Conducting – Audition Requirements

While we don’t offer conducting as a Principal Study option within our undergraduate programmes, there are a range of electives available within the Bachelor of Music with Honours degree, and many opportunities for instrumentalists and composers to develop an interest in conducting alongside their studies.

The audition consists of a preliminary video selection round followed by two days of live auditions.

First round:
All candidates should supply approximately 20 minutes of footage of their conducting. Ideally, this should be a fairly equal mixture of rehearsal and performance. The camera should be positioned so that the candidate’s face and upper body is clearly visible, i.e. the camera should be positioned in or behind the orchestra/ensemble, and ideally some of the musicians should also be visible. The recording should be submitted via Acceptd by Friday 28 October. If you wish to be considered for the choral specialism, please make this clear in the material you submit to Acceptd.

Second round:
Selected candidates will be invited for an audition and interview in person.
Candidates will be required to conduct a small ensemble (wind or string) in a rehearsal situation for 10 minutes. These auditions will be followed by an interview with a panel led by Clark Rundell and Mark Heron.

Third round:
A number of the candidates will be invited to rehearse a soloist and chamber ensemble in a standard concerto. For choral conducting applicants this round will be with a chamber choir. This round will take place either on the first or second day of the auditions.

Final round:
Some candidates will be invited to stay for the final round in the evening of the second day, which will be with orchestra.

Repertoire for second, third and final rounds

The repertoire for the second, third and final rounds will be notified to you in advance and applicants are expected to bring their own music. As an example, the following pieces have been used in previous years:

• Selected movements of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale
• Schumann Cello Concerto, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
•  Beethoven Symphony No 1, Haydn Symphony No 101, Schumann Symphony No 3

We actively seek applicants with a specialism and interest in choral conducting. Students on this stream follow exactly the same course as the rest of the class, including extensive orchestral opportunities, but benefit from increased contact with David Hill and the opportunity to work with the RNCM Chamber Choir and Symphony Chorus.

Please make sure your application material indicates your interest in this. The audition process outlined above may be slightly different.

Attendance at the live auditions is very much recommended for those shortlisted, but international students who are unable to attend Rounds 2, 3 and 4 in person may exceptionally be able to audition online.