All auditions are planned to take place in-person at our campus in Glasgow in November 2023. Should you apply on time, you will be e-mailed directly with details of your audition date and time, and your UCAS Conservatoires track will be updated with this information.
International applicants are welcome to submit a recorded submission via Acceptd. For those submitting a recording, the deadline dates to apply and submit your audition recording can be found in the table below:
|
UCAS Conservatoires Application Deadline |
Audition Recording Deadline |
UK Applicants |
2 October 2023 |
2 October 2023 (for applicants unable to attend an in-person audition) |
International Applicants |
1 December 2023 |
1 December 2023 |
International student applicants
We are aware that international students may struggle with the UCAS deadline. As a consequence, we have set an additional deadline of 1 December 2023 for international students.
Recording Guidelines:
- When setting up for your video recording, your body (typically, from about the waist up) and instrument should be the focal point of the frame. The committee wants to be able to see not just your face but how well you navigate your instrument.
- The video recording should be provided in ONE continuous shot without separate tracks for different musical pieces.
- Please begin the recording by introducing yourself to camera and stating what you will be performing. You can take a little time between pieces so long as your body must remain in the frame.
- For any pieces that were written for your instrument and piano accompaniment, you are encouraged to perform with piano accompaniment (whether live or pre-recorded) if practical for you. Be assured, however, that if this is not possible for you, then you will not be disadvantaged in any way.
For more information on recording a video audition, Guitar Lecturer Matthew McCallister reveals his top tips on recording your music audition online below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYNY47cVNBA&feature=youtu.be
All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition or recorded submission via UCAS Conservatoires track (you will need your username and password). We aim to post outcomes before Christmas.
Details of the repertoire requested for your in-person audition/recorded submission can be found below. The audition consists of two elements:
- Performance of a programme of approximately 15 minutes on the principal study. The programme should demonstrate your present level of achievement and your musical potential, and must normally be performed from memory and unaccompanied, with the exception of guitar, piano or percussion instruments (see below), or in cases of self-accompanying for one or two items (e.g. clarsach player accompanying own singing, or singers accompanying themselves on another instrument). If in doubt, please contact us ahead of time. Applicants are asked to give brief spoken introductions to each item performed. Suggested repertoire is detailed below.
Highland Bagpipe
Three contrasting sets: A) March, Strathspey and Reel; B) one Piobaireachd (ground and 1st variation only); and C) a final set of the applicant’s own choosing.
Accordion/Bodhran/Cello/Fiddle/Flute/Guitar/Mondolin/Piano/Scottish Harp/Whistle
A varied programme of contrasting work featuring the applicant’s own choice of traditional Scottish (or other) tunes: air, march, strathspey, reel, jig, hornpipe and self-accompaniment to singing if appropriate. For guitar, the programme should include both solo work and rhythmic accompaniment to traditional/contemporary tunes (it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide an accompanist or backing track).
Pipe Band Snare Drum
A variety of traditional and current pipe band pieces contrasting in rhythm and tempi, which should include an extract of a solo fanfare. It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange for a piper to provide accompaniment.
Scots Song
Varied programme of contrasting moods and tempi: featuring the broad range of traditional Scots song, eg classic ballad, bothy ballad, Burns or other ‘art’ song, lullaby, contemporary Scots song, nonsense, bawdy or children’s song, dance song or diddling. Good source material for the repertoire appropriate to this programme can be found and studied in depth at www.tobarandualchais.co.uk.
Gaelic Song
Varied programme of traditional songs contrasting in character and rhythm: puirt a beul, òrain luaidh, òrain bàsaidh, òran mór, contemporary Gaelic song, lullaby, lament. Good source material for the repertoire appropriate to this programme can be found and studied in depth at www.tobarandualchais.co.uk.
Bodhran
A varied programme demonstrating accompaniment to a variety of standard Scottish traditional/folk dance-based melodic rhythms (quicksteps, strathspeys, reels, jigs, hornpipes, etc) and the applicant’s facility with transitions between rhythms/tempi.