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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
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 > Wind, Brass and Percussion
Wind, Brass and Percussion

Wind, Brass and Percussion

Flute | Oboe | Clarinet | Bassoon | Horn |Trumpet | Trombone | Tuba | Timpani & Percussion | Saxophones | Recorders


The Wind, Brass and Percussion Department provides exciting opportunities for learning and performing, with a world-class team of instrumental professors who are leaders in solo, chamber and orchestral performance.

Led by Richard Benjafield (Head of Department), Jo Hensel (Deputy Head), Beth Randell and Fraser MacAulay (Assistant Deputy Heads), the Department's programmes will enable you to achieve the very highest levels of musical performance. You will also be supported to develop your musicianship, technique and professional skills, and to nurture the creativity and enterprise required of today’s musicians.

Follow what's happening in the department on the Wind, Brass and Percussion Facebook page.

 

Undergraduate

BMus

Each student’s journey through Guildhall School is an individual one. The Wind, Brass and Percussion Department offers a rich and diverse programme of opportunities that will enable you to become the very best musician that you can be. As you progress, you will have lessons with a range of Principal Study professors as well as with your main professor. You will also study doubling instruments to help improve your flexibility improve your flexibility and employability as a musician.

Chamber music and several orchestral repertoire classes are timetabled every week, and all students take part in these. Wind, Brass and Percussion runs ensembles and classes for all instruments, with regular performances both in the School itself and externally. There are frequent masterclasses given by visiting artists on solo, chamber and orchestral repertoire, including a regular series of masterclasses given by players from the Barbican’s visiting orchestras – another benefit of our partnership with the Barbican Centre. There are also several annual instrumental competitions, a weekly choir for BMus 1 & 2 Wind, Brass & Percussion students, and performance projects open to all students.

Progressing through the programme, you will be able to develop your own individualised study pathway in consultation with the Head of Department and your professors. The shaping of this pathway will depend on your skills and ambitions. There are many options to pursue further study in contemporary, jazz or early music through second study, specialist classes and performance projects. Collaboration is a key element of our ethos, with opportunities to work with the Drama Department and Creative Learning during the programme.

Throughout your time at Guildhall School, you will receive individual mentoring support and classes in professional and practical skills to prepare you for professional life. Many Guildhall alumni enjoy successful careers in music and the arts, both in the UK and internationally; see our alumni page for some recent examples.

Read more about the BMus course structure.

Bassoon Scholarships

The Guildhall School is pleased to announce two major scholarships for undergraduate bassoon students beginning their studies at the School from September 2020. The School is offering two scholarships of up to £9,250 per annum (equivalent to the UK/EU fees for BMus, currently set for 2020-21). This will be the maximum sum awarded each and every year of the course).

The scholarships will be offered after entrance auditions and at the discretion of the Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, based on candidates’ performance and potential.

Saxophone

Focusing on the versatility and musical diversity of the contemporary saxophonist, saxophone students study classical and contemporary music, jazz, improvisation and musical theatre repertoire including individual lessons on flute and clarinet.

Recorder

Recorder students study music from medieval and baroque to contemporary repertoire, including regular masterclasses with visiting professors Robert Ehrlich and Karel van Steenhoven. All students perform with the School's consort Woodwork and collaborate with students and professors from the Historical Performance Department in classes and ensembles. Guildhall owns two consorts of recorders, including the recently commissioned Turner’s Consort.

Download a guide to studying Recorder at the Guildhall School (PDF).



Above: Woodwork, a recorder ensemble of Guildhall School students and graduates performs Automata by Toby Young, directed by recorder professor Ian Wilson.

Karel van Steenhoven, a visiting Professor in the Wind, Brass and Percussion department, explains the art of "playing alla Bastarda".

 

Postgraduate

Guildhall Artist Masters (MMus/MPerf) in Performance

Read more about our Masters in Performance. In Wind, Brass and Percussion, there are two main pathways: Orchestral Artistry (in association with the London Symphony Orchestra) and Advanced Instrumental Studies.

Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra

Find out details of this exciting specialism.

Advanced Instrumental Studies

Advanced Instrumental Studies (AIS) is for talented students who want to develop their individual artistic voice in an educational environment to prepare them for a portfolio professional career. Applicants for the AIS specialism are expected to have a high level of instrumental ability and musical understanding, and a broad knowledge of repertoire for their instrument.

AIS students take part in all Wind, Brass and Percussion weekly departmental classes, chamber music, and orchestral and ensemble performance projects throughout the year. The intended focus of study is discussed at the interview, including orchestra, playing, chamber music, historical performance, or contemporary music, or a combination.

Chamber Music

This specialism is for established groups with considerable chamber music experience, with the aim of developing the group's skills to a professional level. Regular coaching is provided by departmental staff and visiting artists. There are many opportunities to perform in Chamber Platforms, as well as in the School and externally.

Artist Diploma

Find out more about studying the Artist Diploma.

MPhil/DMus, MPhil/PhD

Find out more about our doctoral programmes.

Activities and Ensembles for BMus and Masters students

  • 30 to 45 individual Principal Study lessons each year
  • Weekly instrumental classes for all students
  • Masterclasses with visiting UK and international musicians
  • Weekly orchestral repertoire sessions
  • Scheduled chamber music coaching and rehearsals every week
  • Platform performances
  • Audition classes
  • Symphony, Opera and Chamber orchestras
  • Wind, Brass, Percussion and Saxophone ensembles
  • Recorder Consort
  • New Music ensembles
  • Historical Performance ensembles
  • Cross-school collaborative projects
  • Professional Studies (including teaching skills and business advice)
  • Individual mentoring support