Preparing for peak performance

The modern Guildhall School is distinctive in being the only major European conservatoire which is both a music school and a drama school, and one which is pre-eminent in technical theatre, professional development and music therapy. A thriving Junior Guildhall, the recent addition of the Centre for Young Musicians and a range of annual summer schools further complement the outstanding opportunities available. Long recognised as a centre of excellence, the School has been twice-honoured by consecutive Queen's Anniversary Prizes; in 2005 for its unrivalled development and outreach programme, Guildhall Connect, and in 2007 in recognition of the achievements and work of the School's Opera Programme over the last two decades.

Since its founding in 1880, the Guildhall School has stood as a vibrant showcase of the City of London Corporation's commitment to education and the arts. Situated in the heart of the City, the School moved to its present premises in the Barbican in 1977 solidifying a unique link with both Europe's largest arts and conference centre, including the Barbican Hall and the Pit Theatre, and the world-class London Symphony Orchestra. This connection is now formally recognised with the establishment of the LINK Alliance, a partnership between the School, the Barbican Centre and the LSO to create the world's leading centre for performance, training and education in the performing and visual arts.

The reputation of the teaching and increasingly the research across all the disciplines in the School is unrivalled. Students experience working in a professional context to professional standards with an exemplary pool of outstanding artists who work with us as directors, conductors, coaches and tutors. The School's graduates consistently succeed at the highest levels of their chosen profession.

The School currently numbers over 800 students on its roll call, approximately 700 of whom are undergraduate and postgraduate music students. At the present time, 135 are studying on the Acting and Technical Theatre programmes. In any given year, about 40% of the students are from outside the UK typically representing over 40 nationalities.

The Guildhall continues to enhance its programmes and contribute to the cultural life of the City by forging even stronger ties not only with the Barbican Centre and the LSO, but also the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Jazz Festival, the City of London Festival, the Royal Court, and the RSC.

The most significant investment in the Guildhall School's future was recently announced with unveiling of the plans for the £90 million redevelopment of the neighbouring Milton Court site. The new building will house three new performance spaces: a concert hall (610 seats), a theatre (225 seats) and a studio theatre (up to 128 seats) in addition to drama teaching and administration spaces. By the anticipated opening in the spring of 2013, the Guildhall's facilities will at long last match the outstanding quality of its training and the success of its graduates.

This website provides a taste of the distinctive excellence at the Guildhall School in its programmes, performances and student life.