Historical keyboards, Historical lutes, and Historical harps
We encourage you to attend a live audition where possible, as this offers candidates the opportunity to engage in live music-making, to meet key departmental staff, and to experience our vibrant school environment.
If you are based overseas and elect to submit a recorded audition, the deadline to upload your audition video(s) is Friday 23 October 2026. Details about how to upload your recording(s) will follow after the application deadline.
The Historical Performance Department pathways are available at postgraduate level only, on the MMus, MPerf, Advanced Certificate or Advanced Artist Diploma programmes.
You should present four contrasting pieces which demonstrate a variety of genres.
You will be expected to accompany a member of the panel during the audition; you will be sent this music in advance. You may also be asked to accompany a member of the panel at sight.
Candidates auditioning on historical keyboards
After submitting your application, please email music.applications@gsmd.ac.uk with information about which instrument(s) you intend to audition on, and any tuning preferences you have. We will ensure that the keyboards are tuned to temperaments which balance the requests of all candidates; we cannot guarantee fulfilling your exact request.
We have the following instruments available for use in the audition room:
Single-manual Ruckers harpsichord by Peter Bavington, 1989.
- GG-d’’’ 2x8’ + 4’ plus buff.
- A415-440.
Double-manual harpsichord after Dulcken by Andrew Garrett and Richard Clayson, 1978.
- FF-f’’’ 2x8’ + 4’ plus buff.
- A415.
Fortepiano after Andreas Stein by Nikolaus Damm.
- FF – f’’’.
- A430.
Continuo organ by Robin Jennings, 2017.
- 8ft Stopped Diapason, 4ft Wooden Chimney Flute and an 8ft regal.
- A415-465.
You should upload recordings of four contrasting pieces which demonstrate a variety of genres. Details about how to upload your recordings will follow after the application deadline.
Candidates who meet the required performance standard in their recorded submissions will be invited to attend an online interview during which they will also be expected to realise a figured and unfigured bass line at sight. Full details will be sent to you after your initial recording has been reviewed.
Audition – first stage
Audition requirements are as detailed above, but the expected standard of performance at Advanced Artist Diploma level is higher.
Advanced Artist Diploma panel – second stage
The second stage review is a cross-disciplinary panel of senior musical staff. If you are successful in the first stage, the panel will review your artistic CV and video recorded performances (made within the last year).
CV
All candidates must upload their artistic CV in the ‘supporting information’ section of the application form.
Video recordings
If you are attending the first stage audition in person you should upload a list of links to your video recorded performances (on a freely available streaming service such as YouTube) on a Word/pdf document in the ‘supporting information’ section of the application form.
If you submit a recorded first stage audition, we will use the first stage audition recordings already provided for this purpose.
Context and Development Plan – third stage
If you are successful at the first two stages, you will be required to submit a ‘Context and Development Plan’ (CDP) as a condition of your offer. Details about the CDP are found below, and you will be reminded of this requirement if you are successful at audition.