Hi everyone
I'm currently in the middle of completing my CUKAS application and I just wanted to know who else was auditioning this year and on what instruments ect...
Also, if there was anyone who auditioned last year who has any helpful advice for a singer

I'm auditioning for Birmingham and Royal Welsh on violin
Need to write my personal statement...

Ahh I see
I can't believe how soon it is! This year is going to go so fast!
I'm thinking of applying to all the conservatoires on CUKAS just for the sake of it I really really really want to go to the RNCM though.
Hmmm have you sorted your audition pieces yet? Are you starting new ones or doing ones you already know- see I've just started brand new pieces from scratch and i'm praying I will be ready in time.
X

Hi everyone.

I'm applying to study classical guitar at: RCM, RNCM, Trinity and Birmingham.

Starting to get impatient about audition dates now! haha

How is everyones audition pieces coming along? RCM have a set piece for guitar which is rather tricky.

Just can't wait till I get a place then I won;t have to worry about anything!

Sorry Mezzo - managed to miss your reply, I've only just seen it Where did you apply for in the end?
I started new pieces for audition, but I've been doing them for a few months now.
I just got some details about auditions for RWCMD through and was having a complete panic about one of my pieces being ready, but I've just had a fantastic lesson which has made me alot happier Royal Welsh are also asking for an essay better get goin with that...
How is everyone else getting on?

Hi guysss
In the end I applied to exactly the same ones as classical guitar actually
(RNCM, RCM, Birmingham and Trinity) I'm getting really nervous- and excited about auditions already. I got an email from the RNCM today about auditions and I got all excited thinking they had the dates... but then I checked on cukas and they hadn't lol.
I know how you feel about getting the pieces ready in time, sometimes I think I have got it- or am nearly there and them the next minute it just falls to pieces arghh! Annd the other day my music teacher sprung a suprise performance on me in front of a bunch of music tech people from the year below and although it was okay she said it was loads better when it was just me and her and I'm TERRIFIED my nerves will let me down
Haha look at me ranting, its just because there are very few people who understand what we're going through
Keep me updated with your dilemas (Y)
X

I might, im thinking of sending late applications to a few if its still possible, would have been in much sooner if I could have..I posted in the students forum actually

Best of luck everyone

Go for it!!
Just subject yourself to a months worth of stress and poverty (due to the money spent on auditions)
Nooo it will be fun really... one would hope anyway!
X

I got that email from the RNCM too. It was really annoying because they've said guitar auditions are either going to be on the 4th (less than a month!) or on the 26th (almost 2 months!)

I've heard that RNCM auditions are really laid back and they only normally ask for pieces and then have a chat.

RCM is worrying me the most as the set piece is really irritating me! haha Also its probably the most competitive of the places I'm applying to.

Let me know if you guys get anymore dates through

Tom

Arghhhhh!!! I have my Birmingham audition through
Its on Friday the 13th !! Ahh well, I will just have to make it lucky haha
You guys got yours through yet?
X

Oh no! I'm sure you'll be fine though, as long as you don't dwell on it

I've got Birminham on the 9th and Royal Welsh and the 10th, which means only one more lesson with my teacher before

I still haven't heard anything about my Birmingham audition date - it is for the BMus Jazz course though, so they might be organised separately.

Starting to get nervous/excited about it though :-)

I'm sure you won't be unlucky!

I've got my Birmingham audition the day before you,

my Royal Northern audition is on the 4th!!! Two weeks!!! nerve racking indeed

One more lesson Devil_Fiddler! thats scary... mind you i will probably only have bout two more!



Haha... I hope not
Ahh my Royal Northern is the same day as yours! Fun times.
How is the practise going everyone- are we ready yet?
X

I've now had the confirmation - 11th November.

Must whittle my audition pieces down to three now - decisions, decisions :-)

Heyy everyone, I'm Tom

I'm applying to the Royal Academy, Royal College, Guildhall, Trinity, Royal Northern and the Birmingham Conservatoire, to study for a BMus (Hons) on Violin.

I know i wont get into Royal Academy or Royal College, But think i might stand a chance of the other ones. I REALLY really want to go to Royal Northern too!!!!!! I loved it!

Like Mezzosoprano, i'm also really scared that my nerves will let me down (as they often do!) and i'd love any advice as to how to control them? Other than SLOW breathing.

I have a piece of advice for Mezzosoprano! Eat Bananas, they have the same chemicals in that heart slowing tablets have in, but you need to eat two (or preferably three!!) twenty minutes before your audition, for them to kick in. I hate bananas, but i tried it for my consultation lessons, and it really worked. Less nerves!

Devil fiddler- My Birmingham audition is Friday 13th too!!!! Gah!!

What are you guys playing/singing? i'd love to know!

Anyone else crapping themselves about the whole process????!! Gah!

Tom x

TCM 30th Nov, RCM 9th, RAM 10th.
Still waiting for Guildhall.

Guildhall 11th Nov

Birmingham 13th Nov

RNCM 23rd Nov

Royal Academy 2nd Dec

Royal College 8th Dec

TCM 10th Dec

The bannanas tip sounds good! I'd never heard of that before. I'm applying for guitar at Trinity, RCM, RNCM and Birmingham.

My RNCM audition is on Wednesday! So I am starting to ###### myself a bit although my pieces are ready. I think getting nervous is part of the whole process, and I think they should be able to see through nerves. They look for potential rather than a flawless audition

I've got my Birmingham audition on the 12th and then about a months gap for the other two. If I got an offer from RNCM before my trinity and rcm audition that would literally take all the pressure off!

Heyy, yeah, mine are quite spaced out too!

My fave is RCM, but i won't get in there, but i REALLY like RNCM! Gah!

You weren't at the Trinity Open Day on Thursday were you? If not, apparently there are only like 5 or 6 guitar places and loads auditioning! And there are 160 violinists for 14-16 violin places! Gah!

Yeah they don't make many guitar offers, but apparently so few people audition on guitar, so if 20 people audition I guess I still have a 1 in 4 chance.

I'm glad I'm not a bowed string player, so competitive!!!

Anyways good luck everyone!!!

Hi everyone
haven't been on here for a while...
So my RNCM audition it tomorrow and like classical guitar I am unbelievably TERRIFIED!
hi tomping I've heard the banana thng before actually, I might give it a try- what have I got to lose, im just slightly worried about not being able to keep them down ahaha that would be quite bad, throwing up in the middle of my audition.
I have all my dates now:

RNCM 4th Nov
Birmingham 13th Nov
Trinity 30th Nov
RCM 3rd December

They are quite spaced out, but im considering changing one of my pieces. Tomorrow im singing
Mandoline- Faure
Se Tu M'ami- Pavarotti
If thou wilt ease thine heart- Britten

Im actualy not feeling too bad at the moment, i will just have to try my best, at the end of the day its all good experience. Btw good luck everyone!!!
X

I hope you won't say that tomorrow (in case anyone asks you for the composer)

Good luck with your auditions, all very nice songs - fingers crossed. I can still remember mine (many moons ago ), I was absolutely terrified, but it was half as bad in the end ...

Are you doing the Frescobaldi or the Ponce?

Birmingham: Tuesday 10th November
RWCMD: Wednesday 11th November
RSAMD: Thursday 12th November



Also have RCM on 11th December and Leeds on 16th December

Auditioning on piano, good luck to everyone else auditioning soon!

Those songs are lovely and i'm sure you sing them really well!

My Birmingham audition is the 13th too! Gah!

x

All dates are here now

TCM 30 nov
Guidhall 7th dec
RCM 9th dec
RAM 10th dec

would have liked a days space between the last 2, but thats how it is..

Hey everyone, im doing auditions this term too, on classical saxophone
my dates are
RNCM : 9th nov
Bham : 11th nov
RCM : 1st dec
TCM : 3rd dec
Guildhall : 9th dec

Im doing a gap year at trinity at the moment, so if anyone wants to know anything about trinity or the audition process (i did it last year too!) then let me know!

good luck with any auditions this week!

How did it go?

I ended up much more relaxed than I thought, the head of guitar and head of strings who were auditioning me were really nice and didn't stare at me through the audition as I thought they might!

Bummed a few notes but nothing that can't be put down to nerves!

I'm quite relieved and hopefull but nothings guaranteed....

Bring on Birmingham next week!

Well I've just checked by cukas and its changed to Reserve Conditional! I think this is because they havn't finished the guitar auditions yet and therefore can't make any offers, but we will have to wait and see if I get a place!

Scary!

That sounds exciting, classicalguitar! Good luck for your Birmingham audition next week.

Hello everyone!

I am a first year singer (mezzo) at the RNCM. I came on here last year and am actually living with another Mezzo who I met on here haha. I hope auditions are going really well for you.. RNCM is fantastic, so if you get in here.. definetly choose here. I got into RAM and Birmingham as well but I knew that RNCM was the place for me.. it is such a wicked college.. especially for singers. If any of you have any questions.. please don't hesitate to ask because I was in the same position as you guys last year .

Good Luck guys,

Sophie x

Ooo! Yes, a question!

I'm applying for several on violin, and i really want to go to RNCM, it's my fave

What's the String department like and what are the professors like?

Tom

Ahaa a singer
I auditioned at the RNCM on wednesday (4th) and I didn't get in- i really wanted to go there as well
anyway chin up, i have my audition at Birmingham on Friday and I wondered if you could give me any advice about how the audition is there- do they ask you just to sing one song for the first round or what?
The audition at the RNCM went really well- but they said I was still very young but that I had a lovely voice and just to keep working at it. Did you have any similar comments? Its just frustrating because I even manged to do the sight reading right, so it seems as if my voice just isn't mature enough yet?
Any advice or information on your auditions generally would be helpful
Thankyouuu
X

Ok Tomping,

Just been speaking to my cellist friend.. he said the string department are absolutely fantastic. He said the head and deputy head are really involved with every individual and how they are getting on etc. Teacher wise, every single one of them is amazing, however if you don't seem to be getting on you can change teacher whenever you like, which is the same in every department. There are about 5 or 6 solo competitions every year and there are also chamber music competitions. There are chamber music classes each week and Repertoire classes each week also. There are some fantastic strings masterclasses here a lot as well so lots of oppurtunites to work with external teachers and performers. Basically he said he loves it and is really enjoying working with everyone here.

MezzoSoprano, so sorry to hear you didn't get a place, but don't let that knock your confidence.. I didn't get places at 4 out of the 7 places I auditioned and auditioning is also a learning curve for you and you will get better every time. The birmingham audition is great, the panel I had were lovely and so welcoming and easy to talk to. As far as I can remember I sang both songs and then did a sight-reading piece and a small chat afterwards. I have to say along with the RNCM it is the most comfortable audition and the people are the most easy-going. The one thing about RNCM is they do give feedback and that is great about your first audition. Don't be worried about the age thing as if that is the only thing that may prevent you from getting a place then you have years and years to audition again. The only advice I would give is to be fully prepared, know your pieces inside out and back to front so you are completely confident with them.. I'm sure you already know this. The panel are wanting you to do well, they are not there to scare you off so enjoy it. Get lots of sleep (most important thing ever for a singer) and make good use of the warm-up time they are giving you.
I really do wish you well, Good Luck and let me know how you get on

Sophie xx

Hi, I'm doing the Ponce, I asked Gary Ryan and he said that he prefers it if you use that piece.

So your a guitarist too? Had any auditions? I've had Birmingham and RNCM but I'm hoping to go to Trinity as I've studied with Graham Devine before and hes a great teacher

Hi all.

I was on this forum last year when I was auditioning. I am a singer, and got a reserve place at RNCM and a place at Birmingham but decided not to go in the end. I am auditioning again this year, so popped on to the forum to see if anyone else was.

Also want to say hi to Dixie2222, I remember you from this time last year! Hope you're loving the RNCM! Just wondered if you minded telling us all what it's like? What do you do everyday, how are your teachers, what are you singing etc? I'm just really interested to know what actually being at music college is like! Sorry if I'm being too nosy!

Good luck to everyone else with auditions, I'm sure you'll all be fabulous!

Hope you all do well with your auditions!I Must admit im biased towards the Birmingham Conservatoire as i studied there many years ago.The standards are higher than ever,staff are fantastic and i had four of the best years of my life!Also did a year at the RCM.They are all good really in there own way.All the best everyone!!

Birmingham is awesome!

I just found out last night that i got in to RNCM! wahooooo!
I auditioned last year and didnt get in anywhere, so im on a gap year at TCM at the moment, but i just wanted to say to anyone who might be dissapointed this year, if you really want it, take a year to really work for it and you can (like me!) get exactly what you dream for!

WELL DONE! Sounds very much like you deserve it!

Any tips? I <3 RNCM.

In the interview part, what sort of questions do they put to you?

I live abroad, so have very little idea of what do they want you to talk about in the interview part.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I got asked why I wanted to come here, then what I thought my strengths and weaknesses were and what ensembles I was in.

Its also worth doing some research behind your pieces as I got asked quite a lot about pieces at Birmingham

Congratulationnnns

Anybody else found out if they are in anywhere yet?
Good luck for up coming auditions
X

Hi Possum,
I remember you also Wow, I could write an essay on what RNCM is like lol.
Well, I know for a fact that singers have way more on their timetable than instrumentalists... I don't know why to be honest but there you go. We have like 3 lectures a week and some academic work... (i am in foundation aural and theory cause I am thick lol).. the academic work is ######e.. but everyone hates it to its fine. We have a performance class, where you have to sing in front of all the singers in your year, which is a bit daunting but cool after you have done it a few times. The great thing is, no-one is ######y, and everyone is really supportive of each other. The opera we are doing this term is Offenbach's La Belle Helene and I am in the chorus along with all the other mezzos (there are 6 in the year) and a few sopranos. Sopranos have less oppurtunity for opera as there are so many of them, which is unfortunate, but wicked for us mezzos haha. We have a movement class every week which is at 9 in the morning which isn't so great timewise, but wakes you up lol. Ensemble class with Alec Crowe which is great cause he's an absolute babe. We have italian which is scary but is ok I suppose. Then we have team-teaching which I am sure you have heard of, which is wicked as every term you get to have a singing lesson, in a group of 4 with a teacher who isn't your own. So basically, by the end of your 4 years you would probably have been taught by every teacher in college. We used to have Stagecraft, which is like drama, and that was with Stefan Janski, the head of opera.. which is hilarious. And then along with academic stuff and your own singing lessons, that is basically it. The thing about it here is it's not like any other university, we basically never go out in the week as we always have to sing everyday and we have 9 o clock starts most mornings.. but it's more important I suppose. The most important thing is, if you get in and decide to come here, is that you get a good teacher.. and someone who you like and get on with, because if you don't and you don't do something about it then your really not gonna enjoy your time here. So I strongly suggest consultation lessons, they are expensive but so important.

Wow, essay. Right so you have auditioned again? and have you heard back ?

xxxxx

Thanks for all that Dixie! Interesting to know what it's really like. Sounds like you're enjoying it but are very busy!

I actually didn't audition at the Northern this year, cause I live down here in London and am working here so I'd rather stay. I'm auditioning at Guildhall, RCM, and RAM. So fingers crossed, but I'm very aware that there are so few places available. Can't believe you have 6 mezzos in your year! That's quite alot!

Anyway thanks for the long reply, and good look with the opera and everything!

Xxxx

Thanks for the help regarding questions.
Had worked a lot already on background for the pieces, so that is fine.

Heyy everyone

Have any of you got ANY advice regarding RNCM? My audition is on Monday! Eeeeeeeeeek!

xx

You auditioning for postgrad?

x

Hi everyone!

I was a member on this forum last year when I was applying for post grad courses.

I auditioned on Monday at RNCM for postgrad vocal performance diploma.
The two panels were lovely. It was almost a pleasurable experience it's just the hanging around at these things that I hate. I met some lovely people auditioning for various courses.

Is anyone else auditioning for post grad vocal places this year on here?