Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD.
Created from the collaborative efforts of the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music, the RNCM was created in 1972. The building itself, after many many *many* false starts over nearly 20 years opened in 1973.
The first principal was a chap called John Manduell. Its focus is on training professional musicians including composers, and now pop musicians. With its students it produces full orchestral concerts, fully staged operas and free weekly concerts.
The college also functions as a music and performance venue for the city.