Introduction

The Royal College of Music's Museum of Instruments houses an internationally renowned collection of over 800 instruments and accessories from c.1480 to the present (700 European, keyboard, stringed and wind; 100 Asian and African). Gifts since the foundation of the College in 1883 include important collections from the Rajah Sir Sorindro Mohun Tagore (1884), the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1886), Sir George Donaldson (1894), A.J. Hipkins (1911), E.A.K. Ridley (1968), Geoffrey Hartley (1985), Amaryllis Fleming (2002), Richard Walton (2003) and Crispian Steele-Perkins (2003). The collection was re-housed in a new museum in 1970, made possible by the generosity of Trusts and donors.

The Museum also has on display some of the most famous paintings from the College's collection, including two - portraits of Jan Ladislav Dussek and George Henschel - purchased with support from the National Art Collections Fund and other Trusts and donors.

Opening times & admission

• The Museum of Instruments is open to the members of the public (admission: free) on Tuesdays to Fridays from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. Closed for Christmas and Easter vacations. Please click here for term dates.

• RCM staff and students may visit during public openings, and at other times by appointment.

• Group/special visits (£5 per person) can be arranged by appointment with the Curator.

• Research access to the Centre's collections is by prior appointment only. Click here for details.
   

Staff

Jenny Nex BMus (Hons), MA Curator
Andrew Earis PhD, BSc (Hons)  FTCL ARCO Research Associate
Michael Mullen BMus, MAMus Assistant Curator