The Royal Manchester College of Music was founded in 1893 by Sir Charles Hallé who assumed the role as Principal.

For a long period of time Hallé had argued for Manchester's need for a conservatoire to properly train the local talent.

The building was adapted for use as a college by the architects Salomons and Steinthal, and contained a 400-seat concert hall lined with walnut wood panelling, classrooms, a library and offices.

According to the Manchester Guardian, instead of a formal opening ceremony, donors were invited to a conversazione with Sir Charles Hallé and other musicians on Saturday October 7, 1893.

[6] In 1954 the Principal of the RMCM, Frederic Cox, started to explore the issue of amalgamation with the Northern School of Music.