auditions for conservatoires

Hooray for Circular!

Thanks Viewofthehills and Summerends.
Amazingly proud of her, quite unexpected.
For the record she's at a state comp, that whilst encouraging with all things musical, were fairly clueless on the CUKAS application process. They never even looked at her PS, although now looking at her revamped version for UCAS.
I think Uni was her preference, but she is swaying slightly. Now have the stress of UCAS to get through, but believe only one of her choices (unless she has changed her mind in the last week) interviews/auditions.
UCAS will be for single Music, mix of BMus and BA applications, all slightly aspirational.
The catching up on schoolwork and teachers on her back in other subjects has stressed her out more than the actual auditions.

Good luck to those still waiting to hear.

Another talented person has made it over the hurdles. Congratulations to your DD circular .

Circular that's brilliant. Watching with interest as we have this to go through next year. In fact you advised to start looking at places this year, which we have done! Thank you.

Anyone in the CUKAS application process, there seems to be no email updates, so need to keep logging onto CUKAS and checking.

DD1 has her results, but no email yet (although snail mail from one).

Standard EE offer from first choice

My son went through this system several years ago and it did feel like a rip off at the time. However since then he has been paid to accompany the new applicants to ensure they have musicians who can support them in auditions. Attending two London conservatories he has been able to perform professionally throughout his time as an undergrad and postgrad, making a much better income than his friends at uni. Best of all, he is now working as a professional musician doing something that he loves; how many of us can say that!

Trinity does classical and early music too, just like Guildhall. At one point, Trinity loomed large in the early music environment, but I'm not sure if it has quite as big a footprint there as it used to.

Rabbit

I probably am, it doesn't take much to confuse me I'm afraid.
I'm also guilty of saying "Yes, dear" when dh is talking.
I'm pretty sure it was Trinity Laban now as the pupils of dh study Jazz with him, he doesn't teach classical at all.

Thank you for explaining, I won't appear so stupid in the future, with any luck

summer I believe there are other music opportunities and the one you describe isn't one we ever looked at because DD isn't doing physics. I was talking about the Ash scholarship. It's only relevant if a DC is keen to continue music without necessarily becoming a professional musician.

You can get an Ash scholarship at Imperial whatever subject you're doing. Doesn't add to your degree but gives you free lessons at College and allows you to join their ensembles.

The person I know (well, DD1 knows, I don't know him) who is at Imperial and RCM is doing physics. Very very bright young man apparently, and an excellent musician (that I do know, I've heard him play).

unitarian your DD is one of those talented and able people who can benefit from the Imperial / RCM scholarship scheme.

However physics on the website ( and from knowing a DC who does it) seems to be the only subject that is linked with music performance (part of BMus at RCM) which then becomes a 4 year course and is more than just instrumental music lessons.

BTW, the Imperial music scholarship is not exclusive to Physics students. DD isn't studying Physics.

Best wishes to all your DCs.

Trinity is actually trinity Laban. It's both a conservatoire and a dance school. Guildhall is GSMD - does music and drama. Both do jazz but my jazz musician friends (who admittedly went to and do some teaching at GSMD) reckon that's the top place for jazz. They may be biased. DD1 did a jazz course there in the summer and it was amazing.

You are probably getting confused with the trinity guildhall examining body which is a different thing.

Rabbit

My knowledge doesn't even start there then
Had heard them mentioned and thought they were the same place.
My dh has several students who go there for Jazz.
They come back for lessons in summer and he goes there as a visiting specialist to do workshops.

Trinity and guildhall are two separate places.

Hello, I wasn't intending to say that no other area teaches brass nor that there were no good players from other areas, just that some areas or schools/colleges are better than others for certain instruments.
Really to push the point there are no better conservatoires as asked by mooin. I used brass as an example as I have found this to be the best example of differences.
Jazz is good at Leeds, and Trinity Guildhall.
There my knowledge ends
Although I will have to brush up in years to come, for dd, when she is ready.
I too would like to know of good conservatoires for singing in the south as I only know about the northern ones.

I was reading this idly and remembering how expensive years 12 &13 were. OK they get loans and maybe bursaries once they're in but whilst still at school it's really down to parents to shell out for trains, fees, overnight stays etc. and it is quite frightening how it all mounts up.

I have been on the committee of a local charity which gives financial support to students in FE and persuaded the members that support should also be made available to students in Y13 for this reason. When I looked at how much it had cost to 'launch' DD it made sense to try to help students coming up to the same stage. Such charities exist all over the place and are worth seeking out.

DD is at Imperial and won the scholarship for three years tuition at RCM. It didn't impinge at all on her main studies. She really loves playing in ICSO and was marvellously well taught by her RCM teacher. The standard and range of music at Imperial is amazing.
The audition for the scholarship was another expense involving an overnight stay - and you apply for that before you know if you're going to Imperial so it was an added stress in Y13, financially and emotionally. It also involves writing another CV in the form of a letter. I believe 5 scholarships are awarded each year, sometimes fewer, depending on the standard of applicants.

It was worth it - she's in clover. She was torn between music and science, having been at a junior conservatoire, and became dead set on having the best of both worlds this way. She's surrounded by scientists who are also marvellously talented musicians and has the emotional release from the stress of the course that music gives her.

I hope this helps if you're in a dilemma.

Also missed Leeds College of Music which is now included in CUKAS.
Guildhall still has separate application process with slightly later deadline.

All the Conservatoire courses are 4 year BMus.
Some of the Uni BMus courses are 3 years.

Depends what sort of Brass you are looking for. If you want to study Jazz, then your first port of call will be GSMD.

I assumed that moomin was talking about singing though. Obviously Helene's list doesn't apply for all instruments, Scotland and RNMC don't do recorders, for example.

I'd say that Guildhall School's WBP department is a fair challenger for RNCM, actually

Recent alumni include Alison Balsom and Philip Cobb

And yes, I did forget Birmingham, sorry

Mooinmammacat

Back to my usual username now, but posted above about singing.
I think it depends on the instrument(s) tbh, and not sure there are any bests.
For example I defy anybody to find a southern conservatoire that can teach brass as well as a northern one, because this is where all the best teachers are and where the culture and support from an early age are prevalent. Most kids play a brass instrument from an early age in primary and whilst others are offered there is a good intake of brass every year.
I am sure there are similar schools in the south that specialise in instrument tuition that is better than the northern alternatives for the same reasons. I hear the south have many youth orchestras and schools tend to have some as well, whereas we tend not to have school orchs and just county, there seem to be fewer violinists, oboes, bassoons and cellos here.

You've missed Birmingham Helene.

Interesting ... I am obviously several decades out of date!