How to Apply (UK/EU)

Piano

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare from memory a programme of three works of their own choice. This should last at least 15 minutes and show a variety of style, period and character.

The audition panel reserves the right to hear only two pieces overall. Applicants should show proof of recent public performances in festivals, school concerts etc.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare from memory a varied programme of 50 minutes which includes an advanced étude.

The audition panel will choose up to 20 minutes for performance in audition. Applicants should also provide a list of the repertoire studied in depth in recent years and show proof of recent public performances.

Piano accompaniment

Postgraduate only

Applicants should prepare a programme of three works of their own choice, to include a contrast in instrumental and vocal repertoire, for which you need to bring your own soloist(s).

If you wish the RCM to provide soloists, then you need to prepare the following programme:

Beethoven 7 Variations for Cello and Piano on Mozart's "Bei Männern" WoO 46
R Strauss Allerseelen op 10 no 8 (in E flat)
Britten Let the florid music praise! (On this Island), (in D/G minor)

Applicants should also provide a list of repertoire studied in depth in recent years and show proof of recent public performances. The audition will also include a sight reading test.

Organ

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare one of the following pieces, plus one other contrasting piece lasting not more than five minutes:

J S Bach Prelude and Fugue in C major BWV 545
Buxtehude Praeludium in D major BuxWV 139

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare a varied programme of 15 minutes, to include a fast movement from J S Bach Trio Sonata no 2, 5 or 6 BWV 526, 529, 530. You will be given practice time on the instrument used for audition.

Harpsichord

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare a varied programme of 20 minutes to include two or three contrasting pieces that show a command of both 17th- and 18th-century repertoire. The programme must include one major work by J S Bach (for example, a Prelude, a Toccata and Fugue or movements from a suite). Applicants may also perform a contemporary work. At least one of the works performed should include some fast passage work.

The audition panel will choose around 15 minutes for performance in audition. You will also be given short sight reading and figured bass tests.

Violin

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare the first movement of a concerto, plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare the first (or significant) movement of a major concerto from the 19th or 20th century, plus one contrasting piece.

Viola

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare the first movement of a concerto, plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare the first (or significant) movement of a major concerto from the 19th or 20th century, plus one contrasting piece.

Cello

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare the first movement of a concerto, plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare the first (or significant) movement of a major concerto from the 19th or 20th century, plus one contrasting piece

Double bass

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare two contrasting pieces.

Harp

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare Nadermann Sonatine op 6 (first movement) (Leduc Edition), plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare two contrasting pieces.

Guitar

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare one of the following pieces, plus one contrasting piece: Frescobaldi Aria con variazioni (without repeats) (Schott Edition )Ponce Campo Campo (Sonatina Meridional) (Schott Edition)

Lute

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare Sir John Smith's Almaine (page 60 of the facsimile edition of Robert Dowland’s Variete of Lute Lessons, 1610) plus one contrasting piece.

Flute

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare Fauré’s Fantasie op 79, plus one contrasting piece.

Recorder

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare one of the following:

Telemann Twelve Fantasies
Franz Brüggen Five studies for finger control (not no 4)
Linde Recorder Virtuoso Solo Pieces

Plus two contrasting movements from a Baroque sonata and one other short piece.

Oboe

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare: Telemann’s Sonata in A minor (first and second movements) (Hortus Musicus/Bärenreiter), plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare: Mozart’s Concerto in C K314 (first movement), plus one contrasting piece.

Clarinet

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare: Schumann’s Fantasiestücke op 73 (first and second movements) (Peters edition), plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare: Mozart’s Concerto in A K 622 (first movement), plus one contrasting piece.

Alto saxophone

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare: Jolivet’s Fantaisie-Impromptu (Leduc edition), plus one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare two contrasting pieces, one of which must be written after 1950.

Tenor saxophone

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare two contrasting pieces.

Bassoon

Undergraduate

Applicants should prepare a Baroque sonata and one contrasting piece.

Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare: Mozart’s Concerto in B flat K 191 (first movement), plus one contrasting piece.

Horn

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare:

Mozart’s Horn Concerto no 2 K 417 (second and third movements)

Müller Book 1 no 3

Trumpet

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare:

J Haydn Trumpet Concerto 1st Movement preferably on Bb trumpet (cadenza optional)

and a contrasting piece of your own choice

Tenor trombone

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare:

Saint-Saëns Cavatine

and a contrasting piece of your own choice

Bass trombone

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare:

Lebedev Concerto in one movement

and a contrasting piece of your own choice

Tuba

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare:

Vaughan Williams Concerto (first movement only)

and a contrasting piece of your own choice

Undergraduate

Timpani

Applicants should prepare:

• Nick Woud Exercises 3, 9, 23 or 25 from Symphonic Studies for Timpani or a piece of similar standard  
• Tune four timpani as directed after an unrelated chord has been played on the piano  
• Rolls: pp, ff and pp crescendo to ff and dim back to pp

Snare Drum

Applicants should prepare:

• Morris Goldenberg Etude in 5/4 (page 64 from Modern School for Snare Drum) or a piece of similar standard
• Rolls: pp, ff and pp crescendo to ff and dim back to pp

Marimba (xlyophone) 

Applicants should prepare:

• Either a piece for four mallets on Marimba or a piece of similar standard on Xylophone  
• Scales in all major and minor (harmonic and melodic) keys, and chromatic scales starting on any note, two octave
• Arpeggios and dominant sevenths in all major and minor keys, two octaves

The audition will also include a sight-reading test.

Postgraduate

PGDip Performance (orchestral musician) 

The audition will last 20 minutes and applicants will be expected to play repertoire selected from all the excerpts found in the following books:

• Morris Goldenberg, Modern School for Snare Drum  
• Morris Goldenberg, Modern School for Xylophone “Standard” Orchestral excerpts from the Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman.  

The audition will also include a sight-reading test and the candidate should perform a work of their choice for four mallets. 

PGDip Performance (Solo/Ensemble Recitalist) 

Applicants should prepare a varied programme of 20 minutes. Please include compositions that are now available to today’s all-round percussionist. The audition will also include a sight-reading test.  

Singing

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants should prepare a total of three items in contrasting styles and moods, one of which must be an operatic or oratorio aria (with recitative if possible). The audition panel reserves the right to select only two of the three prepared works.

Opera training

The RCM Benjamin Britten International Opera School

Applicants should prepare four contrasting operatic arias in a variety of languages, one of which must be sung in English or English translation. The audition panel reserves the right to select only two of the four prepared works.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Applicants for Composition for Screen are expected to be experienced in the use of Logic or similar software.

Prior to their interview, applicants may be asked to complete a set of diagnostic tasks – for example, a number of short compositions to a written brief.

Applicants will need to submit at least two, but not more than five contrasting examples of your compositionsApplicants may submit their work as written scores, recordings or a combination of the two.

Recordings should be either on CD or DVD. Individual works should be clearly indexed on both the disc and on the accompanying documentation.

All recordings should be clearly labeled with your name and the title of the piece on both the container and the disc.If you are intending to study at MMus level (MMus in Composition for Screen or MMus in Composition) you also need to send an example of a recent piece of (literary) written work, probably an academic essay, preferably from your current programme of study.

All portfolios will be returned to you immediately at the end of the audition interview or posted back to you after the audition period.

Postgraduate only

Applicants must submit a DVD of a recent performance which they conducted, with the completed application form. Selected candidates will be invited for an audition, which may include: 

• aural tests, including rhythm tests.tests on knowledge of orchestral/choral music, instrumentation and transposition
• a viva voce on orchestral/choral repertoire and the instruments of the orchestra/aspects of choral training
• conduct a College instrumental/vocal ensemble in a rehearsal of excerpts from one or more works, as directed by the audition panel, to include a piece of sight-reading with 10 min preparation period.

All candidates are expected to play an instrument or sing to a high standard and will be asked to demonstrate that at audition.

Details of the set pieces will be sent with audition timetables. All candidates are expected to show a detailed knowledge of the orchestral/choral repertoire as appropriate and to prove a genuine commitment to, and interest in, conducting as a significant part of their professional career. Shortlisted candidates may be required to stay inLondonfor a second day.

Postgraduate only

Where candidates principal study is Early Music, they should prepare two contrasting pieces

Repetiteurs Postgraduate only

Candidates will be required to:

• play a piano piece of your own choice
• play three contrasting excerpts, including at least one ensemble, from the standard operatic repertoire, whilst singing the vocal parts
• sight read from an operatic vocal score, including singing the vocal parts