School of Vocal Studies and Opera – Audition Requirements
You may already demonstrate a high level of technical proficiency, musicality, confidence and communication in your performance, but at audition we’re also looking for singers and repetiteurs with natural talent, curiosity and a desire to train at a high level in a conservatoire environment in pursuit of attaining a professional career.
2025 Entry
All applicants will be invited to a live audition at the RNCM in November or December 2024. In-person applicants (excluding GRNCM applicants and those opting for an overseas audition) are not required to submit a recording prior to their audition, but must still complete an Acceptd application. Overseas applicants who are unable to travel to Manchester are invited to apply for an online audition.
To qualify for an online audition, you must select ‘Online’ under ‘Audition Location’ on UCAS Conservatoires and submit an audition recording within your Acceptd application. Following the application deadline (2 October 2024), your recording will be pre-screened and if you are shortlisted for an online interview, you will be notified via UCAS Conservatoires.
GRNCM applicants must have submitted an audition recording via Acceptd by Wednesday 2 October. Following this deadline, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a live audition at the RNCM and an interview at the University of Manchester in November or December 2024. Overseas applicants can opt to take their audition and interview online.
BMus applicants are also required to complete an online test as part of the process. This is because academic studies are a key component of your degree and we want to ensure that you’re in a position to thrive from the outset. The multiple choice test isn’t pass or fail, but the results do tell us about your knowledge of music theory, general musicianship and contextual awareness.
Audition requirements are outlined below, but if you require further information, please email [email protected] or call 0161 907 5465/210.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Singers
In Person Auditions (Live) and Recorded Auditions (Overseas and GRNCM Applicants)
Please select THREE pieces of your own choice (maximum 12 minutes in total) to be sung from memory, contrasting in period and style. Please note that the panel may not hear all 12 minutes of repertoire, but you should be prepared to sing all three pieces.
In addition to your repertoire, you need to prepare a short spoken passage in English which can be either prose or poetry, or, indeed, an extract from a newspaper article. The panel will listen to your English recitation to assess your spoken voice, to see whether you are aware of pitch, pace, energy, resonance and so on. You do not need to perform this from memory.
For those attending in person, your audition will also include an interview, giving the panel an opportunity to learn a little more about you and your future aspirations, whilst giving you the chance to ask any questions you might have about studying with us.
Audition Recordings (Overseas and GRNCM Applicants)
If you are submitting a recorded audition, please introduce each piece by giving only the title and composer. (Please also list your three pieces in your Acceptd application.) Your recording should also include a two-minute introduction (either as a separate video or as part of your main audition recording), outlining who you are, why you would like to study with us, and a little about the repertoire you’re performing.
Online Auditions (Overseas Applicants)
If you have submitted an audition recording and you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a live audition via Zoom. Please select TWO contrasting pieces of your own choice (maximum 10 minutes in total), that you think best demonstrate your skills and ability. Your two pieces for the live online audition may be the same pieces you submitted as part of your recorded audition.
This part of the process will also include an interview, where the panel would like to learn a little more about you and your future aspirations.
Repetiteurs (Postgraduate only)
In Person Auditions (Live) and Recorded Auditions (Overseas Applicants)
Please prepare, of your own choice, ONE piano solo (maximum five minutes) from the Early Romantic or Romantic period that demonstrates a level of virtuosity, and TWO operatic excerpts (maximum 10 minutes in total) containing more than one character (sing in vocal parts optional).
For those attending in person, your audition will also include an interview, giving the panel an opportunity to learn a little more about you and your future aspirations, whilst giving you the chance to ask any questions you might have about studying with us. You will also be asked to complete a sight-reading task.
Audition Recordings (Overseas Applicants)
If you are submitting an audition recording, please introduce each piece by giving only the title and composer. (Please also list your three pieces in your Acceptd application.) Your recording should also include a two-minute introduction (either as a separate video or as part of your main audition recording), outlining who you are, why you would like to study with us, and a little about the repertoire you’re playing.
Online Auditions (Overseas Applicants)
If you have submitted an audition recording and you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a live audition via Zoom. Please prepare:
ONE piano solo of your own choice (ideally from the romantic period, lasting no longer than five minutes) that demonstrates a level of virtuosity.
TWO contrasting operatic scenes of your own choice (ideally ensemble scenes or scenes which involve multiple characters, last no longer than 10 minutes in total). Please note that you are not required to sing in the vocal parts.
During the audition, you may also be asked to complete a sight-reading task and undertake a short interview.
