Guildhall to partner with College of Music at Riyadh University of Arts
Guildhall School of Music & Drama is to help establish the College of Music at Riyadh University of Arts (RUA) in Saudi Arabia, under a major international partnership announced in March.
Guildhall said it will work with RUA to co-design undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, while also advising on the development of the new College of Music. The partnership will cover performance, music production and music education, and will include training and capacity-building for faculty.
Guildhall Principal Professor Jonathan Vaughn described the agreement as ‘a historic opportunity to support the introduction of high-quality music pedagogy and performance to young people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa region’. He added, ‘We know that music is a powerful enabler of communication across cultures, and this collaboration will facilitate cross-cultural exchange and the development of relationships between musicians across countries.’
The agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, with Guildhall becoming an academic partner of RUA’s College of Music.
According to the announcement, Guildhall will help develop programmes including BA Music, BA Music Education, BA Music Industries, MA Music Education, MA Music Performance/Composition, MA Music Industry & Production and DMus/PhD, alongside preparatory and diploma-level provision.
Ms Noha Kattan, Deputy Minister of National Partnerships and Talent Development at the Saudi Ministry of Culture, said, ‘This partnership reflects our commitment to advancing excellence in arts education and strengthening the music sector in Saudi Arabia.’
She added, ‘Through Riyadh University of Arts, we are setting a high benchmark for nurturing creative talent by integrating rigorous academic standards with meaningful industry engagement.’
Guildhall Chair Emily Benn said the collaboration was part of the School’s ‘long and proud history of partnership with leading cultural institutions across the globe’.
RUA, announced in 2025, is positioned as a major new institution for arts and culture in Saudi Arabia. Guildhall is one of a number of international partners linked to the university, alongside institutions including the Royal College of Art, SOAS, USC, AMDA and ESSEC Business School.