Founded in 1822, the Royal Academy of Music is one of the most recognisable names in music. As Britain’s senior conservatoire, its impact on musical life, both in the UK and abroad, is inestimable. Academy alumni include Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Tavener, Sir Elton John, Annie Lennox and Lesley Garrett as well as principals in some of the world’s leading orchestras, best-selling recording artists such as Katherine Jenkins, and media celebrities Aled Jones and Myleene Klass.

In 2009 the Academy was rated the best conservatoire for research, it was the second-highest rated institution in the country for student satisfaction, and The Guardian rated it the best of the country's specialist institutions and the best place to study music in Britain.

When the Royal Academy of Music contacted Orchid Software in June this year, the proposed intranet included a very specific set of requirements that would be key to the success of any supplier's software; the intranet itself would need to serve a variety of purposes to provide both staff and students with the tools they needed at the academy.

From a staff perspective, the Royal Academy of Music intranet would have to look after elements of the day-to-day internal communications and administration side of their roles, including calendars, news, documents, reports and policies, but on the teaching side the system would serve a dual purpose.

An online e-portfolio was required where, in addition to viewing calendar appointments and documents, Royal Academy of Music students could have their own individual intranet accounts; the academy needed somewhere that could store podcast-style audio and video files of student compositions and performances, ready to be assessed by tutors and/or viewed by their peers and colleagues.

Fortunately, the Media Library enhancement to Orchidnet’s Image Library application already included the functional foundations for such a facility, and a fuller, detailed specification was produced in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music to provide the ‘killer app’ for their intranet. As a result, Orchidnet was chosen for the Royal Academy of Music intranet in October 2009, and Orchid Software is currently working with Royal Academy of Music staff to roll out the project for an imminent go-live date.

You can visit the Royal Academy of Music website by clicking here.


About the Royal Academy of Music:
As Britain’s senior conservatoire, The Royal Academy of Music has been training musicians to the highest professional standards since its foundation in 1822. Every year some of the most talented young musicians from over fifty countries come to study at the Academy, attracted by renowned teachers and by a rich artistic culture that broadens their musical horizons, develops their professional creativity, and fosters their entrepreneurial spirit.

About Orchid Software:
Orchid Software is a world leader in software development for intranet/extranets using the acclaimed Orchidnet platform. Formed in 1994, with head offices in Gateshead, Great Britain, the company provides consulting services, application integration, training and support to some of the world's most successful companies.

About Orchidnet:
Orchidnet is a powerful, easy-to-use intranet/extranet solution designed for the effective distribution of information across an organisation. It consists of a suite of applications that enable employees, partners, and customers to capture, shape and share knowledge using nothing more than a Web browser. Over 150,000 people use Orchidnet every day, including some of the world's most successful organisations.