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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

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
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

Oliver Leith
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 mucisian, 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 > Opera > Auditions

Opera Studies Auditions

Opera Studies

The audition is comprised of two rounds – candidates who are successful in the first round will be invited to sing again in the second round.

First Round

Candidates should prepare two contrasting operatic arias. Those whose first language is not English must offer one aria, either originally composed in, or translated into English.

Second Round

Candidates invited to sing in the second audition should prepare two contrasting operatic arias, one of which must be different from those offered in the first round. They will also be required to attend a 30 minute movement & drama workshop so please bring an appropriate change of clothes.

Joint Postgraduate Vocal Studies & Opera Course Audition

Candidates may choose to be considered for the Vocal Studies and Opera Studies courses. In order to audition for both, students should select the ‘Joint Application – Opera/Vocal Studies’ option when making an application. At the audition, panellists will assess which course would be most appropriate, and successful candidates will be offered a place in either Vocal Studies or Opera Studies.

Candidates who wish to be considered for both the Vocal Studies and the Opera Studies courses (joint Opera/PVT audition) should prepare the following:

Guildhall Artist Programme (Joint Opera/Vocal Studies application)

  • The FOUR items plus poem/prose listed under Guildhall Artist Programme (Vocal Studies), which must include at least one aria from an opera or operetta
  • one additional contrasting opera or operetta aria. For those whose first language is not English, one of the arias must be in English (either original or in translation).

Artist Diploma (Joint Opera/Vocal Studies application)

  • Two opera/operetta arias (one of which must be in English for those whose first language is not English)
  • One song or oratorio aria
  • The full 25-30 minute programme outlined under Artist Diploma (Vocal Studies), which may include the two opera/operetta arias and song/oratorio item.

Joint Vocal Studies & Opera Course auditions take place in several rounds. Candidates should keep morning and afternoon of their first audition day free:

First Round

All candidates will be scheduled for a First Round audition to take place in the morning. In the First Round, the candidate should offer their two opera/operetta arias plus one other item from their list: the first item performed will be the candidate’s own choice and the audition panel will then select one further item. Candidates will be informed immediately whether or not they will progress to another round.

Second Round (Vocal Studies)

Candidates who progress to the Second Round (Vocal Studies) will be invited to return in the afternoon for a second audition at which all pieces and the prose/poem must be offered: the first item performed will again be the candidate’s own choice (this can be a repeat of an item heard in the First Round) and the audition panel will select further items from the full list. A short piece of sight-reading may be given. Candidates may also be asked to participate in a short individual performance workshop.

Second Round (Opera Studies)

Candidates who also progress to the Second Round (Opera Studies) will be invited to return at a later date. At this audition, candidates must present two contrasting operatic arias, at least one of which must be different from those offered in the first round. They will also be required to attend a 30 minute movement & drama workshop so please bring an appropriate change of clothes.

Repetiteur Studies

Candidates will be required to:

  • play and sing two contrasting operatic excerpts of their own choice. At least one extract must be an ensemble
  • sight-read from opera vocal scores
  • follow a conductor’s beat
  • take pronunciation tests in French, German and Italian

Advanced Certificate

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