The Royal Danish Academy of Music is a state institution under the Ministry of Culture. The purpose of the Academy is determined by law. The vision and strategies of the Academy have stated in our action plan and a performance contract with the Ministry of Culture.
The Danish Act no. 289 of 27 April 1994 and amendment no. 142 of 17 March 1999 about institutes of artistic educations state that the Academies shall serve the purpose of providing the highest education in music and music pedagogy and generally contributing to the furtherance of musical culture in Denmark. The Academy is to carry on artistic and pedagogical revolutionary activities, and it may research a scientific basis within its fields of activity.
The Royal Danish Academy of Music is an institution rich in tradition, and it aims at making itself known as one of the best music academies in Europe. In this context, it is defined through the following partial aims:
- The courses of the Royal Danish Academy of Music must, in the best possible way, ensure that the students find occupation at a high professional level.
- The teaching of the Royal Danish Academy of Music must be based upon work of research and development, which within the artistic and the pedagogical field should be characterized as curios, forthcoming and progressive combined with an understanding of the importance of tradition.
- The Royal Danish Academy of Music must be in a permanent, creative dialogue with Danish and international musical life.
The Royal Danish Academy of Music was founded in 1867 by the composer Niels W. Gade. It is the eldest professional institution of musical education in Denmark and the largest with approximately 400 students. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II is a Protector of the institution.
The inspiration for founding the Academy was similar academies in Germany, and it was Niels W. Gade's guiding principle that a music academy should provide primary musical education. This principle has been central despite several significant changes in the running of the Academy since 1867. In 1948 the Academy was taken over by the Danish government.
The Royal Danish Academy of Music is a power center in the classical music world, representing the highest international level and compares it to and cooperates with a number of the foremost music academies in the world. The Academy offers study programs within music and music pedagogy at the highest level. It is taught by a corps of teachers, numbering several of the greatest names in music, including many international capacities affiliated as guest professors. The study environment is very international and characterized by a healthy competition accentuated interaction between the students, Danish, and international students.
The Academy offers a wide selection of study programs at the bachelor, master, and advanced postgraduate soloist level aiming at employment as musicians, organists, composers, music teachers, tonmeisters, or other employment possibilities within the music world. The advanced postgraduate programs improve the students' level to the highest possible as soloists, opera singers, composers, or conductors.
In addition to the study programs, the Academy has important assignments within artistic and pedagogical development activities and research, as well as activities furthering both music and music culture (concerts, festivals, CD recordings, book releases, etc.)
Classical music is a central part of our culture and cultural heritage, and for RDAM, this means that the study programs and the full range of public concerts spring from more than five hundred years of music - all the way to the latest trends. It is a gigantic music treasure, characterized by a great diversity of styles, genres, and idioms. It is both committing and inspiring to develop further and to actualize continually so that it will continue to be relevant to modern people and thus our community.
As a metropolitan academy, RDAM has a comprehensive network of collaborators that, decisively, enriches the study programs as well as all other activities. Internationally the Academy cooperates with leading academies in Europe, the USA, and China. On the national scene, the collaboration includes the other artistic, educational institutions under the Ministry of Culture and several leading universities. The collaboration with the Royal Theatre has a unique position - not least because of the joint running of the Opera Academy and the collaboration with Copenhagen Phil and the Danish Radio.
The Academy is housed in iconic buildings drawn by the Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen (the former National Radio House). It contains thoroughly modern teaching and practice rooms as well as grand concert halls and recording studios in the international top class.
During the summer of 2008, the Academy moved into newly renovated premises. Thus the Academy has at its disposal completely new teaching and practice facilities of a high standard.
The Academy also has sublime concert and production facilities. A completely new music library, an extensive collection of instruments, a cozy canteen with roof gardens are some of the facilities the Academy offers the students and staff.
The building is the beautiful Radio House designed by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen and was built in the 1930s and 1950s. The Concert Hall was completed in 1945. The building is divided into different wings and was listed in 1994. This striking building has now been transformed into a modern music academy.