THE Royal Northern College of Music is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special series of events and concerts.

More than 5,500 students have attended the Manchester college, many of whom going on to become internationally-acclaimed performers, conductors, composers and adminstrators.

The anniversary season officially begins on Thursday, November 15 when the RNCM Symphony Orchestra recreates its first concert, to celebrate the 100th birthday of Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, the driving force behind the creation of the RNCM.

The concert features Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger and Vaughan Williams’ London Symphony.

November also sees the first in a series of concerts to celebrate the work of Beethoven and his legacy.

In December, RNCM in the City will see a series of 40 free public concerts at venues throughout Manchester.

A number of speical anniversary concerts will take place throughout 2013 including an Opera Gala on Tuesday, January 22, an eveing with the president of the RNCM, Sir Willard White in June and a special summer project in London next summer.

In addition to the special anniversary events, a wide programme of classical, jazz and world music has been lined up including pianist Fred Hersch, leading jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette and Norwegian ensemble Supoerslient featuring Led Zepplin founder member John Paul Jones.

For details of all concert and anniversary events, contact the box office on 0161 907 5555 or visit www.rncm.ac.uk