287 THE ARTS 'WS^ERE TO STUDY MUSIC No. 2. -THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC By PEARL ADAM The Foundation of the Academy — The Encouragement Given by Royalty— How to Join — Curriculum and Facilities Offered — Fees, Scholarships, and Prizes — The Fund to Assist Poor Students over 500 ; and the list of those who have distinguished themselves subsequent to their Academy training is long and bril- liant. The list of women, headed alpha- betically by Miss Lena Ashwell, includes many names well known on the stage and platform. Subscribers to the institution may attend all the concerts, meetings, and lectures, etc., while fellows, associates, and honorary members have some of the same privileges. The subscribers are divided into four classes, members of each class enjoying privileges in proportion to the amount they pay. For instance, contributors of 100 guineas in one payment, or ten guineas annually, have the privilege of being present at, and of intro- ducing three persons to, all the public con- certs and distributions of prizes of the institution, and the fortnightly meetings, orchestral and choral practices, and lectures held at the academy so far as space and other circumstances permit. The second class, to which belong contributors of fifty guineas in one payment or five guineas annually, enjoy the same advantages as the members of the first class, except that the number of persons they may introduce is limited to two. The third class pays twenty-five guineas in one payment or three guineas HThe Royal Academy of Music is the oldest of any of the institutions founded with the idea of encouraging the study of music in the United Kingdom by general instruc- tion. It was owing to the exertions of John Fenn, eleventh Earl of Westmorland, that this royal and national institution was founded in 1822. In the following year it was opened under the direct patronage of George IV., who showed his interest in a tangible manner by an annual donation of 100 guineas. One of his last official acts was to sign the charter. William IV. commanded that a quarter of the proceeds of the Handel Festival in Westminster Abbey should be given to the academy. This was done, and the sum amounted to ;^2,250. Queen Victoria also was a patron, and she and the Prince Consort were present at a concert given for the benefit of the school in 1858. King Edward and Queen Alexandra, when Prince and Princess of Wales, attended in person the distribution of prizes in 1897 ; and shortly after his accession King George V. became, in his turn, the patron of the institution. With such a record of Royal approval it is no wonder that the academy has grown. It began in one small house in Tenterden Street, then it took a second house, then a third ; while at the present time ( 1910) a palatial building is being erected in Marylebone Road as a new home for the academy. Progress Made by the Academy Over 6,000 students, it is e s t i - mated, have been trained in the academy. In 1822 the number ad- mitted was 20. in 1910 it is usually The new home of the Royal Academy of Music in Marylebone Read annually, and the fourth class twelve guineas iji one pay- ment or one guinea annually. Members of these two classes have free access to all the meetings, etc., men- t i o n e d above, but are o n 1 y p e r mi t - ted to in- t rod u ce one person on such occasions.
