The New Ensemble is the contemporary music group of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and is directed by Clark Rundell. With the enviable resources of one of the finest music colleges in Europe, the ensemble is able to programme concerts of tremendous variety and musical integrity by drawing on the exceptional talents of senior RNCM students. The ensemble also provides unique laboratory sessions for RNCM composers, allowing them to experiment musically with performers on a regular basis.

The ensemble has made several broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and have recorded for Metier and NMC. They shared a platform with the BBC Philharmonic in concerts in which James MacMillan conducted his own works and have participated in the RNCM's major festivals.

The RNCM Wind Orchestra was formed over thirty years ago and has been recognised for some time as one of the leading conservatoire ensembles in the UK.  It has given regular broadcasts on both Radio 3 and Radio 2, and performed in numerous festivals in both the UK and Europe. Their debut at the Royal Festival Hall was in 2989, when they joined the National Youth Choir.

In their regular series of concerts at the College, they have performed over 500 works and have led the field in commissioning new, and rescuing older, works. It has recorded a number of CDs for Chandos, Doyen, NMC, Polyphonic and Metier labels.