Strings, Harp & Guitar Auditions

Violin/Viola/Cello

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

Double Bass 

1. Two contrasting pieces

Advanced Instrumental Studies (violin, viola and cello)

You will need to prepare the following:

• 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.  

Advanced Instrumental Studies (double bass)

• The first movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire with cadenza where appropriate
• The first movement of a duo sonata (with piano).

The audition panel will select portions of the prepared works.  

Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra

You should prepare two contrasting pieces of your choice, and orchestral excerpts as listed here. Full details can be found here. 

No sight-reading is required. You will also have the opportunity to discuss different postgraduate pathways with us at the audition. 

Audition requirements are the same as those for the MMus/MPerf Advanced Instrumental Studies programmes.

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, along with a musical CV. Please bring a hard copy repertoire list and CV to your live audition, or upload these documents with your audition video (full instructions supplied following online application submission).

Please see additional information below about the Advanced Artist Diploma selection process.

If you require use of a school harp, please email harp@gsmd.ac.uk (Imogen Barford, Head of Harp) stating which make/model you ideally prefer. We expect live auditions to take place on Monday 9 November 2026 at Guildhall School, London.

BMus

Please be prepared to present the following at audition:

1. Two contrasting pieces of 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.

MMus/MPerf (Advanced Instrumental Studies)

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

MMus/MPerf (Orchestral Artistry) in association with the London Symphony Orchestra

You should prepare two substantial contrasting pieces and orchestral extracts as follows:

• Cadenza from Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky [No.4 Scene, figure 25 up until the 6/8 time signature]
• Salome’s Dance from Salome - Richard Strauss [Start 2 bars before key change into all flats, (10 bars before Q) to the first bar of V]
• Cadenza from Tzigane – Ravel [Figures 4 to 5]

Advanced 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, along with a musical CV. Please bring a hard copy repertoire list and CV to your live audition.

Please see additional information below about the Advanced Artist Diploma selection process.

Instructions about how to upload your audition video will be sent to you after the application closing date. The deadline for all uploaded audition videos is Friday 23 October 2026.

BMus

1. You should submit a pre-recorded video online of two contrasting pieces (recorded on the same day).
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.
3. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online audition/interview (via video conferencing) in 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.

MMus/MPerf (Advanced Instrumental Studies)

1. Please submit a pre-recorded video of three substantial works (recorded on the same day).
2. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online audition/interview (via video conferencing) in November.

MMus/MPerf (Orchestral Artistry) in association with the London Symphony Orchestra

1. Please submit a pre-recorded video of two substantial contrasting pieces and the orchestral extracts listed above under ‘live auditions’.
2. Candidates whose playing meets the required standard will be invited to an online audition/interview (via video conferencing) in November.

Advanced Artist Diploma

You should submit a video showcasing a varied recital programme of 60 minutes. 

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required, along with a musical CV. Please upload these documents with your audition video (full instructions supplied following online application submission).

Please see additional information below about the Advanced Artist Diploma selection process.

BMus

You should present two contrasting pieces from different musical eras of the classical guitar repertoire. 

MMus/MPerf

Please prepare three substantial and contrasting pieces from different musical eras of the classical guitar repertoire, from which the panel will choose portions.  

Advanced 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, along with a musical CV. Please bring a hard copy repertoire list and CV to your live audition.

Please see additional information below about the Advanced Artist Diploma selection process.

Instructions about how to upload your audition video will be sent to you after the application closing date. The deadline for all uploaded audition videos is Friday 23 October 2026. Successful candidates may be invited to an online interview (via video conferencing) with the Head of Guitar post-offer. 

BMus

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

MMus/MPerf

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

Advanced Artist Diploma

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

A repertoire list of the works played in the last two years is required, along with a musical CV. Please upload these documents with your audition video (full instructions supplied following online application submission).

Please see additional information below about the Advanced Artist Diploma selection process.

You should follow the audition requirements listed above. If you are successful in the first stage audition process, you will progress to the second stage.

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.  

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.