National College of Music
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The National College of Music, London, was established in 1894. Today it is principally an examination board, offering the normal grade examinations in music, drama and speech, as well as the diploma examinations of Associate (ANCM), Licentiate (LNCM) and Fellow (FNCM). External link: http://www.nat-col-music.org.uk
A small number of honorary fellowships are awarded each year to those who are considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the world of music.
The Patron of the College is the newsreader, Huw Edwards (journalist), and the Advisory Council, which was created in 2006, and is akin to the college's governing body, consists of Huw Edwards, Lady Jennie Younger of Deutsche Bank, Ralph Townsend the HM of Winchester College, and the composer Pam Wedgwood.
The BBC journalist Raphael Rowe, who was one of the M25 Three, has recently accepted an invitation to join the College's Advisory Council. It was felt that his presence would help to enable young people of all socio-economic backgrounds and creeds to realise their musical and artistic potential.
The National College of Music implemented its 'Certificate of Practical Musicianship' in 2004, which is an initiative designed to provide those with musical aptitude with a form of recognition of their ability, or to provide an incentive to work through the graded examinations.
The President of the College is Dr Ray Steadman-Allen and the Chair is Eric Hayward, both of whom were distinguished musicians in the Salvation Army.
Such is the ethos of the college that it endeavours to create musicians rather than instrumentalists and its wide-ranging options provide evidence of this. Recently an initiative has taken place in Birmingham, which offers opportunities for young people from less affluent areas in speech and drama. Another recent initiative has been a syllabus for Bible reading.