Conservatoire applications

[Violasrule]

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?

Finding the right teacher is definitely very important. But there are no guarantees with teachers so they have to be happy with the conservatoire too. My DD found a wonderful teacher last year this time, and over the summer found out he was retiring unexpectedly. She was upset, but knew she still wanted to go to that conservatoire and wouldn't have made a difference choice regardless of teacher. She now has a teacher she likes 10x more than the first teacher, which she didn't think was possible, so it all worked out. But it's something to consider.

Funnily enough, DS has been through something similar recently.
He actually chose his conservatoire first and then chose a teacher.
Started in September and really liked his teacher and felt they were a good fit for him.
Unfortunately, after a couple of months, his teacher had to stop teaching suddenly due to a health issue and DS was faced with choosing a replacement teacher.
Amazingly, he decided to have a trial lesson with someone he’d previously discounted and they turned out to be perfect for him, so it’s actually worked out for the best.

My DD got places into Royal Birmingham conservatoire, Trinity Laban and Leeds conservatoire.
I think out of all of them DD is most likely to go for Trinity as it’s in London. She is going for the vocal studies course. She’s having second thoughts and is now applying to universities as well! But I have no idea what will be better.I think she was a-bit overwhelmed as the offer holder day seemed very opera heavy at Trinity, which is not a bad thing but I think she wants to keep her other passions in music going too.

If she has doubts about TL bring a good fit for her, I’d advise her to think very carefully before accepting - 4 years is a long time to be unhappy and London is prohibitively expensive to live.
Just “bring in London” isn’t a good enough reason to choose one conservatoire over another, IMO, and her other offers may be a better fit.

@MyNavyBeaker My DS is in his first year at TL although is a violist. He has a couple of friends who are doing classical voice. Is that what your DD is planning to do? I can ask him to ask his friends if it is indeed opera heavy. As an aside, Ds is v v happy at TL. He is also in the chapel choir which may be something your dd would be interested in?

Hiya, DD wanted me to ask if anyone knows whether free days are very common, specifically at TL. She’s thinking of going there and commuting, meaning some days that she doesn’t have to go in would be nice. Of course everyone’s schedules will be different but anyone know if free days are a definite possibility or a definite no?

Sorry and also, anyone have any opinions/thoughts they’d be willing to share on RWCMD’s string department? Thanks!

@annabelleee Morning, re TL DS definitely has free days. I'll have to ask him whether he has one each week but I think he does. Did your dd go to the offer holder say? Ds was playing in the side by side thing in the afternoon. He's a violist. Has she got any teachers in mind, I can help if you would like any advice. Do pm me if you want anymore info. X

Oh brilliant thank you. Yes she did go to the offerholder day and really liked it but just felt it would be more doable to choose TL if there were some free days so that’s promising to hear, thank you!
in terms of teachers she’s booking a few consultations so we’ll see how she gets on. Thank you for your offer though, if she’s not happy with any of them I may take up your offer and get in touch!

I’ll DM you, but you may want to oook at the recent news about funding cuts in Wales that have affected the junior RWCMD, WNO and the university first.

Hi all, good luck to those still deciding. My dc has decided on rcm & is happy with decision. Went for a couple of consultations and has been accepted into a class so that’s it now! Got to get accommodation sorted and of course pass the a levels!!

@Maryward my DD is a 4th year at rcm so if you or DC want to know anything let me know

Is anyone still waiting for a decision from Glasgow? DS has offers from Birmingham and Leeds but would like to know either way on his last one before confirming his choice.

RNCM accepted here!

@fruitpastille was it a late audition? We don’t know anyone waiting for outcomes from December auditions.

@fruitpastille is it possible they are on a reserve list? There will be some movement soon as people firm their offers. Maybe contact admissions. Hope you hear soon.

My kid is there. Please shout up if you want to know anything.

No it was actually the first one he did back in October. I'm worried he's slipped through the net as when he was there, the people auditioning him didn't have his application to look at. They said "All we know is that you're called xxx and you're 17". He is 90% set on Leeds so it is not critical but he would like to know for certain. DS is not the most proactive - maybe I should just contact them myself.

Actually it was early November now I've checked. I've emailed them - fed up waiting for ds to do it!

Congratulations to all those who have decided!

We’re still deliberating over GH.

Nervous here, waiting on a reserve offer, probably won’t happen, but fingers crossed. Congrats to everyone with offers, exciting times.

@pencilornotes 🤞. Where is it that you’re waiting on?

RNCM. Was always planning on Uni courses and have some great offers. This was a last minute decision to apply.

Don’t lose hope, pencilornotes.
There will probably be quite a lot of movement over the next few weeks or even months.

Did you get a response 🤞

Any experience on here of conversion of reserve pool offers to full (specifically RBC - woodwind)?
I read that if it happens, it could be as late as September. Eek!

DD has a reserve pool offer, and a full offer. It was therefore easy to respond on CUCAS, as the reserve place would be her first choice if it comes to anything, and the full offer place was always going to be her second choice. She had to accept the reserve pool offer to be considered if a place becomes available.

(Should the reserve not be 'upgraded', depending on A Level results she might decline the insurance offer in favour of a University performance-based degree - offers in from Universities of Manchester, Birmingham, and Sheffield - waiting on UoLeeds, and also Huddersfield (lower grade back up).)