Guildhall Young Artists Online – Preparing for Conservatoire - BMus 2 Direct Entry

About Preparing for Conservatoire - BMus 2 Direct Entry

This advanced two-year online course is aimed at international musicians interested in studying at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and other UK conservatoires. 

This individually tailored course will allow students to continue with their current instrumental or vocal tutor in their country of residence whilst an assigned specialist mentor from the music department at Guildhall School will oversee their musical development. Students will take part in two group classes per week, covering academic material from the first-year of Guildhall School's BMus programme. 

Students, from this bespoke course, will have the opportunity to audition for the second year of the traditional four-year degree and join the Guildhall BMus programme*. If successful, this is a significant cost saving for those with overseas fees status.

Please note, this course is not affiliated with any additional UK conservatoires and year 2 direct entry is only limited to the BMus at Guildhall School.

*While there is no guarantee that a student will be offered a place on the second year at Guildhall, this will be a significant cost saving option for successful students with overseas fees status. In any event, this course provides a thorough preparation for students wishing to study at higher education in the UK.

Who is it for?

International students who are post-Grade 8 and intend to audition in the Autumn term 2025 for entry in September 2026. 

Although this course is focused on preparing students to audition for Guildhall’s BMus programme, with the possibility of being offered a place on year two, the course content will prepare students for higher education study in any UK conservatoire.

This course is for international students studying remotely outside of the UK.

What can I expect? 

• The course will cover all the academic elements of the Guildhall School's first-year BMus programme taught over two years with a one-hour weekly group class from a senior Guildhall academic professor.
   
• In addition, you will follow a one-hour supporting studies group class looking at history and analysis of music in a broader cultural context.
   
• Students will participate in these classes on Tuesdays, 10am-12pm GMT/BST each week during UK term-time. Another day/time may be arranged for successful applicants in addition to Tuesdays. If the current time is unsuitable for you, please mention this in your application. Please note that class numbers will be small to allow for individualised teaching.
   
• You may continue your existing one-to-one lesson arrangement with your current teacher privately, but will be assigned a personal mentor from Guildhall School who teaches your instrument. You will meet with your mentor twice a term to provide us with insight to your continued progress and whether you are on track to successfully pass your Guildhall School audition to join the second year of the BMus programme. If you wish to take regular instrumental or vocal lessons with a teacher from Guildhall School, this can be arranged for an additional cost separately via Guildhall Young Artists Online one-to-one lessons.
   
• All students on the course will be given an audition for Guildhall’s BMus programme in the second year of this online course. The audition fee will be included in the course fee.
   
• You will receive a termly welfare session with a member of the Guildhall Young Artists Online team to discuss your progress on the course and your preparation for moving to the UK. 
   
• You will become part of the Guildhall Young Artists international community and invited to participate in cross network events and competitions.

Course Timeline (2024 entry)

Summer 2024 - students apply for Preparing for Conservatoire – Direct to BMus 2 course

August 2024 - applicants find out whether they have been successful in gaining a place

Autumn 2024  - successful applicants begin course 

Autumn 2025 – students undertake online or in-person audition for entry in the second-year of Guildhall School's BMus programme 

December 2025 – successful students receive offer into BMus 2 at Guildhall School

Summer 2026 – successful students finish Preparing for Conservatoire – Direct to BMus2 course

Autumn 2026 – students begin BMus 2 at Guildhall School

Summer 2029 – successful students graduate from Guildhall School 

How to apply

Please complete our short application form and email gya-online@gsmd.ac.uk with a video of the following:

• A video of yourself performing two contrasting pieces of your choice
• A short verbal introduction featuring the following points:
  - Your name, age, city and country of residence.
  - Why you have chosen to apply for this course and your career aspirations?
  - Why you chose the two pieces for your audition?

The video should be privately listed on Youtube or sennt as a downloadable file from a file-sharing website, such as Dropbox or WeTransfer. We will not be able to accept your application without this.

Closing date for applications is 16 August 2024. All applicants will be informed of the outcome and successful candidates will begin the course in late September. The course will be delivered in English.

For further information please contact gya-online@gsmd.ac.uk.