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Higher education

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Original poster

Conservatoire applications

355 replies

Violasrule · 23/01/2024 12:10

Is anyone else looking to apply for a 2025 Conservatoire place? We have just started the process and it’s a steep learning curve!

We’re aware that for some of the more prestigious colleges it’s useful to have an idea of which tutor you would like before you attend the audition. Has anyone else come across this?

OP posts:
indigopotion · 09/12/2024 08:30

Violasrule · 09/12/2024 07:47

Should have added that I would be interested to hear other perspectives on Guildhall as we’re seriously considering there.

It was my DD's second choice, she got a really good impression of it at the audition. She was really impressed with the faculty and the close ties with the LSO. Louise is a character but that didn't bother her. She has quite a few friends there who are very happy. RCM was her first choice but Guildhall was second, she did not have a favourable impression of RAM. Everyone gets their own 'vibes' though!

Comefromaway · 09/12/2024 09:45

My friend's son chose Guildhall and turned down RAM as he felt it was a better fit for him. He didn't like how he was treated on the audition day at RAM. He has stayed on for postgrad.

Maryward · 09/12/2024 10:00

@Violasrule Dc knows people there who are getting on great. He also has 2 friends who plan attending next September as their preferred teacher is there. It’s a fantastic place to study if it’s for you! Just wasn’t for my dc. Has offers from rcm & ram & needs to decide between them. One bigger class & college etc etc
I think someone said before that your child will know & decide for themselves with their own ‘gut feeling’.

Mumoftheweek · 10/12/2024 15:44

How soon after the audition do RAM and RCM come through?

several weeks for RNCM but worth the wait!

indigopotion · 10/12/2024 16:18

Mumoftheweek · 10/12/2024 15:44

How soon after the audition do RAM and RCM come through?

several weeks for RNCM but worth the wait!

Last year RAM and RCM came through on UCAS at the same time, on December 14th. This was just over a week after RAM audition and 3ish weeks after RCM. Hope that helps, I know the wait is awful.

Baili · 10/12/2024 19:37

Thank you, that’s useful to know. Only waiting on RAM now.

Nomorecoconutboosts · 10/12/2024 21:06

Still waiting for RWCMD - nearly 3 weeks…

Mumoftheweek · 11/12/2024 06:38

indigopotion · 10/12/2024 16:18

Last year RAM and RCM came through on UCAS at the same time, on December 14th. This was just over a week after RAM audition and 3ish weeks after RCM. Hope that helps, I know the wait is awful.

Show quote history

Thank you, so maybe the end of this week or early next 🤞yes the waiting is painful!

horseymum · 11/12/2024 08:48

RWCMD still have auditions this week so may be waiting till after those?

Mumoftheweek · 11/12/2024 13:42

Just thinking about the difference scenarios ahead of audition results, does anyone have any experience of reserve lists and how this works, also given that guildhall is outside of ucas? Thank you

Baili · 11/12/2024 16:48

I think reserve lists come out late Jan? That’s a long time to wait!
Any one have any idea when scholarship offers come out?

indigopotion · 11/12/2024 17:17

I believe offers have to be accepted by the end of January, so that's probably when it's clear if spaces are available for reserve candidates. In our experience scholarship offers have come along with or just after the offer of admission. I think that might not always be the case though.

disorganisedmummy · 11/12/2024 17:32

@Baili Ds got his scholarship offer a few days before Christmas. It was a wonderful, unexpected early present 🥰

Baili · 11/12/2024 17:38

disorganisedmummy · 11/12/2024 17:32

@Baili Ds got his scholarship offer a few days before Christmas. It was a wonderful, unexpected early present 🥰

I bet!!

Baili · 11/12/2024 17:40

Thanks. He’s had verbal place offers, will wait with crossed fingers

Siriusmuggle · 11/12/2024 20:18

All our scholarship offers came in shortly after offers and well before decision day. He didn’t have ages to make his choice though. As I’ve said before, he did turn down a holy grail offer with full scholarship and it’s been exactly the right decision!

Londonmummy66 · 11/12/2024 21:52

Baili · 11/12/2024 16:48

I think reserve lists come out late Jan? That’s a long time to wait!
Any one have any idea when scholarship offers come out?

RCM scholarship meeting is 17th December this year.

Nomorecoconutboosts · 12/12/2024 06:35

It’s a no for dd from RWCMD. She’s ok, I’m ok.
really appreciate being part of this thread.
She’s now contemplating a gap year and try again next year, she’s quite a young 17 (Summer birthday)
or she’s also considering Chichester which has ‘Conservatoire’ written on their brochure…

horseymum · 12/12/2024 07:40

@Nomorecoconutboosts sorry to hear that. Hope she's managing not to take it too personally. They are hugely competitive to get into, with only a tiny number of each instrument accepted. She's done brilliantly to get to the point of auditioning. I know several of my child's friends have taken a gap year before applying - a chance to save up as well as doing more playing. If she's looking at somewhere else she needs to see what the graduates are doing, the tuition hours, where the teachers are from etc. to see if it offers what she wants. Can you get feedback from the audition as well, that might help guide choices?

Original poster
Violasrule · 12/12/2024 08:09

@Nomorecoconutboosts sorry to hear that. Best wishes to your DD and to you.

OP posts:
Siriusmuggle · 12/12/2024 09:21

Sorry to hear that. I hope she finds an alternative she’s happy with.

Comefromaway · 12/12/2024 09:59

I'm really sorry to hear that. Hope she is OK.

I have mixed feelings about Chichester. My knowledge is mostly their performing arts courses but I don't like how they did a big thing about them being awarded "conservatoire status" when there is no such thing unless you count being part of Conservatoires UK which they are not.

Am I correct in thinking she is applying for jazz? Taking a year out could be a good idea. Back in the day my husband was rejected from everywhere he applied for. He took 2 years out, reapplied and went to Birmingham Conservatoire.

Also has she considered Leeds? They are a bit more inclusive in that they take into consideration people's backgrounds and if someone is not quite ready they will offer a Foundation Year. They usually take late applicants and have abolished audition fees to try and be more inclusiver.

Comefromaway · 12/12/2024 10:02

Huddersfield is also known for doing an excellent performance course

Baili · 12/12/2024 12:51

Oh, I’m sorry to hear that for your DD. Good luck with exploring all options

Alwaysplayspicc · 12/12/2024 13:00

@Violasrule , DS had scholarship offers from RCM, GH and RNCM (he didn’t apply to RAM for various reasons).
He’s just finished his first term at GH (strings).
He feels it’s the best fit for him, not least because it offers the opportunity to take electronic and produced music as a 2nd study, which is something he’s really interested in (he did music tech A level).
He’s living in Sundial Court which is a 2 minute walk from the college and has the SU bar in the basement (plus free laundry facilities - bonus!) His room is big enough to practice in and also to have a friend to stay.

Hes already had some paid work and been part of another really interesting performance opportunity at the ROH, as a result of GH’s system of sending round robin emails to departments, asking if anyone wants to play for x/y/z. ( external organisations contact the college looking for players for concerts).

He belongs to a Barbican scheme that means he gets cheap tickets to concerts, and his first GH orchestra concert was in the Barbican, 2 weeks after he started (another GH initiative - every new student, whether instrumentalist, singer, composer etc takes part in some kind of performance in the early weeks as a sort of welcome induction).