Orchestral Artistry: A pathway to the profession

Guildhall School has long been a training ground for many of the finest orchestral musicians performing across the UK and beyond. Our alumni can be found holding positions in world-class orchestras and ensembles, enjoying rewarding, sustainable and varied careers built on the strong foundations laid at Guildhall. As part of their portfolio careers, most undertake teaching roles, passing on their knowledge and experience to the next generation of aspiring performers, including here at Guildhall. Our students benefit hugely from studying with those performing at the highest level, giving them proximity to and understanding of the industry they hope to enter, which often proves invaluable when making the transition from student to professional. Yet for some, that transition can still be daunting. The earliest exposure to professional orchestral life that many students or recent graduates experience is through auditions or orchestral trials, high-pressure situations which can feel particularly overwhelming if they mark your first significant step into the industry.  

One of the ways in which Guildhall has sought to better bridge the gap between a conservatoire education and a professional career is through our master’s programmes in Orchestral Artistry. Delivered by Guildhall School and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), this unique postgraduate specialism for strings, wind, brass and percussion combines advanced instrumental training with sustained access to one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. Since launching in 2013, Orchestral Artistry’s alumni have gone on to hold positions with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, alongside countless other trials and guest appearances as part of busy and successful freelance careers.  

Orchestral Artistry students on both our one-year Master of Music and two-year Master of Performance programmes work closely with LSO musicians throughout the duration of their studies, as opposed to short-term or occasional orchestral projects. Students experience regular side-by-side rehearsals and performances with internationally renowned conductors – such as LSO Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano – and exciting emerging conductors. They also benefit from orchestral repertoire coaching and mock auditions, all led by members of the LSO, and have the opportunity to observe how top orchestral musicians manage long-term sustainable careers, helping them to develop the skills and confidence they need to build their own successful careers in music.

As Armin Zanner, Guildhall School’s Vice-Principal and Director of Music notes, "Students join our Orchestral Artistry programmes to prepare for the full range of the profession”, outlining that the combination of “one-to-one lessons with orchestral training, chamber music, career development, networking and education work, leaves graduates with an exceptional depth of skill as employable musicians”. He adds that “the approachability of the LSO’s players, the informal learning opportunities and the collaborative culture” have all been highlighted by students as benefits of Orchestral Artistry, as well as “how much they have grown in confidence" from their studies.  

Jake Parker (Horn 2022) completed his undergraduate studies at Guildhall in 2021, before continuing on to the Orchestral Artistry master’s. “It’s easy to place professional musicians on pedestals”, Jake observes. “One of the healthiest aspects of Orchestral Artistry was that it broke down those barriers.” Jake acknowledges that the lessons he gained from the programme’s mock auditions “continue to influence how I approach auditions today”, a method that has proven successful for Jake, who was appointed Principal Horn of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland earlier this year. “What the course ultimately gave me was access to a world-class orchestra”, he reflects. 

Alongside the formal orchestral training and instrumental tuition that forms the core of Orchestral Artistry, students also benefit from workshops exploring various aspects of professional life and career development, mentoring and informal conversations with musicians, and the chance to network with other industry professionals. More often than not, these opportunities involve LSO musicians, who play a crucial part in the success of Orchestral Artistry. Discussing the importance of supporting students to move smoothly into professional careers, LSO Principal Bassoon and Guildhall School professor Daniel Jemison says, “I think it’s important that those of us who do it, we give everything that we have to offer. You know, there are no secrets.” This sentiment is echoed by Daniel’s fellow Guildhall professor and member of the LSO’s first violins Laurent Quenelle who states, “There's no competition, we're just there to help.” 

The importance of developing relationships with those already working in the orchestral world was noted by violinist and Orchestral Artistry alumna Yuriko Matsuda (Violin 2022) who plays with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. “Nothing beats when you get to know and talk to professional musicians”, she offers, adding that “orchestral playing requires its own set of skills. It's not just about playing well individually.”  

The potential range of skills required to forge a successful career as an orchestral musician is reflected in the breadth of Orchestral Artistry’s training. Studies also cover everything from chamber music experience and advanced musicianship to professional resilience and wellbeing, ensuring students are equipped with the collaborative, communication and leadership skills needed for a musician’s portfolio career.  

For any musician entering the orchestral world today, education and community engagement will play an important part in their career. That is why LSO Discovery, the LSO’s internationally renowned learning and participation programme, is a central pillar of Orchestral Artistry. Students not only learn how community-based programmes are delivered, working alongside LSO workshop leaders, performers and administrators, they also devise and deliver their own LSO Discovery workshops for primary school children. “Seeing the Discovery work that the LSO do has changed my perspective of what it means to be an orchestral musician.” states Daria Phillips (Bassoon 2023), who following studies in Orchestral Artistry went on to be the 2024/25 Trainee Music Leader for the Academy of St Martin-in-the Fields on the Spitalfields fellowship, where she has led music workshops in various settings. 

The importance of LSO Discovery and the opportunities to benefit from meaningful mentoring and relationships with LSO musicians are noted by the LSO’s Managing Director John Harte among the experience needed for “developing the confidence, judgement and skills that professional life demands.” These opportunities, “combined with the breadth of training and opportunity at Guildhall”, John adds, make “Orchestral Artistry an exceptional bridge between conservatoire study and a rich, sustainable professional career.” 

The impact of Orchestral Artistry in preparing students for careers in the professional world is summarised by Isabella Ward Ackland (Horn 2024), who is enjoying a successful freelance career, including trials with a number of UK orchestras. “I'm very grateful for it. I wouldn't be where I am today without the course.”

Applications to join our Master of Music and Master of Performance programmes in September 2027 close on 1 October 2026 (for those auditioning in London or Asia) and 1 December 2026 (for those auditioning in New York).

Find out more about Orchestral Artistry and overseas music auditions.