Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Guides
What's on
Where to go
See all

Future Music at RNCM

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Book now

Future Music

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester
13 June 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

From £5
RNCM
Book now

Future Music is an intriguing one-day festival at RNCM which looks at current developments in new music & technology. Over the course of the 13 June, there will be a series of performances, demonstrations, workshops, talks and debates on topics ranging from live coding to virtual reality to artificial intelligence. Here’s a run-down of the exciting – and mostly FREE – sessions on offer!

Book-ending the day will be a pair of DIY AI demos by Robert Laidlow, a PRiSM Researcher in AI-Assisted Composition in association with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Robert’s morning session will be followed by an opening provocation by the ever-insightful mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, who has recently released a new book entitled The Creativity Code. Then it’s an exciting demo by composer and Virtual Reality researcher Jonathan Packham, who will present some of the latest research in VR headset scoring, including new works scored using VR by Jonathan himself, Bofan Ma and Tywi Roberts.

Visions for the future of music creation.

For the coders out there, a particularly exciting session is scheduled for later on in the afternoon. In a workshop/talk/performance entitled Musical Robots, data musician and live coder Shelly Knotts will give his unique insight into the latest developments in live coding, including a new work by Tywi Roberts for live coding, synth, Sonic Pi and piano. Then it’s the pioneering Explore Ensemble’s turn to impress, with a showcase of Patricia Alessandrini’s robotic piano machine, performing Alessandrini’s own Tracer la lune d’un doigt and a new work by Zakiya Leeming.

Towards the end of the day, we’ll hear from applied Futurist Tom Cheesewright as he shares his visions for the future of music creation alongside Jonathan Packham, Shelly Knotts, and CEO of national new music charity Sound and Music, Susannah Eastburn. All before Marcus du Sautoy joins composers Emily Howard, Nicholas Moroz and Robert Laidlow in a discussion about the latest developments in AI and new music, featuring performances of new works incorporating AI technology as well as an interactive Turing test!

This looks like it’s going to be a fascinating event, and with the exception of that last performance which is priced at £5, it’s totally free!

What's on at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

Abel Selaocoe_Spring 2026_credit Phil Sharp_sq
Until
MusicManchester
Inspirational Artists at RNCM

The RNCM launches its second Inspirational Artists series, spotlighting a huge range of touring musicians and ensembles, each bringing something unique to the stage.

From £12.50

Where to go near Future Music at RNCM

Manchester
Restaurant
San Carlo Fumo

San Carlo Fumo is a sun trap on St Peter’s Square, serving up traditional Italian food at its best

Utility Gift Shop
Manchester
Shop
Utility Gift Shop

Utility Gift Shop on Oxford Road is all about products that are new, unique, quirky and cool. High street shopping at its best.

exterior of Contact Theatre building
Manchester
Theatre
Contact Theatre

Following a major redevelopment, the iconic venue on Oxford Road will be reopening its doors to welcome the public back into the building this autumn. 

The Salutation pub in Manchester
Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Salutation

This traditional boozer, surrounded by imposing flats and university buildings, was taken over by Trof (of the Deaf Institute fame). The Sally, as the regulars call it, hosts an energetic, arty crowd – and its recently expanded outside area is another good reason to visit.

See all places

What's on: Music

Daniel Avery in front of sun sculpture event poster
MusicManchester
Daniel Avery x Helios at Victoria Baths

Daniel Avery’s played in Manchester countless times over the last decade, but never quite like this – in an empty Edwardian swimming pool, beneath monumental installation art.

From £34.00
Kelham Jazz Festival
FestivalsKelham Island
Kelham Island Jazz Festival

Across breweries, warehouses and bars, Kelham Jazz Festival brings the city’s and the wider North’s jazz community together for the first time.

From £11.59
MusicManchester
Bar Italia at Manchester Academy 2

One of London’s most hyped bands of the last few years, Bar Italia are playing Band on the Wall in support of their latest album, Some Like It Hot.

From £19.45

Culture Guides

Music

From underground festivals showcasing emerging talent to global icons unveiling new work, here are our latest live music highlights.

Food and Drink in the North

Spring has arrived, bringing with it Mother's Day, al fresco dining and a rush of high-profile food and drink-related events in Manchester.

A pair of white angel wings displayed against a dark, black background. The lower parts of the wings are stained with vivid red, resembling blood splatter.
Theatre

This month’s theatre highlights span dystopian classics, political thrillers and bold new opera.

Ceramic Sculpture
Exhibitions

Across Manchester and Salford, exhibitions are thinking hard about how things are made – and how materials carry stories.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

See all guides