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Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

Guildhall has prepared me for a career in music therapy from searching for jobs to having brilliant work experience from the placements they chose for me

Emma Barber
MA Music Therapy

Emma Barber
Guildhall had a crucial role in my success. The very high quality orchestral projects and masterclasses prepared me for professional life

Joao Seara
BMus Double Bass

Joao Seara
Studying at the Guildhall School has been a life-changing and unforgettable adventure

Rebekah Carpio
MMus Clarinet (Orchestral Artistry)

Rebekah Carpio
Working in pairs during the MA has helped me developer a deeper understanding of how opera composers work and how to spark their imaginations with a libretto.

Zoe Palmer (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Zoe Palmer (writer)
The relationship between the Barbican, BBC, and Guildhall is absolutely invaluable as it provides opportunities for students that cannot be found elsewhere.

Emiko Edwards
MPerf Piano

Emiko Edwards
Writing music for theatre has been a highlight of my time at Guildhall, as it has allowed me to explore an art form in which I have a great amount of interest and to work towards a professional finished product.

Alexander Hall
BMus Composition

Alexander Hall
Barbican is a key partner of Guildhall, and we can often get artists who perform there to do a masterclass or project with us, and we often do performances at Barbican events.

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
BMus Electronic Music

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
Whether it is in sit-in rehearsals, side-by-side projects or chamber orchestra sessions, the LSO players offer invaluable guidance and provide a glimpse of the exceptional standards we aspire towards.

Rees Webster
MPerf Oboe (Orchestral Artistry)

Rees Webster
I was excited to cover a role in the UK premiere of Andrew Norman's 'A Trip to the Moon' in the Barbican, have a solo recital at LSO St Luke's and also to sing on the stage of Wigmore Hall.

Mirjam Mesak
MPerf Vocal Studies

Mirjam Mesak
I knew about the fantastic tutoring and resources, but the friendly and stimulating environment clinched it for me.

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

Eden Lonsdale
I had the opportunity to play percussion with the Guildhall Studio Orchestra which gave me the chance to learn from, and play alongside, amazing senior players, as well as to perform with the incredible Liane Carroll.

Dave Adsett
BMus Jazz Drums

Dave Adsett
Guildhall is an institution that knows it has to be connected to the outside world - that's the key thing. It's not a bubble. It has roots in the city and in the world.

Jonathan Ferrucci
Artist Diploma Piano

Jonathan Ferrucci
One minute you could be playing in the Guildhall Studio Orchestra with jazz musicians, the next you could be playing in the opera pit, then the next minute you'll b e with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

Millie Ashton
The departmental philosophy of returning opera back to something that is essentially produced as part of a company is a really great thing.

Klara Kofen (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Klara Kofen (writer)
The quality of teaching is amazingly high. With the guidance and help that I've been given, I feel my work has got dramatically better over a short space of time.

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
I set up a piano trio when I arrived, and we have weekly coaching with members of the Endellion Quartet and the faculty. It has been very rewarding.

Leo Popplewell
MMus Cello

Leo Popplewell
It seemed like this was a place to go and experience a complete world of art and performance and see what happened - a place that really encouraged you to make things that you want to make.

Vittorio Angelone
BMus Percussion

Vittorio Angelone
Home > Music > Courses > Postgraduate > Guildhall Artist Programme > Orchestral Artistry

Above: Guildhall students rehearse with Sir Simon Rattle for Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' opera The Hogboon

Orchestral Artistry

MMus/MPerf in Performance (Guildhall Artist Masters): Orchestral Artistry

In association with the London Symphony Orchestra

LSO logo

For: Bowed Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion


Introduction to the programme

  • Part One (MMus): one year full-time
  • Part Two (MPerf): one year full-time
    NB. Progression to Part Two is conditional on results from Part One

About the programme

Orchestral Artistry is an exciting professional specialism for advanced instrumentalists seeking a career in orchestral playing. Part of the Guildhall Artist Masters programme and delivered in association with one of the world’s leading orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) it offers a course of study which is both highly distinctive and ground-breaking in scope, in a context akin to a professional environment.

Students take part in orchestral repertoire training, audition preparation and practice and coaching sessions with LSO players, as well as LSO rehearsal sit-ins, masterclasses and education and community projects.

Watch the video

Find out more about the programme from Guildhall students, staff and LSO players, with footage from rehearsals with Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Antonio Pappano and Bernard Haitink.

 

The London Symphony Orchestra

Orchestral Artistry is delivered in association with the London Symphony Orchestra, Resident Orchestra at the Barbican in London where it performs around 70 concerts a year, alongside extensive international touring. Widely acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, the LSO has an enviable family of artists, with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle as Music Director, Gianandrea Noseda and François-Xavier Roth as Principal Guest Conductors and Michael Tilson Thomas as Conductor Laureate.

Pierre Boulez famously described the orchestra as ‘an ensemble of possibilities’ – and Orchestral Artistry embodies this challenge. The programme focuses on orchestral training, education and outreach and early career support for the orchestral players of the future.

We value an entrepreneurial attitude to the arts; not only will you master your craft, you will acquire the skills, knowledge and capabilities you need to become a high-achieving 21st century performing artist. LSO players share their knowledge and experience with the next generation of gifted orchestral musicians; and students gain confidence and a detailed understanding of what’s required at the highest level of the profession.

The programme

The programme focuses on orchestral training and repertoire, education and outreach, and early career support. Individual lessons are led by Guildhall School’s professors, some of whom are LSO players. Students receive regular coaching in orchestral sectionals, audition experience, and instrumental classes.

  • Intensive orchestral repertoire training: full orchestra, sectionals and single-instrument classes from Guildhall professors and a variety of LSO players (with opportunities to play side-by-side with LSO players in Orchestral Artistry repertoire sessions)
  • Audition preparation and practice, with feedback
  • LSO rehearsal sit-ins (either listening within, or playing, alongside the section)
  • Occasional LSO performance opportunities with LSO Discovery, including at the Barbican and in Trafalgar Square
  • Masterclasses, Q&A sessions and coaching, either as an observer or a performer, with a variety of LSO players, guest soloists and conductors.
  • Shadowing LSO players in LSO Discovery workshops (education & community programme)
  • Professional development sessions: developing knowledge and understanding of the orchestral ecosystem and its protocols

There are also masterclasses from LSO players, international soloists and members of Barbican's visiting orchestras and ensembles such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic (International Orchestra Partner), Australian Chamber Orchestra (International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court) and Jazz at Lincoln Center (International Associate Ensemble).

Students have sit-in opportunities, either listening or playing alongside LSO players in orchestral rehearsals conducted by its roster of international conductors including Music Director Sir Simon Rattle, and access to the full range of the LSO’s education and community programmes. This will enable you to learn how community based programmes are delivered, and to meet professional workshop leaders, performers and administration teams.

Performance opportunities

Performance opportunities embrace a variety of orchestral contexts, including symphony orchestra concerts at the Barbican, and the opera orchestra for productions by the School’s acclaimed Opera Department. Additionally, Orchestral Artistry students will have occasional opportunities to perform in LSO Discovery concerts and the annual Trafalgar Square concert.

LSO Discovery

You will be given a practical introduction to the LSO’s Discovery department, with its wide variety of education and community projects, with opportunities to shadow and play alongside LSO players in workshops, and to coach school-age musicians. This will enable you to learn how community-based programmes are delivered, and meet the professional animateurs, performers and administration teams involved in these projects.

Part One (MMus)

Orchestral Artistry focuses on excellence in performance, core musicianship skills and leadership and communication.

A diverse programme of core and elective modules in Part One from the Guildhall Artist Masters programme will enable you to further develop your skills in practical subjects and research. You will also devise and deliver an LSO Discovery workshop for primary school children. 

Part Two (MPerf)

Students progressing to Year 2 will be given more autonomy in arranging your own assessed projects, as well as continuing activities from the first year. The second year is strongly focused on further development of technical and artistic abilities. Breadth of repertoire, individual creative output and professional experience are also key features.

Students in both years can take part in the LSO’s education and community programmes such as LSO On Track and Early Years Outreach. This will enable you to learn how community-based programmes are delivered, and to meet professional animateurs, performers and administration teams involved in these projects. 

Postgraduate Funding Support

Find out more about government financial support that is available for this programme.

Find out more

Visit our Music pages for further information on teaching staff, audition requirements, open days and how to apply.