Royal Academy of Music announces Junior Academy Musical Theatre course

The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) is launching a new Junior Academy Musical Theatre course, training those between the ages of 14 and 18 in singing, drama and movement.

Adding to the existing offer from RAM’s Junior Academy, the new course will provide participants with expert training from musical theatre professionals, culminating in a staged showcase performance. 

The academy is searching for applicants for the new course, with outreach workshops taking place in schools across several London boroughs. 

Grainne Renihan, the course leader, said: ‘This is a great opportunity for aspiring young performers, and we’re very excited to see who will apply. We know that there’s a huge amount of talent waiting to be discovered, and many of these young people may not even have had formal training at this stage. What we’re looking for is potential, energy, and a love of performing.’ 

The academy’s principal, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, said: ‘We’re incredibly proud of our postgraduate Musical Theatre company, whose alumni have gone on to stellar careers, performing in major shows all over the world. 

‘We already provide high-level training in all our disciplines, including jazz, at Junior Academy, so extending this to young musical theatre students is a welcome next step for the academy. I can’t wait to see what the first cohort of performers can do, and we look forward to meeting them in September.’

Recent graduates from RAM have been cast in productions such as Hamilton, Six, Heathers, The Lion King, Dreamgirls and The Prince of Egypt in the West End. 

Applications will open on RAM’s website from 7 May, with auditions taking place in June and July. One third of the places on the course will be available with reduced or no fees. 

To find out more, including how to apply, visit www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments/junior-academy/junior-academy-musical-theatre