To further accelerate the development of the School of Music of CUHK-Shenzhen (hereinafter referred to as “the School”) and build it into an international, innovative and world-class conservatory, the School signed a framework agreement on comprehensive cooperation and established a professional partnership with Royal Northern College of Music (hereinafter referred to as “RNCM”), highlighting their commitments to international cooperation and exchange. RNCM is the first overseas partner of the School and the cooperation between the Parties will start with the exchange program for students of the School to study in the UK.

RNCM, located in Manchester, is one of the leading music conservatories in the world. It is one of the four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and was ranked the UK’s top conservatoire for music in The Times and The Sunday Times University league table 2020. As the fifth largest art center in the UK, where 450 to 500 performances are hosted each year, RNCM has always been the preferred performance venue and art institution for artists around the world.

Royal Northern College of Music

The School of Music of CUHK-Shenzhen is one of the "Ten Major Cultural Facilities in the New Era" planned and built by the Shenzhen Municipal Government. The School aims to become an international, innovative, and world-class conservatory. To cultivate outstanding talents equipped with both academic and performance abilities, the School establishes innovative training modes for musical talents and an international training system that offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. It offers a wide variety of programs and strives to provide corresponding guidance for every student who desires to further their studies in art.

School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen

As a new art institution, the School aims to learn from and integrate the curriculum and training modes of RNCM in musicology, composition and contemporary music, strings, vocal studies and opera through the new partnership. RNCM, the fifth largest arts center in the UK, offers a platform for classical music, jazz, rock and roll, pop music, country music and folk music to be performed. Through the cooperation program with RNCM, the outstanding students of the School may have opportunities to perform with world-renowned artists in the future.

Royal Northern College of Music

Prof. YE’s connection with RNCM can be traced back to the Spring Festival in 2019 when he visited the RNCM during the Spring Festival celebrations and performed the European première of The Backyard of the Village.

Besides, Prof. Xiaogang YE is the international Chair in Composition at RNCM and Prof. Linda Merrick, the RNCM Principal and Le Yu, Deputy Director of Percussion, are current members of the Artistic Advisory Board at the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen.

European Première of The Backyard of the Village by Prof. Xiaogang YE

Regarding the partnership with the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, Linda Merrick, RNCM Principal, said: "The RNCM is constantly looking for exciting opportunities to enhance the experience it offers to students and staff, and our professional partnerships are integral to ensuring this is possible. We’re very much looking forward to developing a collaborative relationship with CUHK (Shenzhen) School of Music over the coming years and creating mutually beneficial projects and initiatives." And Prof. Xiaogang YE noted that: "As the dean of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, it’s a great honor to cooperate and collaborate with RNCM, a world-leading conservatoire. In the future, the Parties will deepen our cooperation in music and arts, and write a brilliant chapter together!"