Today, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland comes together to celebrate the Class of 2021 at its autumn graduation.

Over the past 18 months, students have risen to many challenges and shown great resilience, creativity and passion for the performing arts. RCS will recognise their remarkable achievements at two ceremonies at 4pm and 7pm.

This is the first in-person graduation at RCS since 2019 and is part of a limited series of test events taking place this autumn to help plan a more extensive programme of public performances in 2022. The ceremonies will be delivered under strict health and safety guidelines. A number of students will also graduate in absentia.

Graduation will also feature a special pre-recorded video segment featuring Alan Cumming, the Scots-born superstar of stage and screen who returned to his drama school roots in August to receive an honorary doctorate of drama, presented in a small and intimate ceremony in Glasgow under strict Covid safety regulations.

Graduating at the in-person 4pm ceremony

• Master of Arts (Accompaniment)
• Master of Arts (Chamber Music)
• Master of Arts (Performance)
• Master of Music (Performance)
• Master of Music (Traditional Music)
• Bachelor of Music (Composition)
• Bachelor of Music (Jazz)
• Bachelor of Music (Performance)
• Bachelor of Music (Traditional Music)
• Bachelor of Music (Traditional Music – Piping)
• Bachelor of Education (Music)
• MA (Learning and Teaching – Gaelic Arts)
• MEd (Learning and Teaching in the Performing Arts)

Graduating at the in-person 7pm ceremony

• MA Acting Classical and Contemporary Text
• MA Classical and Contemporary Text (Acting)
• MA Classical and Contemporary Text (Directing)
• MA Musical Theatre (Musical Directing)
• MA Musical Theatre (Performance)

Aberfeldy-born Alan, an acting alumnus, was honoured for his multi-award-winning and genre-spanning career that has taken him everywhere from Hollywood to Broadway, and his passionate and lifelong dedication to equality and human rights.

Alan said: “I feel very moved on receiving this honorary doctorate. I came to study here 36 years ago and I felt like I belonged here from the word go. The spirit of this institution has made me the performer that I am today.

“Three years of training and developing technique is very special — the older I’ve got I realise how important this training has been and the confidence I gained here has stood me in such good stead. I really like that I went to college here in Glasgow – it allowed me to make mistakes, to learn and to have a laugh.”