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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

We strongly encourage you to attend a live audition for Strings but understand that you may be unable to due to Coronavirus related travel issues or concerns over health and safety. In this scenario, we will accept recorded auditions for 2021/22. At application stage you will be asked whether you would prefer to attend a live audition (in person) or submit a recorded audition online.

Submitting a recorded audition will not impact on the result of your application. However, attending in person means that you will gain the full benefit of a visit to the School in London, or meeting us at our overseas venues. 

If you are an international student, we would advise you to choose the live audition option on our application form and the venue located nearest to you. If you are then unable to travel at the time of your audition, you will be able to submit a pre-recorded video.

Undergraduate requirements – Bowed Strings

 

Live auditions

Live auditions are in-person auditions at one of our venues (London, Seoul, Hong Kong or New York).

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

 

Live auditions

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. For recorded auditions, you should submit a varied recital programme of 60 minutes. 

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

Recorded auditions – Bowed Strings

We strongly encourage you to attend a live audition if you are able to do so.  However, if you are unable to attend a live audition, you may elect to submit a recorded audition instead. 

Please upload a pre-recorded video  following the above audition requirements. Instructions about how to upload your video will be sent to you after the application closing date. The deadline for receiving audition recordings is 23 October.

Successful candidates will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) with the Head of Strings and a member of the chamber music department at a later date. 

Harp – Live auditions

 

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

Please note that for hygiene reasons, all harpists should bring their own harps unless they absolutely cannot do so. If you require use of a school harp, please email Imogen Barford (Head of Harp) at imogen.barford@gsmd.ac.uk.

Guildhall Artist Masters

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

Please note that for hygiene reasons, all harpists should bring their own harps unless they absolutely cannot do so. If you require use of a school harp, please email Imogen Barford (Head of Harp) at imogen.barford@gsmd.ac.uk.

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 after application closing date. The deadline for receiving audition recordings is 23 October.
  2. A quick study will be sent shortly after closing date. You will have three weeks to prepare and upload your recording of the quick study. Full details will be provided by no later than 9 October.
  3. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) on the evening of 16 November.  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 after application closing date. The deadline for receiving audition recordings will be 23 October.
  2. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online interview (e.g via Zoom) on the evening of 16 November.

Guitar (classical) – Live auditions

 

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.  

Guitar (Classical) – Recorded auditions

 

BMus and Guildhall Artist Masters

Please upload a pre-recorded video following the above requirements. Instructions about how to upload your video will be supplied after the application closing date. The deadline for receiving audition recordings will be 23 October. 

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