The Royal Academy of Music is an institution of world renown, training nearly 700 students from over 50 countries in over 20 musical disciplines. The Academy is the UKÍs oldest music conservatoire, founded in 1822 and is located in the heart of London, alongside Regent's Park. Over the years, thousands of successful musicians have started their careers at the Academy: household names from Sir Simon Rattle to Sir Elton John and countless others who make their living in every branch of the music profession. The Academy offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (awarded by the University of London) and a range of advanced diploma courses for specialised study. Students can audition for a place in a variety of diverse and stimulating departments: all of the traditional instrumental and vocal disciplines, as well as Historical Performance, Jazz, Composition and Musical Theatre. A close-knit and truly international student community, with over 50 countries represented, the students at the Academy are some of most talented and exceptional musicians in the world. Over 90% of recent Academy graduates have established their careers in music by studying with a truly extraordinary line-up of internationally renowned musicians and teachers. The Academy's prestigious collections include instruments, paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings, memorabilia, manuscripts, letters, scores, performance materials and other musical objects. It houses what is arguably the world's most significant collection of Cremonese stringed instruments and displays these instruments and artefacts in its on-site museum. All of this combined with superb state-of-the-art rehearsal and performance venues, excellent recording facilities and plans to open a new theatre and recital hall in 2017, make the Academy unmatched in its delivery of the highest quality musical education.