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Explore our Music facilities with Guildhall students

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

Rebecca Carson
BMus Flute

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

Vijay Prakash
MMus Jazz Trombone

Vijay Prakash
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

Andrew McCoy
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
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 musician, and as a human being.

Francesca Chiejina
MPerf Vocal Studies

Francesca Chiejina
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 > Principal study > Keyboard > Auditions

Keyboard Auditions

Piano - pre-recorded auditions

Following the government’s decision to raise London’s alert level to ‘high’ on 15 October, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all face-to-face auditions for external applicants for the autumn term.  All existing applications will be switched to a recorded (video) format.  

Undergraduate requirements: pre-recorded auditions

Three contrasting pieces of the your own choice are to be played from memory. 

Requirements for other instruments (Harpsichord, Fortepiano) can be obtained from the Music Office.

Guildhall Artist Masters - Advanced Instrumental Studies: Pre-recorded Auditions

For pre-recorded video auditions, you should submit a varied recital programme of 40 minutes. We ask that you record your audition in one take to reflect a live audition as closely as possible.

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required. This will be uploaded with your video recording and full instructions will be provided. 

Artist Diploma - Advanced Instrumental Studies: Pre-recorded Auditions

For pre-recorded video auditions, you should submit a varied recital programme of 60 minutes. We ask that you record your audition in one take to reflect a live audition as closely as possible.

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required. This will be uploaded with your video recording and full instructions will be provided.

Advanced Certificate

Audition requirements for the Advanced Certificate are the same as those for the Guildhall Artist Masters Performance Pathway.

Piano Accompaniment (PACC) - pre-recorded auditions

Guildhall Artist Masters: Pre-recorded auditions - audition repertoire for entry in September 2021

If pianists are unable to record the set repertoire listed above with vocal and / or instrumental partners, then a recording of the piano part alone is acceptable.

We are also happy to accept similar repertoire choices to the set works below.  These should include a movement from a duo sonata and two contrasting songs, alongside a short solo piece.

For entry in September 2021 candidates should prepare:

  • Short solo piece of your own choice 
  • Set works
    • Beethoven Sonata for piano and violin, Op 30 No 1 in A. First movement, Allegro (no repeat) 
    • Debussy En sourdine from Fêtes Galantes (for high voice, B major)
    • arr. Britten O the sight entrancing from Moore’s Irish Melodies (for high voice, C major)

For further details about the course, contact Pamela Lidiard, Deputy Head of Keyboard Studies: plidiard@gsmd.ac.uk

Pre-recorded auditions should be accompanied by a list of collaborative repertoire already studied, and a live interview (e.g. via Zoom) will also be arranged. 

Artist Diploma: Pre-recorded auditions

Please submit a varied recital programme of 60 minutes. This will generally be collaborative repertoire but some solo (no more than 30 minutes) is also acceptable. 

Pre-recorded auditions should be accompanied by a list of collaborative repertoire already studied, and a live interview (e.g. via Zoom) will also be arranged. 

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is also required.

Advanced Certificate

Audition requirements for the Advanced Certificate are the same as those for the Guildhall Artist Masters pathway.

Keyboard – Live Auditions (Overseas Venues Only)

Live auditions are in-person auditions at one of our venues subject to travel restrictions in place at the time (Seoul, Hong Kong or New York).

Undergraduate requirements: Live auditions

Three contrasting pieces of your own choice are to be played from memory. 

Guildhall Artist Masters - Advanced Instrumental Studies: Live Auditions

For a live, in-person audition, please prepare a varied recital programme of 60 minutes, from which the audition panel will choose extracts.

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required. Please bring this with you to your audition.

Artist Diploma - Advanced Instrumental Studies: Live Auditions

For a live, in-person audition, please prepare a varied recital programme of 60 minutes, from which the audition panel will choose extracts.

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required. Please bring this with you to your audition. 

NOTE: We are currently reviewing whether live Artist Diploma auditions will go ahead in London as scheduled in Spring 2021. If they cannot, candidates will be offered a recorded/remote audition instead.

Advanced Certificate

Audition requirements for the Advanced Certificate are the same as those for the Guildhall Artist Masters Performance Pathway.

Piano Accompaniment (PACC) – Live Auditions (Overseas Venues Only)

Guildhall Artist Masters: Live auditions - audition repertoire for entry in September 2021

If you are auditioning at one of our overseas venues, please source your own soloists. Candidates who are unable to bring their own vocal and/or instrumental partners to this audition should contact Pamela Lidiard (plidiard@gsmd.ac.uk) to discuss possible options.

For entry in September 2021 candidates should prepare all of the following:

  • Short solo piece of your own choice 
  • Set works:
    • Beethoven Sonata for piano and violin, Op 30 No 1 in A. First movement, Allegro (no repeat) 
    • Debussy En sourdine from Fêtes Galantes (for high voice, B major)
    • arr. Britten O the sight entrancing from Moore’s Irish Melodies (for high voice, C major)
  • Sight-reading
  • Short interview  

For further details about the course, contact Pamela Lidiard, Deputy Head of Keyboard Studies: plidiard@gsmd.ac.uk

Artist Diploma: Live auditions

For a live, in-person audition, please prepare a varied recital programme of 60 minutes, from which the audition panel will choose extracts. This will generally be collaborative repertoire but some solo (no more than 30 minutes) is also acceptable.

If you are unable to bring your own vocal and/or instrumental partners to this audition, please contact Pamela Lidiard (plidiard@gsmd.ac.uk) to discuss possible options.

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is also required.

NOTE: We are currently reviewing whether live Artist Diploma auditions will go ahead in London as scheduled in Spring 2021. If they cannot, candidates will be offered a recorded/remote audition instead.

Advanced Certificate

Audition requirements for the Advanced Certificate are the same as those for the Guildhall Artist Masters pathway.