s Julliard School and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

It says up to 20 participants a year from the Royal Academy and its partners will be able to take part in short, collaborative projects, a single term, or a full year of study at their host institution.

The “Rocket Man” singer is a RAM alumnus, and says he wants “to help nurture the next generation of global artists.”

Other participating schools include top institutions in Paris, Shanghai, Berlin, Hong Kong, Sydney, Madrid and Tokyo.

“Music can and should transcend borders, and I am delighted to be supporting a scheme which offers high-level, tangible opportunities to talented young musicians coming together from many different countries,” John said Friday in a release.

The 12 exchange institutions include: Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris; Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki; Hanns Eisler Academy in Berlin; The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; Sydney Conservatorium of Music; Munich’s University of Music and Performing Arts; Madrid’s Reina Sofia School of Music; and Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music and Graduate School of Music.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2021.