Guildhall launches new Masters in Electronic Music to commence in September 2020

Guildhall School of Music & Drama today announces a new postgraduate Electronic Music degree which commences in September 2020, making it the only London conservatoire to offer the subject at postgraduate level. This one-to-two year programme is designed with a practical and project-based approach to provide a fast-paced and diverse preparation for professional life, and offers students the opportunity to specialise in a number of growth areas of the creative industries, including film music, game audio, and songwriting and production.

The course allows musicians to explore and refine their individual artistic specialism in or across several of the department’s seven specialist disciplines:

• Electronic Music – a broad curriculum throughout, involving activity across all disciplines
• Film Music – covering all media composition and production including film, television, radio and production music
• Sonic Arts – incorporating electroacoustic composition, sound art, installations, experimental music
• Game Audio – specialist study of music, sound and programming for games
• Live Electronics – for those focusing on live performance with electronics, from DJing to experimental performance 
• Popular Music Production – songwriting and production across all genres
• New Media – creative musical expression with new technology such as instruments and interfaces

Mike Roberts, Head of Electronic Music & Music Technology says: “I'm really excited that we are now able to offer postgraduate level opportunities in the Electronic Music department to help musicians refine their skills in the broad and growing field of electronic and produced music.  For 20 years we've been pioneering a one-to-one approach to teaching in these growth areas and the new postgraduate course allows us to extend the vitality of this approach to even more musicians.  The emergence of the professional Guildhall Session Orchestra out of our increasing activity in film music, game audio and popular music production is especially exciting and further sets us apart as offering a unique environment in which to launch successful careers in music.” 

At MMus level, musicians spend the year producing three portfolios of musical activity: original artistic output, collaborative projects and project leadership. This is supported by a combination of one-to-one lessons, classes, and collaborative group sessions and seminars. Exceptional musicians are given the opportunity to continue their studies at MComp level, where musicians undertake a portfolio of three self-directed artistic projects alongside one-to-one tuition, strengthening artistic and professional development.

Musicians have access to many creative and collaborative opportunities at Guildhall School including working with the Production Arts department to produce events with a range of external clients, such as the Museum of London’s current Beasts of London experience created by artists from all Guildhall departments.

The conservatoire also offers the chance for Electronic Music students to work regularly with the professional musicians of the Guildhall Session Orchestra, an ensemble created specifically to bring to life music produced by the Electronic Music department.

The inaugural concert of the Guildhall Session Orchestra takes place on Wednesday 3 July at Milton Court Concert Hall, directed by Head of Electronic Music & Music Technology Mike Roberts. The evening of hybrid electro-orchestral music will feature highlights from recent projects, including the full soundtrack to the Museum of London’s Beasts of London experience as well as music composed for Guildhall’s light projections at Waddesdon Manor and for Barbican Film soundtracks. There are also world premieres of new works written specially for the orchestra by composers of the School’s Electronic Music department.

Applications for September 2020 entry to the Masters programme open in July this year and close in October. Visit the programme webpages for more information.

Tickets: for Guildhall Session Orchestra concert £15 (£5 concessions), available from Barbican Box Office.