The College was established in 1949 as
Cardiff College of Music at
Cardiff Castle, but in 1973 moved to purpose-built accommodation within the castle grounds of
Bute Park near
Cardiff University. In 1970 it changed its name to the
Welsh College of Music & Drama before being awarded its royal title during
Queen Elizabeth II's
golden jubilee in 2002, making it the fifth conservatoire to be awarded this title. From 1973, the College's
degrees BA, BEd, MA, were awarded by the
University of Wales and in 2004 the college became part of the federal university. In 2007, however, it left the university and agreed to a merger (referred to as a "strategic alliance") with the
University of Glamorgan. The University of Glamorgan merged with the
University of Wales, Newport, in 2013 to form the
University of South Wales, so RWCMD is now part of the University of South Wales Group. The College provides education and training in the performing arts and technical theatre, including music, acting, design, stage management and arts management. It was the first
All-Steinway conservatoire in the UK and in 2020 became the world's first Steinway Exclusive Conservatoire, meaning that every acoustic piano at the College is now a Steinway. The
Anthony Hopkins Centre, housed in the former
Cardiff Castle Stables, was opened in 1999. In 2010, as part of the College's 60th anniversary celebrations, students from the College performed in a gala concert at
Buckingham Palace, attended by the College's patron,
the Prince of Wales. At this event Dame Elizabeth Taylor presented the Prince of Wales with a bronze bust of the legendary actor Richard Burton, to stand outside the College's new Richard Burton Theatre. A second gala evening was presented at Buckingham Palace in 2016 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the College's new facilities. A £22.5m expansion of the College was opened in 2011, including two new performance venues (Richard Burton Theatre and Dora Stoutzker Hall), the Carne Foyer, a new front of house area including a performance space and bar/cafe, and rehearsal studios. It was opened by Richard Burton's daughter, Kate Burton. It is a member of the
Federation of Drama Schools. == Academic programmes ==