The annual cycle of festivals at the Academy continues this term with Music by Numbers (29 April-2 May) presented by the Composition Department. Performances will explore a wide range of experimental new pieces inspired by the fascinating, complex and playful relationships between numbers and music, culminating in a SIDE-BY-SIDE performance of new student works with Riot Ensemble.

The Summer Piano Festival (11-13 June) returns for its 11th year to celebrate the creativity and energy of Piano Department students. Curated by Dame Myra Hess Chair of Piano Joanna MacGregor, this year’s festival includes Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues, the second edition of Schumann’s complete piano music, film music improvisation set to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and music interwoven with experimental AI imagery.

Academy musicians continue to work with leading artists and perform at venues and festivals across the UK this summer. Alum and Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, leads the Academy Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mark Anthony Turnage’s Refugee alongside Daniel Kidane’s Sirens and Nielsen’s Symphony No 4. Before a performance at the Academy (20 June), the ensemble will present this programme at the 76th Aldeburgh Festival at Snape Maltings (19 June), where they will be joined by internationally renowned tenor and alum Allan Clayton. The Academy Wind Ensemble perform at both Sinfonia Smith Square (26 June) and the Deal Music and Arts Festival (4 July) where they will be directed by Principal Clarinet of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Maura Marinucci, in programmes featuring Mozart and Strauss.

Royal Academy Opera presents a new production of Britten’s rarely performed church parable The Burning Fiery Furnace (14 and 16 May), conducted by the Academy’s Head of Opera, Christopher White, and directed by Victoria Newlyn. This is the final opportunity to see our current cohort of students, many of whom have already secured contracts at international opera houses and summer festivals including Glyndebourne, Garsington, Bayerische Staatsoper’s Opera Studio, the Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence and Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival.

Also on stage at the Academy this summer, the Royal Academy Musical Theatre company showcase Maury Yeston’s Nine (12-15 June), a musical based on the 1963 film 8 ½ by Federico Fellini that was subsequently adapted back to screen for a 2009 feature starring Daniel Day Lewis and Judi Dench. This is followed by performances of Sondheim’s Assassins (3-6 July), a dark and funny exploration of the people who have attempted to assassinate US presidents across history – particularly timely in today’s world.

This term’s Composer-in-Residence is producer and performer of both acoustic and electronic music Anna Meredith, whose works have been performed everywhere from the Hollywood Bowl to the Last Night of the Proms. A performance from the Academy Manson Ensemble explores her music alongside that of Jonny Greenwood and Ryan Latimer (26 June). This concert will be preceded by an interview with Anna and the Academy’s Head of Composition Philip Cashian.

Audiences can also hear world class musicians sharing their knowledge and expertise with Academy students in our series of public masterclasses this term. We look forward to visits from sought-after accordion soloist Martynas Levickis (24 April), former Principal Clarinet of the London Symphony Orchestra Andrew Marriner (30 April), violist and Academy graduate Timothy Ridout (7 May), Visiting Professor of Violin Tasmin Little (9 May) and dramatic soprano Susan Bullock (24 June), among others.

Online booking opens at 10am on Friday 4 April, when all events will be live here.