The Academy’s Vocal Faculty offers intensive, full-time courses to prepare students for their professional careers in music. If you are considering taking up full-time vocal tuition, you are strongly advised to seek the advice of a qualified, experienced teacher.
The Courses
The fine traditions of the Vocal Faculty are perpetuated by a new generation of eminent teachers, with comprehensive training which prepares students for their careers in opera and concert repertory. Apart from intensive vocal and technical study and associated disciplines, students enjoy regular repertoire coaching and specialist training in historical performance (including the critically-acclaimed Bach Cantatas series, in collaboration with the Kohn Foundation) and new music. The curriculum is enriched with masterclasses and workshops given by outstanding international performers.
The Postgraduate Vocal Studies Course incorporates a preparatory opera curriculum pathway, designed for students who demonstrate operatic potential at their audition but who would benefit from a period of consolidation in both vocal technique and stagecraft. These students may progress into Royal Academy Opera subject to further audition. In addition to core singing lessons, vocal coaching, language tuition, acting and movement classes, weekly individual and ensemble opera coaching and stage work classes prepare students for fully staged and costumed opera scenes, with a professional director.
Those aiming for a career in solo concert and/or chamber choirwork can take a specialist recital/ concert curriculum pathway. In addition to weekly singing lessons and coachings, there is a comprehensive programme of language and song classes as well as specialist classes in oratorio, historically-aware performance and contemporary music.
The Academy welcomes applications from prospective undergraduate singers who clearly demonstrate professional potential and stamina allied to vocal, musical and intellectual maturity.
Students have opportunities to sing in the Chamber Choir for oratorio performances, and in the chorus for Royal Academy Opera. The members of Song Circle, who are selected by audition, record an annual CD and perform at the Academy and Wigmore Hall.
Recent masterclasses include John Mark Ainsley, Barbara Bonney, Susan Bullock, Chevalier José Cura, Dame Anne Evans, Diane Forlano, Gillian Knight, Helen Lawrence, Dame Felicity Lott, Alastair
Miles, Dennis O’Neill, Alan Opie, Thomas Quasthof, Kiri Te Kanawa, Robert Tear, Sir John Tomlinson and Sarah Walker.
Recent Student successes
Many Academy graduates have performed principal roles with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera,
Opera de Paris and many more.
They have also become Wigmore Young Artists; finalists in Cardiff Singer of the World; BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists; Jette Parker Young Artists at the Royal Opera House; Kathleen Ferrier
Award winners including Song Prize 2009; winners of Miriam Licette Award and Royal Over-Seas League Competition. Academy graduates were first and third in the 2008 Kathleen Ferrier Bursary and first and third in the 2009 National Mozart Competition.