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Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

The School’s reputation of providing world-class tuition and support for every student has proved to be true – I have been supported every step of the way.

Ben Gernon
Conducting Fellow

Guildhall has a unique buzz and vibe to it…a great sense of community and friendliness

Rebecca Carson
BMus Flute

Being right next to the Barbican Hall and Milton Court is a great environment to be in, being able to regularly perform there gives us great perspectives

Ricky Gore
MMus Violin (Orchestral Artistry)

The tutors showed me how my wider interests are strengths to build on - I now more than ever feel like I've found an artistic purpose

Elena Gramatikovska
MMus Leadership

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

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

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

Rebekah Carpio
MMus Clarinet (Orchestral Artistry)

I have met some of the most inspiring people, from colleagues to teachers and visiting professors

Lorena Paz Nieto
BMus Vocal Studies

The strong collaboration between departments has created a very special and supportive atmosphere

Meili Li
MMus Opera Studies

The teaching staff encourage the diversity that Guildhall is known for…there is something for everyone, regardless of style and influence

Oliver Leith
MMus Composition

Such incredible musicians and inspiring teachers and the opportunity to hear from world-class visiting artists has been invaluable

Vijay Prakash
MMus Jazz Trombone

During my time here, I organised an international conference based around my subject involving delegates from 4 continents

Emily Baines
DMus, ‘Mechanical Musical Instruments as a Source for Historical Performance’

Every week I am involved in something different, whether it's a repertoire class, a sit-in on an LSO rehearsal, an oboe class, LSO outreach, or a Symphony Orchestra rehearsal.

Laura Campbell
MMus Oboe (Orchestral Artistry)

In my first year, I was given the opportunity to play with the Britten-Pears Orchestra. We performed a number of concerts and our CD, recorded at one of those concerts, went on to win the BBC Music Magazine Award for Best Opera Recording.

Andrew McCoy
BMus Tenor Trombone

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

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

I feel that the people here really make the institution. I found Guildhall to be a really supportive environment that gave me room to explore, take risks, and mature as a mucisian, and as a human being.

Francesca Chiejina
MPerf Vocal Studies

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

Music education can be exclusive and intimidating and I felt like Guildhall was one of the only places that was willing to just listen to the music I had made instead of trying to look up my résumé.

Rena Minegishi
BMus Electronic Music

Home > Music > Courses > Postgraduate > Guildhall Artist Programme > Performance

Guildhall Artist Masters in Performance

MMus/MPerf in Performance

Also Graduate Certificate

Strings | Wind | Brass | Percussion | Keyboard | Vocal Studies | Opera Studies* | Repetiteur | Piano Accompaniment | Chamber Music | Jazz | Historical Performance Practice | Orchestral Artistry


Introduction to the programme

  • Part One (MMus):
    One year full-time/two years part-time
  • Part Two (MPerf):
    One year full-time
    NB. Progression to Part Two is conditional on results from Part One
  • *Opera Studies is full-time only, and Part One takes two academic years.
  • 474 applications/105 places*

*2015/16 data for indicative purposes only

About the programme

Studying for a Guildhall Artist Masters in music performance prepares you for entry to the profession at the highest level. It gives you technical facility and musical flexibility, allowing you to explore and refine your individual artistic voice.

This programme is all about developing as an intelligent musician and practitioner; about challenging yourself and taking risks within your field of expertise. The School will provide you with a learning environment that enables you to recognise and nurture your strengths.

We respect creativity and a desire to learn, and want you to recognise and surpass your limits. As part of this development process, you will receive feedback from a variety of sources. To ensure you gain self-reliance and the confidence to further your career independently, we prioritise individual study and reflective practice. See our Principal Study pages for further information on instrument-specific tuition and performance opportunities.

At Guildhall Artist Masters level, the opportunities for professional exposure are even greater. You will study with at least one of our world-class professors. Your final recitals will be assessed by leading experts. You will work with internationally-renowned conductors and artists. And you will perform in some of the country’s finest venues. Many specialisms within this programme work closely with our partner organisations, particularly the Orchestral Artistry specialism delivered in association with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Professional specialisms

Within the Performance pathway, students study one of our professional specialisms according to instrument and area of interest:

Advanced Instrumental Studies

(Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Keyboard)

Intensive study for soloists and ensemble players

Chamber Music

(Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Keyboard)

For pre-existing groups and individuals who wish to hone their skills in chamber music

Historical Performance Practice

Embracing music from the middle ages to the early romantic period

Jazz

Intensive specialism for instrumentalists and singers

Opera Studies

Our award-winning specialism offering advanced operatic training

Orchestral Artistry in association with the LSO

(Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion)

Ground-breaking specialism placing students seeking a career in orchestral playing alongside LSO players and international artists.

Piano Accompaniment

Intensive study in collaborative pianism

Repetiteur

Specific repetiteur study for pianists within the Opera Department

Vocal Studies

Advanced study for singers who can specialise in areas of particular interest

Further information on our professional specialisms can be found in the Principal Study pages.

Part One (MMus)

In Part One most of your time is spent on your one-to-one Principal Study. But you will also take modules on topics relevant to your professional life such as research, self-reflection, and professional artistic development. You can also choose from a variety of Academic Studies and Creative Learning electives to broaden and deepen your musical expertise (see Elective Modules below).

Part Two (MPerf)

In Part Two, even more of your time is focused on Principal Study, with the remainder of the programme allowing time for a critique of your personal development.

Extended Guildhall Artist programme

An extended programme is available to postgraduate applicants with potential whose Principal Study is not yet at BMus (Hons) level. This programme includes an introductory year of Principal Study, and awards a Graduate Certificate to successful candidates who don’t progress on to the full programme. Further information is available on request from the Music Department.

Short Term Programme

We also have a postgraduate-level Short Term Programme, for those who have a four-year degree and may be considering postgraduate study. Running from September to February each year, the programme provides six months of intensive music tuition as a Guildhall School student, focused on Principal Study tuition and musicianship skills.

Electives

Students choose two or three electives from the following:

  • Additional Principal Study
  • Aesthetics and the philosophy of art
  • Analysis
  • Baroque studies
  • Body matters
  • Chamber music
  • Classical studies
  • Collaborative practice: cross-arts contexts
  • Collaborative practice: education contexts
  • Conducting
  • Counterpoint
  • Dramatised song and poetry
  • Electronic-acoustic music
  • Historical performance: principles and research
  • Interpretation through improvisation
  • Introduction to Fugue
  • Jazz composition and arranging
  • Jazz improvisation
  • Medieval and renaissance studies
  • Music for media
  • Opera and theatre
  • PianoWorks
  • Research in performance, composition or leadership
  • Song accompaniment
  • Song interpretation (for singers)
  • Stylistic composition
  • Voiceworks

Find out more

Further information on audition requirements, open days and how to apply.

Read more on Guildhall Artist Masters pathways: Orchestral Artistry, Leadership & Composition, and range of electives.