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?

My son sent an email to the head of strings, explaining that her had scholarship offers from all the conservatories but really wanted to accept theirs. He explained that being able to accept a London offer was very much dependent on funding, and asked if they felt able to increase his offer.
They in turn asked what her been offered elsewhere and then matched it. ( although they had no way of checking what his other offers were).

We had been clear with him that it would come down to funding, ultimatrly, as we aren't in a position to support living costs of over £1k com for rent alone.

@Alwaysplayspicc that is so interesting, thank you for sharing. We have had the same conversation with DS. He has his preference, but without a generous scholarship he's going to be commuting and he really wants to be in halls

@siriusmuggle @Alwaysplayspicc
Thank you both for your sharing your experiences. It is very helpful and so interesting to learn of the differing amounts offered. Congrats to your children and hope they’re doing well. Fingers crossed for us all now. Unfortunately my dc can’t make Rcs audition this week. Have asked for it to be rescheduled so hopefully they will.

What a great thread. DD starts auditions today at RNCM. Thank you all for sharing experiences.

DD still waiting on RAM date but has all others now.

Good luck to her. It’s reading week at RNCM this week so please tell her that’s why it’ll seem quiet. It’s not usually deserted.

@Mumoftheweek good luck to your DD!

Best of luck !!

@Mumoftheweek Good luck to your dd. Do let us know how it went. X

Thank you everyone. DD says it went as well as an audition can!

How long is the normal wait for an outcome to come through on UCAS?

@Mumoftheweek
glad to hear your dd feels it went ok.
I’m also keen to hear how long the wait is.

@Mumoftheweek well done to your DD. I looked it up to the extent it helps - last year RCM and RAM came through on UCAS the same day - Dec15. I think they coordinate it. She heard from Guildhall on Nov 22 (not on UCAS).

This was us last year. DS just fell in love with Birmingham and I felt the same as you, the building just felt like a wonderful place to be. He took the high risk strategy of only applying to RBC. His back up plan was to reapply to RBC this year and add Leeds and other conservatoires in at that point. Fortunately he got an offer from Birmingham.

Fast forward a year and DS is at Birmingham and is absolutely loving it. He's living in halls in a flat full of musicians and is embracing every opportunity RBC is offering him. He's absolutely thriving there.

Good luck for your daughter's audition.

@Splendud
thank you for sharing - wonderful for your ds how lovely to hear his story x

Thank you that’s really useful, that’s a relatively quick turnaround for RCM and RAM (presuming the RAM audition is December as there’s no date being given yet), but a long wait from RNCM as this was earlier this week if they also release offers mid December.

anyone else heard about RAM audition dates yet?

Last year, RNCM was the earliest audition but the last to make offers. It was painful!
Guildhall's offer came the day after audition.
RCM was a couple of weeks after audition, I think.

DD would love to know what pieces other violinists are playing for their auditions. She's worried her choices aren't a good standard and was wanting to know what others are playing! If anyone doesn't mind sharing we'd be most appreciative! x

It was last year, but DD played Saint-Saëns VC No. 3 and Mozart VC No. 5. The most important thing is that she plays something she is comfortable with and loves, standard isn't as important as a confident performance. Also keep in mind they will stop her part way through, and it doesn't mean anything bad. DD was so proud of her Mozart cadenza and she never got to it in any of her auditions!

Definitely playing something you are confident with is better than worrying about what others are doing. Some places have set pieces, I guess you could have a look at those to get an idea for other places as they will be looking for similar things. ( But too late to change now so maybe don't do this!) Also definitely be prepared for them to stop you, mine only played one of two pieces at one place and half of the second one at another place. I'm sure her teacher will have helped her choose something suitable.

Ds1 is applying to Liverpool (LIPA) conservatoire. He wasn't planning on going to uni but then his tutor at college encouraged him to look at LIPA and he loved it. He got his grade 8 piano last year and a distinction in his music extended diploma. He's currently on a gap year, working and trying to save some money.

Good luck to him. The good news is that Liverpool is a relatively cheap city to live in as a student.

Does he have a back up plan or is it LIPA or nothing? Its a fantastic music college.

Something else to mention - DS was sent straight from his RCM audition to a second audition, which at the time he was told "would only be to his benefit" - code for scholarship audition, and he was indeed subsequently offered a scholarship.
However, a friend of his who followed him into his initial audition got very upset that she wasn't asked to play to a second panel. RCM do make a point of saying that not going to second panel doesn't mean you won't be offered a place, and going through doesn't mean you will .

@Alwaysplayspicc how are the scholarships communicated? If this on ucas as well as part of the offer?

No, they were made after the offers, and if I remember rightly, through emails direct from the conservatoires.

Good luck everyone.

My DD had a wind audition date of 4/11 for RNCM (with 2 weeks' notice) but actually decided to withdraw that application prior to then, so didn't attend. She has an audition at RBC w/c 18/11 - and as others have said, she loved the ambience there and it felt very comfortable and friendly. Easier to access the tutors and section leads for a chat too, unlike RNCM which was much more formal (although seriously impressive).

Leeds Con offered an audition quickly, for end October (giving only 5 days' notice), but it clashed with an orchestra residential she was on so they offered to reorganise for early December. Still awaiting that date.

Waiting on RWCMD and RAM (although not actually keen on that one now either 🙄) after submitting a virtual audition recording, which to be fair didn't go so well as she was recovering from a chest infection and sounded a bit 'breathy'.

RBC is her (current) favourite.

I almost think the wand finds the wizard with conservatoires. So much comes down to feel and to staff. Mine quite liked RBC but didn't feel there was enough opportunity/stretch on his instrument after the offer holder day. It was always RNCM for him and it's totally the right place for him.