Liverpool College of Music


Liverpool College of Music was an academy for classical musicians that existed between around 1884 and 1911, originally at 11 Hardman Street. The building was first known as the Meyerbeer Hall and was opened on 31 December 1867. It was also used by Liverpool Spiritualist Church from 4 June 1876 to 1885 before becoming the College. By 2020 the building had become the 'Hard Wok Café'.
The College appeared to change name and location numerous times. Although some records refer to 'since 1884' and others to 'established in 1895', there is a report of the 'new Music School, Liverpool ' opening on 21 January 1892, and also a tenth-anniversary concert on 10 November 1902. The decision to change from 'School' to 'College' was taken around May 1896.
During its existence, the College moved first to 98 Upper Parliament Street, and then, sometime after 1895, to Canning Street. A directory from 1900 shows the Liverpool College of Music registered at 98 Upper Parliament Street, while Hardman Street is instead shown as home of the Liverpool Conservatoire of Music. A Liverpool Institute of Music and Liverpool School of Music are also shown.
By 1901 Phipps was advertising the Conservatoire as having 'forty professors' and multiple establishments in London and Manchester as well as Liverpool. The Conservatoire appeared to offer examinations throughout the country. By 1907 he was also advertising a National Society of Musicians.
However, by October 1910 the College was already bemoaning a lack of suitable premises and scholarships, leading promising students to go elsewhere, and eventually it closed in January 1911 due to lack of funds.
However, Phipps continued to use the name for many years afterwards: an October 1912 advertisement for the National Conservatoire of Music, Ltd lists branches at "Liverpool College of Music, 44 Princes Rd; & Manchester". As late as 1920, this National Conservatoire of Music was still listing its "Educational Dept" as being "also at Liverpool College of Music, 62 Princes Rd".

Staff and alumni

Names associated with the College include some that are internationally renowned, while others are better known on a local level or within specific genres: