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Music Tour

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

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)

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’

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

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

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)

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

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

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Home > Music > Principal study > Opera

Above: 2014's baroque opera, San Giovanni Batista in Milton Court Theatre

Opera Studies

Opera Studies provides intensive postgraduate training for up to 24 singers and four student repetiteurs at any one time. It offers advanced vocal training and operates at a professional level, presenting a range of productions, from opera scenes and chamber opera to three full-scale operas over the two years of study.

In 2007 the Opera Department won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the quality of its work and its innovative training programme.

Postgraduate

Guildhall Artist Masters (MMus/MPerf) in Performance

Read more about our Masters in Performance, or choose from the specialisms below.

Artist Diploma

Read more about studying our Artist Diploma.

Opera Studies

The Opera Studies specialism provides you with singing lessons, individual coaching in roles and repertoire, and acting and stage techniques such as movement, dance, make-up and drama. As part of the programme you will take part in workshop productions of scenes and fully-staged public productions. And you will receive dedicated language coaching and career guidance.

You must have a developed vocal technique to enrol on this specialism. Vocal maturity and your potential for development will be taken into consideration.

Your training in stage techniques and musical coaching will be overseen by experienced visiting professionals. In addition to vocal and dramatic training, the Department puts on three full public productions each year and three programmes of operatic excerpts in workshop settings, developed in full partnership with the Technical Theatre Department. In the summer term, these collaborations include new work by composers and librettists on the MA in Opera Making and Writing, in association with the Royal Opera House.

  • Singing lessons
  • Individual coaching in roles and repertoire
  • Acting and stage techniques - movement, dance, make-up and drama
  • Language coaching
  • Workshop productions of scenes
  • Fully staged public productions
  • Career guidance

Repetiteur Training

This specialism is for highly accomplished pianists and sight-readers who have experience of accompanying singers and knowledge of the operatic repertoire.

Run from within the Opera Department, this is a one or two-year programme offering a number of study components. These include accompanying opera production rehearsals and coaching singers on the Opera programme. You will also undertake individual coaching and training in repetiteur techniques, as well as harpsichord tuition and continuo playing, piano lessons and language coaching. Accompanying coaching sessions and introductory training in opera conducting are available for those who are interested.

  • Accompanying opera production rehearsals
  • Coaching singers on the Opera Course
  • Individual coaching
  • Training in repetiteur techniques
  • Harpsichord tuition and experience of continuo playing
  • Piano lessons
  • Language coaching
  • Accompanying coaching sessions with guest coaches
  • Introductory training in opera conducting for those interested

MA in Opera Making & Writing

This new Masters programme allows composers and writers to focus on how new opera is created, developed and performed. Part of an exciting partnership between Guildhall School and the Royal Opera House, the programme is led by Julian Philips, Head of Composition.

Find out more about the MA in Opera Making & Writing.