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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 > Strings, Harp and Guitar > Auditions

Strings, Harp and Guitar 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.  

Recorded Auditions – Bowed Strings

Please upload a pre-recorded video following the below audition requirements.

Successful candidates will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) with with two senior members of Strings Department staff at a later date.

Undergraduate requirements

Violin/Viola/Cello

  1. The 1st movement from a concerto in the standard repertory with cadenza where appropriate 
  2. One contrasting piece of your own choice 

Double Bass 

  1. A study of your own choice from 57 Studies - Book 1 by Storch-Hrabe (International Music Co. - Kalmus)
  2. Two contrasting movements from a baroque sonata (e.g. Marcello, Vivaldi, Eccles etc.)
  3. One piece of your own choice. 

Postgraduate requirements

Advanced Instrumental Studies

You will need to prepare the following:

  • One movement of unaccompanied Bach
  • The first movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire with cadenza where appropriate
  • The first movement of a duo sonata (with piano) written after 1800 (all Beethoven Sonatas can be accepted)

Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra

You will be required to play two contrasting pieces of your choice, and orchestral excerpts as prescribed. Full details can be found here (PDF). No sight-reading is required. 

Advanced Certificate

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

Artist Diploma

Please submit a video recording of a varied recital programme of 60 minutes.  

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required. Details about how to upload this will be supplied.

Harp - Recorded auditions

BMus

  1. You should submit a pre-recorded video online of two contrasting pieces – full instructions about how to upload your video will be supplied shortly. The deadline for receiving audition recordings is 9am on Monday 16 November.
  2. A quick study will be sent to you by email on 2 November. You will have three weeks to prepare and upload your recording of the quick study, along with your audition video. 
  3. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) at a later date.  Please be prepared to demonstrate scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys, and to sight-read a piece that will be screen-shared during the interview.

Guildhall Artist Masters

  1. Please submit a pre-recorded video of three substantial works – full instructions about how to upload your video will be supplied shortly. The deadline for receiving audition recordings is 9am on Monday 16 November.
  2. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) at a later date.

Guitar (Classical) – Recorded auditions

Please upload a pre-recorded video following the below requirements. Instructions about how to upload your video will be supplied shortly. The deadline for receiving audition recordings is 9am on Monday 16 November.  

Successful candidates will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) with the Head of Guitar post-offer. 

BMus

You should present two contrasting pieces from the classical repertoire. 

Guildhall Artist Masters

For the Guildhall Artist Masters, please prepare three substantial and contrasting pieces from three different musical eras. 

Live auditions – Overseas Venues Only

 

Bowed strings

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 – Bowed Strings

Violin/Viola/Cello

  1. The 1st movement from a concerto in the standard repertory with cadenza where appropriate 
  2. One contrasting piece of your own choice 

Double Bass 

  1. A study of your own choice from 57 Studies - Book 1 by Storch-Hrabe (International Music Co. - Kalmus)
  2. Two contrasting movements from a baroque sonata (e.g. Marcello, Vivaldi, Eccles etc.)
  3. One piece of your own choice. 

Postgraduate requirements – Bowed Strings

 

Advanced Instrumental Studies

You will need to prepare the following:

  • One movement of unaccompanied Bach
  • The first movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire with cadenza where appropriate
  • The first movement of a duo sonata (with piano) written after 1800 (all Beethoven Sonatas can be accepted)

The audition panel will select portions of the prepared works.  

Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra

You will be required to play two contrasting pieces of your choice, and orchestral excerpts as prescribed. Full details can be found here (PDF). No sight-reading is required. You will also have the opportunity to discuss different postgraduate pathways with us at the audition. 

Advanced Certificate

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

Artist Diploma

You should 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 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. 

Harp – Live Auditions (Overseas Venues Only)

BMus

Please be prepared to present the following at audition:

  1. Two contrasting pieces of the your own choice
  2. Scales and arpeggios in all major and minor keys.
  3. Sight reading
  4. Quick study – sent three weeks prior to audition date

Guildhall Artist Masters

You should prepare three substantial works from which the panel will choose portions.   

Guitar (classical) – Live Auditions (Overseas Venues Only)

BMus

You should present two contrasting pieces from the classical repertoire.

Guildhall Artist Masters

For the Guildhall Artist Masters, please prepare three substantial and contrasting pieces from three different musical eras, from which the panel will choose portions.