‘Higgledy-piggledy’ Royal Academy of Music building set for revamp after £30m gift

The Royal Academy of Music is set to refurbish its "higgledy-piggledy" building after receiving a record £30m donation. 

The gift came from Aud Jebsen, the UK-based Norwegian philanthropist who frequently attends concerts and operas. The Academy, founded in 1822 and based in London's Marylebone Road, trains around 750 students from nearly 60 countries each year. The principal of the world-renowned conservatoire, which counts conductor Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Elton John among its alumni, said the "transformational" gift would finally allow a long overdue renovation to take place.

Its Nash building and recital hall will be named after both Mrs Jebsen and her late philanthropist husband. Prof Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, the principal, told The Telegraph that the five­ floor building's "higgledy-piggledy" spaces were "no longer fit for purpose", either for students or the public.

"I always thought this [project] would just have to wait;' he added. "But she [Mrs Jebsen] said, 'Well, let's develop the idea. What is it you would need?' This is all about creating an environment for the most talented students:'

Mrs Jebsen was married to Kristian Gerhard Jebsen, who died in 2004. Having worked as a ship broker in New York, Paris and London, he joined Kristian Jebsens Rederi, the family shipping company, and built up a worldwide business.

Over the years, Mrs Jebsen has supported music and dance organisations, including the Royal Ballet School and Royal Ballet and Opera. Among those supported by her scholarships is a cellist who could never have afforded to train at the Academy without her help. "She's given generously in recent years, but nothing like as large as this £30m gift;' said Prof Freeman-Attwood. "She started coming to the Academy almost immediately after lockdown and took a great interest in what we were doing."

Wright & Wright Architects will carry out the three-year project, having recently completed work on other significant cultural institutions such as the British Museum and the Royal Opera House.

In 2010, it emerged that Sir Elton had quietly spent more than £Im financing dozens of students, attending their concerts and going backstage to show his appreciation for their performances.

Prof Freeman-Attwood said: "We've just celebrated his 100th scholarship. In an environment of increasing uncertainty, the Academy has, since its bicentenary in 2022, sought to create a more sustainable future through philanthropy, without which we could not remain a global leader."